BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1345
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Date of Hearing: August 3, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
SB 1345
(Berryhill) - As Amended June 20, 2016
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill:
1)Extends, from January 1, 2017, to January 1, 2020, the sunset
SB 1345
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on authorization for an Inyo County pilot program to designate
the combined use highway segments to connect off-highway
vehicle (OHV) trails and facilities within the county.
2)Extends, until January 1, 2019, the deadline for the County,
in consultation with the CHP, Caltrans, and the Department of
Parks and Recreation (DPR), to provide an evaluation of the
pilot to the Legislature.
FISCAL EFFECT:
Minor absorbable costs in 2018-19 for the CHP, Caltrans and DPR
to assist the County with its evaluation of the pilot project.
COMMENTS:
1)Background. AB 628 (Conway), Chapter 532, Statutes of 2011,
authorized Inyo County to conduct a pilot program, through
January 1, 2017, to designate road segments up to 10 miles in
length on county roads for combined use with OHVs and motor
vehicle traffic. The intent of the pilot is to link existing
OHV trails and trailheads, mostly on federal land, to OHV
recreational use areas with service and lodging facilities in
order to create a unified linkage of trail systems for OHV
users. Less than 2% of the county's 10,000 square miles is
privately-owned, and many of its nearly 18,000 residents use
OHVs as a common mode of transportation. Further, the county's
economy is reliant on tourism, its largest financial
contributor.
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2)Purpose. Due to delays in implementing the program, in part
due to litigation, only three combined use routes have been
opened and the remaining four additional approved routes are
slated to open this summer. The extension in this bill is
intended to provide the county with more time to implement and
evaluate the pilot program.
3)Opposition. The Sierra Club states that the bill fails to
address issues with the initial pilot including health and
safety concerns; noise and traffic increases in local
communities; air quality impacts from dust and emissions; and
impacts to natural resources.
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081