BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 1418|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 1418
Author: Wiggins (D)
Amended: 4/26/10
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 6-2, 4/20/10
AYES: Lowenthal, DeSaulnier, Kehoe, Oropeza, Pavley,
Simitian
NOES: Huff, Ashburn
NO VOTE RECORDED: Harman
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 6-3, 5/10/10
AYES: Kehoe, Alquist, Leno, Price, Wolk, Yee
NOES: Cox, Walters, Wyland
NO VOTE RECORDED: Corbett, Denham
SUBJECT : Highway call boxes and motorist aid services
SOURCE : Metropolitan Transportation Commission
DIGEST : This bill makes a number of changes to the
statute governing service authorities for freeway
emergencies.
ANALYSIS : Under current law, a county board of
supervisors and the city councils of a majority of the
cities having a majority of the population of cities within
the county may establish a service authority for freeway
emergencies. In the larger regions, the regional
transportation agency may function as the service authority
CONTINUED
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for any member county whose board of supervisors and
majority of cities so authorize.
A service authority for freeway emergencies may impose a
fee of $1 per year on vehicles registered in the county.
The authority must use these funds for the implementation,
maintenance, and operation of a system of call boxes on
freeways, expressways, unincorporated county roads, and
state highway routes that connect these roads. The
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California
Highway Patrol (CHP) must each review and approve plans for
implementation of a system of call boxes proposed for any
state highway route and receive reimbursement from the
service authority for all costs incurred due to review and
approval of the plan.
If the funds from the $1 vehicle registration fee exceed
the amount needed to implement, maintain, and operate the
call box system, the authority may use the excess funds to
provide additional motorist aid services or support,
including, but not limited to, changeable message signs,
lighting for call boxes, support for traffic operations
centers, and freeway service patrols.
This bill makes a number of changes to state law governing
service authorities for freeway emergencies. Specifically,
this bill:
1. Requires an authority to spend it funds on
implementation, maintenance, and operation of a motorist
aid system of call boxes on the portions of the state
freeway and expressway system, the county expressway
system, the unincorporated county roads in that county,
and the state highway routes that connect segments of
these systems, that are located within the county in
which the authority is established.
2. Revises the allowable uses for any money received which
exceeds the amount needed for full implementation and
ongoing costs to maintain and operate the call box
system by authorizing the funds to be used on
implementation, maintenance, and operation of systems,
projects, and programs to aid and assist motorists,
including, but not limited to, freeway service patrol,
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mobile roadside assistance systems, intelligent
transportation systems, incident management programs and
coordination, traveler information system programs, and
support for traffic operation centers.
3. Allows an authority to charge a fee of up to $2 per
vehicle in the county, in $1 increments.
4. Provides that an authority's amendment to its existing
call box plan is deemed approved if Caltrans and CHP do
not reject the amendment within 120 days of receipt.
5. Allows the Bay Area's Metropolitan Transportation
Commission (MTC), in counties where it functions as the
authority, to place call boxes in parking or roadway
areas in state and federal parks where telecommunication
services are unavailable, provided that MTC and the park
administrator agree.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
According to the Senate Appropriations Committee:
Fiscal Impact (in thousands)
Major Provisions 2010-11 2011-12
2012-13 Fund
SAFE fee revenues potential annual revenue gain
of up to $27,500 Local
if each SAFE imposed the additional $1 fee
DMV administration minor programming costs,
offset by fees Special*
* Motor Vehicle Account
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/12/10)
Metropolitan Transportation Commission (source)
California State Association of Counties
Placer County Transportation Planning Agency
Santa Cruz Regional Transportation Commission
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OPPOSITION : (Verified 5/12/10)
California New Car Dealers Association
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
demands on service authority programs have increased due to
additional congestion and changing technologies, and the
existing $1 service authority fee no longer provides
sufficient funding for authorities to a maintain existing
successful programs, address increasing demand for motorist
aid services, and take advantage of new technologies to
reach a more diverse customer base. Moreover, service
authorities have limited authority to implement a broader
range of motorist aid services to meet evolving needs.
This bill seeks to address these problems by allowing a $2
fee per vehicle and by providing more flexibility on what
services an authority may fund.
In addition, the author's office is interested in making it
easier to install call boxes at state and federal park
facilities. Over the past few years, a number of drowning
and other accidents have occurred at state beaches along
the Sonoma Coast where pay phones have been removed and
there is no cell coverage. Had call boxes been available,
witnesses could have called in the emergency, and emergency
crews could have arrived much sooner. This bill makes
clear that MTC may install and operate call boxes at such
remote parks.
ARGUMENTS IN OPPOSITION : Opponents argue that motorists
are already overburdened with hidden vehicle fees and
should not be subjected to further increases in the cost of
vehicle ownership unless they elect to tax themselves.
JJA:mw 5/28/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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