BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 604 Page 1 (Without Reference to File) CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 604 (Olsen) As Amended September 4, 2015 Majority vote -------------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: |61-8 |(May 18, 2015) |SENATE: | |(September 11, | | | | | | |2015) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------- (vote not available) Original Committee Reference: TRANS. SUMMARY: Defines "electrically motorized board," restricts their operation on public facilities, requires boards to be equipped with safety equipment, and authorizes cities and counties to further regulate their use. The Senate amendments: AB 604 Page 2 1)Change the name of the defined vehicle to "electrically motorized board." 2)Make it a crime to operate an electrically motorized board while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. 3)Prohibit persons under the age of 16 years old from operating an electrically motorized board. 4)Require the use of a helmet for any person operating an electrically motorized skateboard on public facilities. 5)Require lamps and reflectors while operating an electrically motorized board in darkness. 6)Restrict the use of electrically motorized boards to streets with speed limits of 35 mph or less, unless operated in a bike lane. 7)Prohibit the operation of electrically motorized boards at speeds greater than 15 mph. 8)Require the California Highway Patrol to submit a report to Legislature by January 1, 2021, to assist in determining the effect of electrically motorized boards on traffic safety. 9)Allow the Department of Transportation and local authorities to prohibit or restrict the use of electrically motorized boards on freeways or expressways. 10)Add provisions from AB 1096 (Chu) of the current legislative session, to avoid chaptering out conflicts. AB 604 Page 3 AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY, this bill: 1)Defined "electrically motorized skateboard" as any four-wheeled device that has a floorboard designed to be stood upon when riding that is not greater than 60 inches deep and 18 inches wide, is designed to transport only one person, and has an electric propulsion system averaging less than 1,000 watts, the maximum speed of which, when powered solely by a propulsion system on a paved level surface, is no more than 20 miles per hour. 2)Specified that an electrically motorized skateboard may be designed to also be powered by human propulsion. 3)Specified that an electrically motorized skateboard is not a motorized skateboard for purposes of an existing ban on motorized skateboards on sidewalks, roadways, highways, bikeways, bicycle paths, bike trails, equestrian trails, hiking trails, and recreational trails. 4)Authorized local authority to adopt rules and regulations by ordinance or resolution prohibiting or restricting persons from riding or propelling electrically motorized skateboards on highways, sidewalks, or roadways. 5)Authorized a transit development board to adopt ordinances, rules, or regulations to restrict, or specify the conditions for, the use of electrically motorized skateboards on property under the control of, or any portion of property used by, the board. 6)Authorized public agencies, including, but not limited to, the Regents of the University of California and the Trustees of the California State University, to adopt rules or regulations to restrict, or specify the conditions for, the use of AB 604 Page 4 electrically motorized skateboards on public property under the jurisdiction of that agency. FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs. COMMENTS: Current law prohibits the use of motorized skateboards in California. This prohibition dates back to 1977, when skateboards were being equipped with loud, polluting gas motors and had no brakes or other safety features. Newer electrically motorized boards are difficult to distinguish from regular skateboards while in use, are silent and produce no emissions, and include brakes. The author believes the current prohibition unacceptably limits the use of an otherwise safe and environmentally clean mode of transportation. This bill defines an electrically motorized board and authorizes local governments and other specified entities, such as universities on their campuses, to regulate the use of these boards as other vehicles are regulated. This bill establishes safety provisions, including requiring visibility equipment and restricting usage on roadways, similar to the restrictions placed on other vehicles, such as bicycles. These boards do raise safety concerns with respect to their use by children. These boards can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour and, unlike bicycles, do not have handlebars or some other steering mechanism to help the rider maintain control. Younger children may not have the level of maturity or judgment necessary to safely operate a motorized skateboard. This bill limits the use of these devices to persons 16 years of age or older and requires the user to wear a helmet, thereby enhancing safety both for riders and for other road and sidewalk users. The additional safety requirements in this version of this bill were added when this bill was returned to the Senate after late concerns were raised by the Administration. AB 604 Page 5 Analysis Prepared by: Justin Behrens / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093 FN: 0002317