BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó




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          |SENATE RULES COMMITTEE            |                       SB 1259|
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                                   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.








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          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.








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          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  








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            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


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