BILL ANALYSIS Ó ----------------------------------------------------------------- |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1259| |Office of Senate Floor Analyses | | |(916) 651-1520 Fax: (916) | | |327-4478 | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- THIRD READING Bill No: SB 1259 Author: Runner (R) Amended: 4/21/16 Vote: 21 SENATE TRANS. & HOUSING COMMITTEE: 10-1, 4/19/16 AYES: Beall, Cannella, Allen, Bates, Gaines, Galgiani, Leyva, McGuire, Mendoza, Roth NOES: Wieckowski SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: 6-0, 5/9/16 AYES: Lara, Beall, Hill, McGuire, Mendoza, Nielsen NO VOTE RECORDED: Bates SUBJECT: Vehicles: toll payment: veterans SOURCE: Author DIGEST: This bill exempts vehicles displaying certain veteran-specific license plates from paying tolls in California. ANALYSIS: Existing law: 1)Makes every vehicle using a toll bridge or toll highway liable for any tolls or other charges that may be prescribed and prohibits a person from evading or attempting to evade the payment of those tolls or charges. 2)Exempts from toll payment properly marked emergency vehicles that are displaying exempt California license plates and either traveling to or returning from urgent or emergency response. SB 1259 Page 2 3)Requires that if a vehicle is found by automated devices (including cameras), visual observation, or otherwise to have evaded a toll, the toll operator must issue a notice of toll evasion violation to the registered owner of the vehicle within 21 days of the violation. If the toll operator is unable to obtain accurate information concerning the identity and address of the registered owner within 21 days of the violation, it shall have an additional 45 calendar days to issue the notice. This bill exempts from toll payment any vehicle registered to a veteran and displaying one of the six California license plate types that are only available to qualifying veterans. These veterans include: 1)Disabled veterans; 2)Pearl Harbor survivors; 3)Members of the Legion of Valor, which includes recipients of the Army, Navy, and Air Force Medals of Honor, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, and the Navy and Air Force Crosses; 4)Former American prisoners of war; 5)Recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor; and 6)Recipients of the Purple Heart. Comments 1)Purpose. According to the author, there are few daily opportunities for the public to express gratitude for the sacrifices made by our most distinguished veterans. This bill provides such an opportunity by requiring that a vehicle displaying one of the existing enumerated veterans' plates be exempt from tolls or other charges on toll roads or bridges. The author argues that this bill is an extension of the underlying state law which recognizes extraordinary military service through the issuance of specialized veterans' license plates. 2)What is covered? This bill applies to tolls and other charges on toll roads, high-occupancy toll lanes, toll bridges, toll highways, or other toll facilities. SB 1259 Page 3 3)Who is covered? This bill does not excuse all veterans from paying tolls. Rather, it exempts vehicles displaying special license plates that can only be obtained by veterans who meet specific, additional criteria and can provide official documentation of their status to the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). Special plates are available to veterans who have been prisoners of war, veterans who survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, veterans who have been severely disabled in the course of their service, and veterans who have received particular distinctions (e.g., the Purple Heart, the Congressional Medal of Honor). As these examples suggest, the special plate requirement limits the scope of this bill to a small subset of California veterans. The DMV indicates that there are 24,672 vehicles currently registered with specialized license plates that qualify for this bill's toll exemption. 4)De minimis impact? Supporters of this bill argue that due to the small number of covered veterans, the bill's impact on revenues from toll highways and bridges would be de minimis. It is important to bear in mind, however, that distinguished veterans already receive similar small courtesies, such as discounted fishing licenses and free admission to California state parks. There are currently two bills before the Legislature that further reduce hunting and fishing license fees for veterans. Unlike programs that enhance veterans' access to education, health care, housing, or employment, these small benefits do not substantively improve veterans' opportunities or quality of life. They do, however, deprive public agencies of funds. While any such benefit taken in isolation may seem de minimis, the more that are permitted, the greater the cost to the rest of California's citizens, who must make up the difference. 5)Slippery slope? Exempting veterans from toll payment in California raises the question of whether various other groups will seek similar treatment. Unlike the exemption for emergency vehicles engaged in emergency response, this exemption is not based on a specific and tangible need. As such, this bill may open the door to additional toll SB 1259 Page 4 exemptions. FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.:YesLocal: No According to the Senate Appropriations Committee: 1)Unknown, likely minor revenue losses to various local tolling and regional entities that operate toll facilities. (local funds) 2)Unknown, likely minor foregone state revenues, to the extent the Department of Transportation develops and operates state toll facilities. (State Highway Account) SUPPORT: (Verified5/9/16) Antelope Valley Veterans Community Action Coalition China Lake Alliance Disabled American Veterans, Antelope Valley Chapter OPPOSITION: (Verified5/9/16) Metropolitan Transportation Commission Prepared by:Sarah Carvill / T. & H. / (916) 651-4121 5/11/16 15:44:21 **** END **** SB 1259 Page 5