BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 650
Page 1
GOVERNOR'S VETO
AB 650 (Blumenfield)
As Amended August 15, 2011
2/3 vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |51-25|(June 1, 2011) |SENATE: |23-15|(August 31, |
| | | | | |2011) |
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|ASSEMBLY: |52-24|(September 6, | | | |
| | |2011) | | | |
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Original Committee Reference: TRANS.
SUMMARY : Establishes the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Public
Transportation for the 21st Century (Task Force).
The Senate amendments :
1)Require the legislative appointments to be made earlier by
January 31, 2012, rather than March 31.
2)Specify the representation of the separate six appointments by
the Senate and the Assembly and require the selection of a
chair voted upon by the ten non-legislative Task Force
members.
3)Eliminate from the report the consideration of best practices
based on a review of transit systems worldwide as well
providing suggested scenarios for phasing in transit
development.
4)Require the submission of the Task Force report by September
30, 2012, instead of March 31, 2013.
5)Make this bill's provisions inoperative at an earlier date to
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March 30, 2013, and repeal its provisions on January 1, 2014,
unless extended by subsequent statutes.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Establishes the Department of Transportation (Caltrans) as the
multimodal transportation department within the state.
Requires it to develop the California Transportation Plan
(CTP), whose requirements were modified last year by SB 391
(Liu), Chapter 585, Statutes of 2009, to incorporate
greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction strategies and to
"identify the statewide integrated multimodal transportation
system needed to achieve the GHG reductions." SB 391 (Liu)
also requires Caltrans to complete an interim report by
December 31, 2012, and to include an overview of all
sustainable communities' strategies and assess how
implementation of the sustainable communities' strategies will
influence the configuration of the statewide integrated
multimodal transportation system. SB 391 also requires that
CTP consider mobility and accessibility as well as integration
and connectivity, among other items, relative to the study on
the movement of people and freight. Requires CTP first update
to be completed by December 31, 2015, and updated every five
years.
2)Establishes the Strategic Growth Council (Council) and
requires it to take certain actions with regard to
coordinating specified programs of member state agencies, and
to manage and award grants and loans to support the planning
and development of sustainable communities. Provides for the
Council's staff, chair, and meetings, and allocates $500,000
of Proposition 84 (Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and
Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Bond Act
of 2006) funds for support of the Council.
3)Vests the Governor's Office of Planning and Research (OPR)
with responsibility to serve the Governor for long-range
planning and research, and constitute the comprehensive state
planning agency for California. Creates the Planning Advisory
and Assistance Council, within OPR, to engage in the
formulation, evaluation and updating of long-range goals and
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policies for land use, population growth and distribution,
urban expansion, development, open space, resource
preservation and utilization, air and water quality, and other
factors that shape statewide development patterns and
significantly influence the quality of the state's
environment.
4)Mandates, under federal law, the development of a 20-year
state and regional long-range transportation plan as a
pre-requisite for receipt of federal transportation funds.
The plan is required to be developed in cooperation with the
state's metropolitan planning organizations, local
transportation officials, Native American Tribal Governments,
and other interested parties. It is also to be coordinated
with development of the transportation portion of the State
Implementation Plan, as required by the federal Clean Air Act.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill was substantially similar
to the version passed by the Senate.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, one-time $750,000 cost from the Public Transportation
Account for the Task Force, which is to cover the cost of
meetings, listening sessions, consulting contracts, and Caltrans
support staff.
COMMENTS : According to the author, the "demand for transit
services has increased around the state, especially as fuel
prices have risen, traffic congestion has grown, and
Californians look for ways to cut commuting expenses and their
environmental impact. In recent years the situation has
worsened as sources of funding once dedicated to maintaining and
growing transit service have not been stable and reliable. Due
to this, service has been reduced, putting drivers out of work
and leaving bus and rail riders scrambling for other ways to get
to jobs and school. On average, traffic congestion around the
state has increased by 11% last year and should only get worse
as the economy improves and more people get behind the wheel to
get to work. Los Angeles is one of top three most congested
cities in the nation, each driver spending an equivalent of a
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week and a half of a regular work week in traffic. A
comprehensive report produced by a task force of qualified
representatives is necessary to provide viable solutions to our
statewide public transportation problems. The task force will
draw upon expert research that lays out the current state of
mass transit in the state, what the state needs to do to ensure
the system meets demand, how much it would cost, and practical
recommendations on how to pay for that system."
Last year, SB 391 (Liu) (see "Existing Law" section above) was
enacted to ensure that Caltrans include, in the development of
the CTP, GHG emission reduction strategies and to "identify the
statewide integrated multimodal transportation system needed to
achieve the GHG reductions." SB 391 also requires Caltrans to
complete an interim report by December 31, 2012, and to include
an overview of all sustainable communities' strategies and
assess how implementation of the sustainable communities'
strategies will influence the configuration of the statewide
integrated multimodal transportation system.
Additionally, pursuant to SB 732 (Steinberg), Chapter 729,
Statutes of 2008, the Strategic Growth Council was established
to, among other items, "to recommend policies and investment
strategies and priorities to the Governor, the Legislature, and
to appropriate state agencies to encourage the development of
sustainable communities, such as those communities that promote
equity, strengthen the economy, protect the environment, and
promote public health and safety."
Further, the Planning Advisory and Assistance Council, within
OPR, is established to also formulate, evaluate, and update
long-range goals and policies for land use, population growth
and other factors that influence the quality of the state's
environment.
It is envisioned that the Task Force will involve the above
entities in assisting in the development of their report.
Writing in support of this bill, the California Transit
Association indicates that "?public dollars once dedicated to
maintaining and expanding transit services have been cut (over
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$5 billion since FY 07-08) to accommodate the state's chronic
General Fund deficits. As a result, service has been cut around
the state, putting drivers and maintenance staff out of work and
leaving bus and rail riders scrambling for other ways to get to
jobs, school, and even doctor's appointments. AB 650 will help
provide the legislature with some perspective on the current
cost and demand for public transportation, including how to pay
for it, which we hope will lead to smarter planning and
allocation of state resources?"
GOVERNOR'S VETO MESSAGE :
"This bill would mandate yet another "blue ribbon" task force:
in this case to prepare a report on public transportation at the
cost of at least $750,000.
"This is a matter well within the jurisdiction and competence of
the Assembly and Senate Transportation Committees. Moreover,
Caltrans and the California Transportation Commission are also
equipped to probe into these matters.
"Rather than creating a new entity, let's use the resources we
have."
Analysis Prepared by : Ed Imai / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
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