BILL ANALYSIS
SB 1445
Page 1
Date of Hearing: August 4, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
SB 1445 (DeSaulnier) - As Amended: August 2, 2010
Policy Committee: Local
GovernmentVote:8-3
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill (a) authorizes a statewide increase of $1 on vehicle
registrations to fund state and regional land use planning
activities related to the implementation of SB 375 (Steinberg),
Chapter 728/2008, and (b) revises the membership and expands the
duties of the Planning Advisory and Assistance Council (PAAC)
within the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR).
FISCAL EFFECT
1)Increase in vehicle registration fees of $31 million annually
from 2011-12 through 2014-15, and about $15 million in
2015-16.
a) About $310,000 of the annual increase would be dedicated
to PAAC to fund its expanded duties.
b) The remainder would be directed to regional agencies to
assist them in development of their sustainable communities
strategies (required by SB 375) and regional blueprints.
2)One time programming and implementation costs of about
$100,000 for DMV to determine distribution of the revenues
based on the number of vehicles in each of the recipient
agencies' jurisdiction. Ongoing DMV administrative costs would
be deducted from fees collected prior to distribution to PAAC
and the local agencies.
SUMMARY (Continued)
SB 1445
Page 2
Specifically, the bill:
1)Increases the vehicle registration fee by $1 for registrations
between July 1, 2011 and January 1, 2016.
2)Requires the DMV, after deducting its administrative costs, to
deposit 1 % of the net revenues received from the additional
vehicle registration fee into the PAAC Fund, and to make the
funds available to the PAAC, upon appropriation by the
Legislature.
3)Requires DMV to distribute the remaining revenues from the fee
increase to metropolitan planning organizations (MPOs),
councils of governments (COGs), and transportation planning
agencies in areas outside of MPOs or COGs, based upon the
amount of fees collected from motor vehicles registered within
each jurisdiction.
4)Expands the membership of the PAAC to include: seven
representatives of regional planning organizations; one member
from the California Air Resources Board; one member from the
California Transportation Commission; one member from the
State Energy Resources Conservation and Development
Commission;, and one member each appointed by the Assembly and
the Senate.
5)Adds a variety of new duties to PAAC, including: working with
the strategic growth council, regional agencies, and local
governments to facilitate the implementation of regional
blueprint plans; providing recommendations to various state
entities relating to land use, housing, and transportation;
and reporting to the Legislation on regional performance
measures.
6)Requires that monies are to be used by the regional
organizations solely to develop a sustainable community
strategy or a regional blueprint plan that identifies land use
strategies to reduce the use of motor vehicles and achieve
greenhouse gas emission reductions from motor vehicles.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . This bill is sponsored by the California
Association of Councils of Governments (CALCOG) for the
purpose of providing a permanent funding source for the
SB 1445
Page 3
regional and local planning required to implement SB 375.
CALCOG asserts that a guaranteed revenue stream to the
regional transportation planning agencies is crucial to the
successful implementation of their responsibilities under SB
375.
2)Opposition. Caltrans opposes the bill, stating that the bill
is similar to last year's SB 406 (DeSaulnier), which was
vetoed by Governor Schwarzenegger. Caltrans notes that the
current bill does not address the issue raised by the governor
last year, which was that a fee increase for this purpose
should be subject to voter approval.
3)Background . Existing law requires MPOs to adopt regional
transportation plans directed at achieving a coordinated and
balanced regional transportation system. SB 375 requires that
each MPO include within its regional transportation plan a
sustainable communities strategy designed to achieve specified
targets for greenhouse gas emission reductions.
Currently, local agencies are authorized to form joint powers
agencies. Cities and counties in regions have exercised this
authority to form joint powers agencies called councils of
governments (COGs) to implement regional planning activities
required under state law, including regional housing needs
assessments and regional transportation plans. COGs generally
serve as federally recognized MPOs for transportation planning
purposes.
OPR within the governor's office serves as the state's
planning agency. The PAAC, located within OPR, is responsible
for various land use planning related activities, including
development of the State Environmental Goals and Policies
Report. OPR's director appoints the membership of the PAAC,
which must include three city representatives, three county
representatives, one representative from each of the regional
planning districts designated by OPR, and one representative
of Indian tribes with reservations in California.
The strategic growth council is required to recommend policies
to the governor, state agencies, and the Legislature to
encourage the development of sustainable communities and
provide local governments and regional agencies with data to
assist in planning sustainable communities.
SB 1445
Page 4
The state vehicle registration fee is $34, plus a $22
surcharge for additional personnel for the California Highway
Patrol. Local agencies are also authorized to impose separate
surcharges for a variety of specific programs ranging from
vehicle theft prevention to air quality programs.
Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081