BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1518
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 18, 2012
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 1518 (Perea) - As Amended: April 10, 2012
Policy Committee: Business and
Professions Vote: 9 - 0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill authorizes any weighmaster weighing any vehicle moving
construction materials to use an unattended weighing system to
weigh the vehicle and issue a weighmaster certificate to buyers
who opt to utilize the unattended system.
FISCAL EFFECT
1)The Weighmaster Enforcement Program is funded by license fees
and approximately 70% of that revenue is generated from deputy
weighmaster license fees. In fiscal year 2010-2011, the
program generated approximately $1,368,930.
2)Allowing unattended weighing systems for the 1,445 licensed
companies that deal in bulk construction materials,
cementitious materials, ready-mixed concrete and recycled
construction materials would result in an increase in
inspection costs for unattended weighing systems likely in
excess of $1.5 million per year.
3)Replacing licensed deputy weighmasters with unattended,
automated weight systems would result in the loss of at least
$100,000 per year in licensing revenue.
COMMENTS
1)Rationale . The intent of this legislation is to streamline and
modernize the process used to ensure that construction
commodities sold in bulk based on their weight are weighed
correctly. The author notes that the current weighmaster
certificate system was developed in 1916 and has not been
AB 1518
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updated to reflect technological developments.
2)Background . Administered by the California Department of Food
and Agriculture, the Weighmaster Enforcement Program assures
that commercial transactions based on quantities certified on
a weighmaster certificate are accurate. The program licenses
as weighmasters, individuals or firms who weigh or measure
bulk commodities and issue certificates of accuracy.
The Weighmaster Enforcement Program seeks to provide customer
confidence when buying or selling bulk products based on
quantities represented on a weighmaster certificate by
ensuring uniformity, fairness and honest competition in the
marketplace.
A weighmaster is a person or business that weighs, measures,
or counts a commodity and issues a written statement of that
quantity, referred to as a weighmaster certificate. It is a
legal document used as the basis to buy or sell the commodity
described on the certificate.
3)Related Legislation . AB 1782 (Hill) exempts medical waste
handlers from recording parcel weight information on
weighmaster certificates. That bill is currently awaiting
hearing in the Senate.
Analysis Prepared by : Julie Salley-Gray / APPR. / (916)
319-2081