BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 290
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 13, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Bonnie Lowenthal, Chair
SB 290 (Correa) - As Introduced: February 14, 2011
SENATE VOTE : 36-0
SUBJECT : Neighborhood electric vehicles
SUMMARY : Extends the date by which Orange County may establish
a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV) transportation plan for
the Ranch Plan Planned Community from January 1, 2013, to
January 1, 2017; extends reporting requirement due dates
accordingly.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Defines a low-speed vehicle (also known as a NEV) as a motor
vehicle that is a 4-wheeled; can attain a speed of no more
than 25 miles per hour (mph) on a paved, level surface; and
has a gross vehicle weight rating of less than 3,000 pounds.
2)Generally, subjects drivers of NEVs to the same laws as
drivers of other vehicles.
3)Provides that NEVs qualify for relaxed federal motor vehicle
safety standards that require: three-point seat belts, running
lights, headlights, brake lights, reflectors, rear view
mirrors, and turn signals.
4)Prohibits NEVs from being operated on any roadway with a speed
limit in excess of 35 mph, except in areas where a NEV
transportation plan has been adopted.
5)Requires owners of registered NEVs to comply with financial
responsibility laws and requires NEV operators to possess a
driver's license.
6)Requires the cities of Lincoln and Rocklin, City of Fresno,
County of Amador and the Cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek and
Amador City, and County of Orange, if they adopt a NEV
transportation plan, to report to the Legislature on their
individual plans, the plans' effectiveness, and impact on
traffic flow and safety; also requires the cities to make
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recommendations to the Legislature on extending the sunset
date or expanding the authorizations for NEV transportation
plans statewide.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : The author notes that SB 956, Chapter 442, Statutes
of 2007, authorized development of a NEV Transportation Plan for
the Ranch Plan Planned Community, however, due to the decline in
the real estate market, the onset of project construction was
delayed. As a result, there was no information to report on
prior to this bill's November 2011 reporting deadline.
Given that construction is still underway, the sponsor is
requesting that the NEV transportation plan sunset date and
reporting deadlines specified in SB 956 be extended in order to
accommodate the delayed construction schedules. The author
notes that the proposed 2015 report and 2017 sunset dates would
provide sufficient NEV transportation experience for NEV users,
transportation managers, and law enforcement officials to
provide meaningful information in a report to the Legislature.
To date, the Legislature has authorized NEV transportation plans
in at least eight other locations and none of the jurisdictions
have reported serious problems as a result of having implemented
an NEV Plan. In fact, reports to the Legislature on authorized
NEV transportation plans for the cities of Lincoln and Rocklin
in Placer County indicate that not only should implementation of
the NEV plans continue, but similar programs should be created
statewide.
Despite widespread success with NEV plans, there remain several
outstanding public safety concerns with NEV plans including
conflicts with bicycles, appropriate and universal signage; and
the difficulty for a NEV making a left turn on a street with a
speed limit in excess of 35 miles per hour (mph) where the NEV
must cross traffic in order to move from a dedicated lane on the
right hand side of the roadway.
In recognition of these concerns, all of the existing statutory
authorizations for NEV plans have sunset dates. This bill
includes a 2017 sunset date for the same reason.
Arguing is support of this bill, the Orange County Board of
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Supervisors notes that the NEV transportation plan will help
Orange County implement its County General Plan goal of
developing a balanced transportation system and help to reduce
the vehicle miles traveled in the unincorporated area. The
Orange County Board of Supervisors also notes that the NEV plan
will help to create a sustainable development that reduces
gasoline demand and vehicle emissions by offering a cleaner,
more economical means of local transportation within the
community plan area. Additionally, the Orange County Business
Council notes that this bill would help Orange County provide an
innovative approach to improve mobility and help meet
requirements set forth in SB 375 (Steinberg) Chapter 728,
Statutes of 2008 which enhances California's ability to reach
its emissions reductions goals by promoting good planning with
the goal of more sustainable communities.
Previous legislation :
AB 61 (Jeffries) of 2011, would authorize the County of
Riverside or any city in the county to establish a NEV
transportation plan. That bill is being heard in the Senate.
AB 1781 (Villines), Chapter 452, Statutes of 2010, authorized,
until January 1, 2016, the City of Fresno to establish a NEV
transportation plan.
AB 584 (Huber), Chapter 437, Statutes of 2010, authorized the
County of Amador and the cities of Jackson, Sutter Creek and
Amador City to establish a NEV transportation plan.
AB 2963 (Gaines), Chapter 199, Statutes of 2008, extended until
2012, a pilot project in the cities of Lincoln and Rocklin under
which these cities may adopt NEV plans.
SB 375 (Steinberg), Chapter 728, Statutes of 2008, enhances
California's ability to reach its emissions reductions goals by
promoting good planning with the goal of more sustainable
communities.
SB 956 (Correa), Chapter 442, Statutes of 2007, authorized until
January 1, 2013, the County of Orange to adopt a NEV
transportation plan for the Ranch Plan Planned Community. A
report to the Legislature is required by November 1, 2011.
AB 2353 (Leslie) Chapter 422, Statutes of 2004, authorized an
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exemption to the prohibition on NEV operational speed limits for
the cities of Lincoln and Rocklin and established criteria for
the development of NEVs transportation plans.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
Rancho Mission Viejo (Sponsor)
Orange County Business Council
Orange County Board of Supervisors
Opposition
None received
Analysis Prepared by : Victoria Alvarez / TRANS. / (916) 319-
2093