BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 14
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 15, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                    AB 14 (Lowenthal) - As Amended:  May 6, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                               
          TransportationVote:13-2

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires development of the state freight plan.  
          Specifically, this bill:

          1)Requires the Transportation Agency to prepare a state freight  
            plan, with specified elements, to comply with the federal  
            Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) Act.

          2)Requires the agency to establish a freight advisory committee,  
            and specifies the committee's duties.

          3)Requires the state freight plan be submitted to the  
            Legislature, the Governor, the California Transportation  
            Commission, the Public Utilities Commission, and the Air  
            Resources Board by December 31, 2014 and every five years  
            thereafter.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Costs will be absorbable to prepare the plan and provide staff  
          support to the advisory committee. The bill is consistent with  
          current efforts to comply with federal law.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Purpose  . Last year, the federal transportation reauthorization  
            legislation (MAP-21) was enacted, which in part directs the US  
            Department of Transportation (US DOT) to develop a new  
            national freight program to provide a basis for federal  
            investment in trade-facilitating infrastructure development.  
            As a part of this effort, MAP-21 essentially:  








                                                                  AB 14
                                                                  Page  2


             a)   Encourages states to develop comprehensive plans for  
               immediate and long-range freight-related planning and  
               investments.  (To inform the development of these plans,  
               MAP-21 specifically encourages states to establish freight  
               advisory committees.)

             b)   Requires US DOT to establish a national freight network  
               to assist states in strategically directing resources  
               toward improved movement of freight on highways. 

             c)   Requires the establishment of freight project  
               performance measures.

            According to the author, this bill will ensure that the state  
            is well-positioned to inform federal policy decision-makers of  
            California's goods movement infrastructure needs.   
           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081