BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2679
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CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 2679 (Transportation Committee)
As Amended August 23, 2012
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |75-0 |(May 17, 2012) |SENATE: |34-0 |(August 29, |
| | | | | |2012) |
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Original Committee Reference: TRANS.
SUMMARY : Makes various non-substantive, technical changes to
transportation-related provisions.
The Senate amendments :
1)Clean up statutes to reflect relinquishments that have already
occurred and those that will not occur.
2)Authorize the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to
relinquish to the City of Watsonville a portion of State Route
(SR) 152 within the city limits upon terms and conditions the
CTC finds to be in the best interests of the state.
3)Allow for an alternate placement location for a license plate
on the rear of certain tow trucks to ensure that the view of
the license plate is not obstructed by the swing arm.
4)Codify regulations relative to bus stop placement and
authorize private school officials to designate school bus
stops.
5) Clarify the term "slide back carrier" as it is used in the
description of a tow truck and replace the term "conventional
trailer" with "trailer."
6)Clarify that a law enforcement agency must confirm the
validity of a registered owner's license and registration and
prior to authorizing the release of an impounded vehicle.
7)Delete provisions related to obsolete requirements for new car
dealers regarding the sticker requirement for rear seat belts
in older model cars.
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8)Make related, clarifying changes.
9)Include chaptering out amendments.
AS PASSED BY THE ASSEMBLY , this bill:
1)Aligned the amount that the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) is authorized to pay for damage
claims with limits associated with small claims court.
2)Removed obsolete references to the regional transportation
planning agencies for Los Angeles and Imperial Counties.
3)Updated the Transportation Development Act to replace the term
"handicapped" with the term "disabled."
4)Aligned the adjustment dates of the gasoline and diesel fuel
sales taxes with excise tax rates to reduce the time and costs
associated with adjusting the rates at two different times.
5)Allowed the Board of Equalization (BOE) to notify fuel vendors
of a new prepayment rate by means other than United States
mail.
6)Made clarifying references to the additional sales tax on
diesel fuel set to take effect on July 1, 2011.
7)Updated descriptions of various routes on the State Highway
System to reflect relinquishments since 2009.
8)Deleted obsolete requirements for new car dealers regarding
the sticker requirement for rear seat belts in older model
cars.
9)Corrected erroneous citations regarding the Solano
Transportation Authority's allotments to align it with current
practice.
10)Permitted riding a bicycle paved paths or walkways of the
State Capitol to access bicycle parking racks.
11)Made other related, clarifying changes.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, the bill will result in the following costs:
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1)Unknown one-time costs --minor to millions of dollars-- to the
Caltrans prior to the relinquishment of SR 152 to Watsonville
(State Highway Account). These costs would be offset in
future years due to avoided maintenance costs on the
relinquished segment. Additionally, the bill would result in
unknown likely savings to Caltrans (State Highway Account)
related to avoided legal staff costs by authorizing more minor
damage claims to be settled through an administrative process
rather than through referral to the California Victims.
2)Likely minor administrative savings to the BOE related to
provisions that align rate-setting dates for fuel excise taxes
with the adjustment dates for the sales tax prepayment rate
and the interstate user rate, as specified.
3)Minor and absorbable costs to the California Highway Patrol to
approve bus stop locations for private schools.
COMMENTS : The Assembly Transportation Committee as well as the
Senate Transportation and Housing Committee traditionally author
an annual omnibus bill, combining multiple, non-controversial
changes to statutes into one bill, so that the Legislature can
make minor amendments in a cost-effective manner. There is no
known opposition to any item in the bill, because if concerns
arise that cannot be resolved, the provision of concern is
deleted from the bill.
Analysis Prepared by : Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-
2093
FN: 0005644