BILL ANALYSIS
AB 163
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 163 (Mendoza)
As Amended June 1, 2007
Majority vote
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 7-3 APPROPRIATIONS 12-5
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|Ayes:|Eng, Bass, Carter, |Ayes:|Leno, Caballero, Davis, |
| |Hayashi, Hernandez, | |DeSaulnier, Huffman, |
| |Price, Torrico | |Karnette, Krekorian, |
| | | |Lieu, Ma, Nava, Solorio, |
| | | |Feuer |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
|Nays:|Emmerson, Horton, Maze |Nays:|Walters, Emmerson, La |
| | | |Malfa, Nakanishi, Sharon |
| | | |Runner |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Department of General Services (DGS) to
adopt regulations for the construction and renovation of state
buildings that require the inclusion of bicycle facilities,
showers, and clothing lockers. Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires DGS to adopt regulations, by July 1, 2009, for the
construction and renovation of state owned office buildings and
other buildings deemed appropriate by DGS, that require the
inclusion of bicycle facilities, including short and long term
parking, showers, and clothing lockers. In promulgating the
regulations, DGS is required to consider:
a) Guidelines established by the Sacramento Area Bicycle
Advocates State Bicycle Facilities - Statewide Policies and
Recommendations;
b) Guidelines established by the Association of Pedestrian
and Bicycle Professionals - Bicycle Parking Guidelines; and,
c) Input from the State Architect, other state agencies,
building and construction industry, recognized bicycle
advocacy groups, the League of California Cities, California
State Association of Counties, and other interested
organizations and the public.
AB 163
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2)Requires existing state owned office buildings, and other
buildings deemed appropriate by DGS, to be retrofitted to
include short term bicycle parking, by December 31, 2009.
3)Requires existing state owned office buildings, and other
buildings deemed appropriate by DGS, to include long term
bicycle parking, showers, and clothing for use by employees when
the building is renovated.
4)Requires DGS to make every effort to negotiate, or renegotiate,
state leases for inclusion of facilities for bicycle commuters
and visitors in state office buildings and other buildings
deemed appropriate by DGS.
5)Requires each state agency to develop a program to manage its
bicycle facilities so that bicycle parking and facilities are
fairly assigned and access to showers is available for its
employees.
6)Requires each state agency to develop a program to promote and
encourage bicycle commuting and the use of bicycles for
work-related trips.
EXISTING LAW establishes DGS as the state government entity
responsible for providing a broad range of business services to
government. DGS' functions include: procurement and contracting
for goods and services; real estate and design services for state
buildings; telecommunications; fleet management; information
services; publishing services; architectural services; energy
efficiency programs; legal services; and building maintenance.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee:
1)Costs to incorporate bicycle facilities into new and renovated
state office buildings, estimated by DGS at around $50,000 per
building, would be a minor increase to each project's cost.
Statewide, this would be a significant total cost over time,
however.
2)Assuming a similar cost to retrofit leased facilities and
assuming these additional costs would be incorporated into lease
costs, the impact would be an increase in lease costs, whose
impact would depend on the amount of state-occupied space in the
building and the terms of the lease. Again, these costs
AB 163
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probably would not be significant in any single building but
could be major statewide. These costs would occur over several
years. DGS indicates that the state leases about 1,800
buildings.
3)The cost to add high quality short-term bicycle parking to
state-owned buildings is unknown.
COMMENTS : According to the author's office: "The State of
California has goals regarding increasing transportation choice,
reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, conserving
energy, reducing greenhouse gases, improving social equity and
increasing physical activity to promote public health. Increased
levels of bicycling by state employees and by visitors to state
buildings will help reach all these important goals."
The Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates write in support: "The
state's policies towards bicycling have sometimes discouraged,
rather than encouraged, bicycle use by its employees and those in
the community. In many cases, cyclists face no or inadequate bike
facilities at their workplace. There may be no place to store
their bikes safely, shower or keep their clothes and other
personal items.
"The state's policies have been inconsistent between (and
sometimes within) departments, agencies and locations. There is a
hodge-podge of different arrangements. Some state employees enjoy
state of the art bike facilities while accommodations elsewhere
are substandard-making it difficult or impossible to bike commute.
Sometimes privileges or facilities are available to some
categories of employees, but denied to others.
"The state's bicycle facilities and policies should be a model to
all employers statewide. The state can help achieve some of its
most important goals by better serving cyclists. The state will
benefit from healthier employees in the process. Joggers and
other employees who exercise at lunch or before or after work can
also use the showers and lockers."
Analysis Prepared by : Ross Warren / B. & P. / (916) 319-3301
FN: 0001375