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