BILL ANALYSIS
AB 2147
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 28, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 2147 (V. Manuel Perez) - As Amended: April 19, 2010
Policy Committee:
TransportationVote:11-1
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill establishes the following additional factors for
Caltrans to apply in ranking applications for grant awards under
the state Safe Routes to School (SR2S) Program:
1)The use of a public participation process that identifies
community priorities and ensures these priorities are
reflected in the grant application.
2)Provides a benefit to disadvantaged communities, defined as
those with annual median household income less than 80% of the
statewide median income.
FISCAL EFFECT
Minor absorbable costs for Caltrans to incorporate the
additional factors into its ranking methodology for SR2S
applications.
COMMENTS
1)Background . Caltrans administers two separate and distinct
SR2S programs-one federally funded and one state funded. The
federal program provides grants for infrastructure and
non-infrastructure projects (such as education and
enforcement). The state program provides grants only for
infrastructure projects. The goal of these programs is to
increase the number of children who walk or bicycle to school
by funding projects that remove barriers that prevent or
discourage them from doing so. Typical projects in these
programs include installing curbs, sidewalks, traffic signals,
AB 2147
Page 2
crosswalks, warning signs, and bicycle paths.
This bill modifies evaluation criteria for the state program
which was program was funded at $48.5 million in the latest
annual cycle (August 2009). Funds are distributed on a
statewide, competitive basis. Applications exceed available
funds by a 6:1 ratio.
Many perceive the program's outcomes as being successful in
encouraging children to be more physically active, and SR2S is
considered a critical program in the fight against childhood
obesity. With this in mind, Caltrans recently announced
efforts underway, along with the California Departments of
Public Health and Education, the Safe Routes to School
National Partnership, PolicyLink, and the California Rural
Legal Assistance Foundation, to review and analyze SR2S
funding practices to assess participation of low-socioeconomic
status schools and communities, primarily because the epidemic
of childhood obesity is especially prevalent in low-income
communities, where 30% of children and youth are overweight.
The review of funding practices is scheduled to be completed
by July 1, 2010.
2)Purpose . According to the author, AB 2147 is intended to
ensure disadvantaged communities receive equitable access to
SR2S funds by requiring Caltrans to give priority to proposals
that benefit these communities and provide community residents
with a stronger role in development of SR2S project proposals.
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081