BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular Session
AB 2873 (Thurmond) - Certified access specialists
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|Version: August 1, 2016 |Policy Vote: JUD. 5 - 2 |
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|Urgency: No |Mandate: Yes |
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|Hearing Date: August 11, 2016 |Consultant: Jolie Onodera |
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*********** ANALYSIS ADDENDUM - SUSPENSE FILE ***********
The following information is revised to reflect amendments
adopted by the committee on August 11, 2016
Bill
Summary: AB 2873 would impose the following requirements on
local agencies:
Commencing January 1, 2021, requires all building inspectors
employed or retained by a local agency who conduct permitting
and plan check services to review for compliance with state
construction-related accessibility standards by a place of
public accommodation with respect to new construction or
renovation to be certified access specialists (CASps), as
specified.
AB 2873 (Thurmond) Page 1 of
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Requires all new employees employed or retained by a local
agency on or after January 1, 2018, who will conduct
permitting and plan check services to review for compliance
with state construction-related accessibility standards by a
place of public accommodation to be CASps within 24 months of
their initial date of employment.
Commencing January 1, 2017, increases the existing $1 fee
attached to an application for a local business license to $4,
and extends the current sunset on the fee authority for one
year to December 31, 2019. Reduces the proportion of fee
revenue to the Division of the State Architect (DSA) from 30
percent to 10 percent of collections.
From January 1, 2017, through December 31, 2019, in any city,
county, or city and county that does not issue business
licenses, requires any applicant for a building permit to pay
an additional fee of $4 for that permit, as specified.
Fiscal
Impact:
CASp mandate : Potential major increase in future ongoing
local agency costs in the millions of dollars related to the
imposition of CASp certification for all applicable building
inspectors and new/retained employees within specified
timeframes, potentially state-reimbursable if not fully
covered by the short-term fee increase and the ongoing fee
authority. To the extent the bill creates a higher level of
service on local agencies due to mandating CASp-certification
for all building inspectors and new/retained employees, local
agencies could claim reimbursement for those increased costs
not covered by fees. At an average cost of $4,500 for CASp
certification, certification costs for every 1,000 new CASps
would cost $4.5 million. These costs do not reflect the larger
impact associated with ongoing compensation for more highly
trained personnel.
State fee revenue : Short-term net increase in fee revenues of
about $200,000 (Special Fund*) to the DSA through 2019, due to
AB 2873 (Thurmond) Page 2 of
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the fee increase from $1 to $4 on business license
applications which is partially offset by the reduced
proportion (from 30 percent to 10 percent) of fee revenue to
DSA. The amount of fee revenue generated by the new $4 fee
imposed on building permits in local jurisdictions that do not
issue business licenses is unknown, but not anticipated to be
significant.
Local fee revenue : Short-term net increase in fee revenues
(Local Funds) of $6 million through 2019 due to the fee
increase from $1 to $4 on business license applications and
the increased share from 70 percent to 90 percent of total
fees collected. Additional fee revenues due to the new $4 fee
imposed on building permits of an unknown, but potentially
significant amount.
DSA administrative costs : One-time costs ranging from $750,000
to $1 million (Special Fund**) to (1) upgrade its existing
database system to accommodate the significant expansion of
the program, and, (2) revise and transition the CASp exam to
an electronic-based format. Additionally, ongoing resource
costs of $230,000 (Special Fund**) to manage administration of
the examination and certification renewals for the larger
program. The current fees for CASp examinations and renewals
are estimated to maintain cost-neutrality for the ongoing
costs of the program.
*Disability Access and Education Revolving Fund
**Certified Access Specialist (CASp) Fund - staff notes the CASp
Fund has experienced a slowly growing reserve balance over the
past three years, with a projected balance of $1.7 million
ending FY 2016-17, due to the CASp program operating on a
largely cost-neutral basis. However, the potentially significant
expansion of the program will likely necessitate budget
authority to invest additional funds on a one-time basis to
accommodate the changes needed to address the influx of
applicants necessitated by the mandate for CASp certification.
Author
Amendments:
Remove the minimum criteria that specified familiarity
with the applicability and content of various accessibility
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requirements, including but not limited to the federal
requirements described in subdivision (c) of Section 4459
and the state standards established in Chapter 11A
(commencing with line 21 Section 1101A) and Chapter 11B
(commencing with Section line 22 11B-101) of Title 24 of
the California Code of Regulations.
Remove the sunset date on fee authority, effective
January 1, 2020, and extends the $1 fee on local business
licenses, or $1 fee on building permits in jurisdictions
that do not issue business licenses, as specified, thereby
authorizing the fees in perpetuity. Reverts the DSA and
local entity share of fee revenues effective January 1,
2020, to 30 percent and 70 percent, respectively.
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