BILL ANALYSIS �
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB 324 (Buchanan)
As Amended March 15, 2011
Majority vote
BUSINESS & PROFESSIONS 7-0 APPROPRIATIONS 11-5
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|Ayes:|Hayashi, Allen, Butler, |Ayes:|Fuentes, Blumenfield, |
| |Eng, Hill, Ma, Smyth | |Bradford, Charles |
| | | |Calderon, Campos, Davis, |
| | | |Gatto, Hill, Lara, |
| | | |Mitchell, Solorio |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+--------------------------|
| | |Nays:|Harkey, Donnelly, |
| | | |Nielsen, Norby, Wagner |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Department of General Services (DGS) to
consider specified factors in selecting a location for the
lease, lease with the option to purchase, construction, or
purchase of a state building in excess of 10,000 square feet.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires consideration of the location of the community or
population served by the state building.
2)Requires consideration of the residential location of the
workforce to be housed in the building, and priority may be
given to the locations that demonstrate the highest reduction
of miles traveled by its workforce.
3)Requires consideration of the availability and proximity of
high quality and frequent transit service, including regularly
operated bus lines that are operational at the time a state
agency occupies the building.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Requires DGS to prepare plans and specifications for any
public building constructed pursuant to the State Building
Construction Act of 1955, which generally sets forth
procedures for the acquisition and construction of state
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buildings.
2)States that the "Capitol Area Plan" (Plan) is the official
state master plan for development in the central city area of
the City of Sacramento for the location of state buildings and
other improvements. The Plan serves as a guide for future
state policy in the locating of state buildings and other
facilities in the metropolitan area.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, DGS indicates that, on behalf of state departments,
it enters into about 100 leases for new space each year, and
that most of these leases are for less than 10,000 square feet.
If one-fourth of this activity involved leases exceeding 10,000
square feet, and assuming the additional analyses regarding the
workforce to be housed at prospective state offices cost an
average of $2,000 (40 hours of staff time at $50 per hour), the
annual costs would average about $50,000 from the Service
Revolving Fund (ultimately funded by the General Fund and
numerous special funds depending on the particular state
departments involved).
COMMENTS : According to the author's office, "DGS currently does
not consider the residential locations of the majority of their
workforce when planning for the construction or acquisition of
new state buildings. As a result, communities with the highest
concentration of state workers often have to travel further
distances to get to work. California's shortage of public
transportation systems amplified this problem, particularly in
the rural areas of our state. This bill would allow the DGS to
consider where the workforce lives when planning the lease,
purchase or construction of a state building."
Currently, DGS has numerous statutes and mandates to comply with
when selecting state buildings. Executive Order D-46-01 ordered
that sound and smart growth patterns shall receive maximum
support consistent with the foregoing state priorities and
specified considerations.
According to the City of Elk Grove, it is the second largest
city in Sacramento County with a population of 140,000
residents. There are 12,625 Elk Grove residents that are state
government workers, and 76.9% of those workers, which equals
nearly 10,000 cars, drive to work alone. The remaining 12.7% of
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state workers residing in Elk Grove carpool. The resulting
impact of these motorists is an average annual commute of 7,195
miles per vehicle, totaling 90,836,875 miles for the entire
population.
Analysis Prepared by : Joanna Gin / B.,P. & C.P. / (916)
319-3301
FN: 0000187