BILL ANALYSIS Ó
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 604|
|Office of Senate Floor Analyses | |
|(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | |
|327-4478 | |
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 604
Author: Olsen (R), et al.
Amended: 9/4/15 in Senate
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 10-1, 6/16/15
AYES: Beall, Cannella, Bates, Gaines, Galgiani, Leyva,
McGuire, Mendoza, Roth, Wieckowski
NOES: Allen
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-1, 7/16/15 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT: Electrically motorized skateboards
SOURCE: Author
DIGEST: This bill allows electrically motorized skateboards to
be operated on sidewalks, roads and bike paths unless prohibited
by a local government, with specified restrictions.
Senate Floor Amendments of 9/4/15 generally require more safety
features on the motorized skateboards, such as lights and
reflectors; raise the minimum age to 16; require all users to
wear helmets; and limit the use of these vehicles to streets
with speed limits of 35 mph or less, unless it is operated in a
bike lane. The California Highway Patrol is also required to
submit a report to the Legislature by January 1, 2021, regarding
the effect of these skateboards on traffic safety.
ANALYSIS:
AB 604
Page 2
Existing law:
1)Prohibits the use of motorized skateboards on any sidewalk,
roadway, bikepath, or trail.
2)Requires helmets for persons under 18 when operating a
bicycle, non-motorized scooter, roller skates, or
non-motorized skateboard.
This bill:
1)Creates a new type of vehicle known as an "electrically
motorized skateboard," which is a four-wheeled device that is
a) designed to be stood upon, b) not longer than five feet, c)
not wider than 18 inches, d) designed to transport only one
person, and e) equipped with an electric propulsion system of
less than 1,000 watts (i.e., about 1.34 horsepower) with a
maximum speed of 20 miles per hour on a level paved surface.
2)Allows electrically motorized skateboards to be used only by
persons aged 16 or older and requires the use of a helmet.
3)Requires electrically motorized skateboards to have lights and
reflectors.
4)Establishes a speed limit of 15 mph for electrically motorized
skateboards.
5)Makes it illegal to operate an electrically motorized
skateboard while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
6)Exempts electrically motorized skateboards from the
prohibition on the use of motorized skateboards on sidewalks,
roads, bike paths, equestrian trails, or recreational trails.
7)Authorizes local governments and other public agencies to
establish regulations prohibiting or restricting the use of
electrically motorized skateboards.
Comments
Purpose. The author believes that the current prohibition on
motorized skateboards is archaic, having been established in
AB 604
Page 3
1977 and targeted at skateboards with dirty, noisy gas motors.
Newer electric-powered skateboards are cleaner and quieter, and
provide an alternative, clean mode of transportation.
More choice. Providing Californians with choices in their modes
of transportation is one of the keys to meeting our greenhouse
gas reduction goals. This is particularly helpful in leveraging
the use of transit, as these other transportation modes can help
people cover the parts of their trips which the transit services
do not.
Seen this before. This bill passed the Senate earlier this year
but was returned for amendments after late concerns were raised
by the Administration.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal
Com.:YesLocal: Yes
SUPPORT: (Verified9/4/15)
Boosted, Inc.
Inboard Sports
Four individuals
OPPOSITION: (Verified9/4/15)
California Chapter of the American College of Emergency
Physicians
ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 76-1, 7/16/15
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Travis Allen, Baker, Bigelow, Bloom,
Bonilla, Bonta, Brough, Brown, Burke, Calderon, Campos, Chang,
Chau, Chávez, Chiu, Chu, Cooley, Dababneh, Dahle, Daly, Dodd,
Eggman, Frazier, Beth Gaines, Gallagher, Cristina Garcia,
Eduardo Garcia, Gatto, Gipson, Gomez, Gray, Grove, Hadley,
Harper, Roger Hernández, Holden, Irwin, Jones, Jones-Sawyer,
Kim, Lackey, Levine, Linder, Lopez, Low, Maienschein, Mathis,
Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Obernolte,
O'Donnell, Olsen, Patterson, Perea, Quirk, Rendon,
AB 604
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Ridley-Thomas, Rodriguez, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark
Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Wagner, Waldron, Weber, Wilk, Williams,
Wood, Atkins
NOES: Cooper
NO VOTE RECORDED: Gonzalez, Gordon, Nazarian
Prepared by:Randy Chinn / T. & H. / (916) 651-4121
9/8/15 14:42:05
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