BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                    AB 2790


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          Date of Hearing:  May 4, 2016


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                               Lorena Gonzalez, Chair


          AB  
          2790 (Nazarian) - As Amended April 13, 2016


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          |Policy       |Business and Professions       |Vote:|12 - 2       |
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          |             |Transportation                 |     |14 - 0       |
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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill requires the California Research Bureau (CRB) to  
          conduct a study, on or before September 1, 2017, on the  
          necessity and feasibility of licensure for taxicab drivers.


          FISCAL EFFECT:










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          Negligible state fiscal impact.  CRB prepares reports for  
          members of the Legislature upon request.


          COMMENTS:


          Purpose. According to the author, "the recent expansion of  
          technology-enabled transportation services has questioned the  
          way California incorporates regulatory frameworks across all  
          sectors of the transportation industry," including taxis.


          By collecting information through a study of the necessity and  
          feasibility of statewide licensure for taxicab drivers, the  
          author intends to provide a basis for future Legislative action  
          in this field.


          Background. Unlike other models of passenger carriers, which are  
          regulated under one statewide requirement, established by the  
          Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), taxicab businesses and  
          taxicab drivers are regulated through various local ordinances.  
          Each ordinance or resolution must include a policy for entry  
          into the business of providing taxicab services, the  
          establishment or registration of rates, and a mandatory  
          controlled substance and alcohol testing certification program.  
          Each ordinance may include additional requirements as well.


          The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that there are just over  
          13,000 taxicab and chauffer drivers in California.


          California Research Bureau. CRB, part of the California State  
          Library, provides nonpartisan research services to the Governor  
          and his staff, to both houses of the Legislature, and to other  
          elected State officials. These services include preparation of  
          reports and memoranda on current policy issues, which might  








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          cover topics such as the history of the issue, experiences and  
          proposals in other states, case studies and examples, data  
          analysis, and development of legislative proposals. This work  
          might be confidential to the requestor, or might result in a  
          published report. In addition, the Bureau convenes regular  
          seminars and presentations by academic and think tank scholars  
          doing work related to current policy issues.


          Analysis Prepared by:Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081