BILL ANALYSIS �
SENATE COMMITTEE ON BUDGET AND FISCAL REVIEW
Mark Leno, Chair
Bill No: AB 1458
Author: Committee on Budget
As Amended: June 12, 2014
Consultant: Farra Bracht
Fiscal: Yes
Hearing Date: June 15, 2014
Subject: Budget Act of 2014: Transportation.
Summary: Provides for statutory changes necessary to enact
the transportation provisions of the Budget Act of 2014.
Background: As part of the 2014-15 budget package, AB 1458
makes statutory changes to implement the budget act.
Proposed Law:
This bill makes all of the following statutory changes:
1. Funding for the California Aid to Airports Program
(CAAP). Authorizes the Department of Transportation to
transfer funds from the Local Airport Loan Account
(LALA) to the Aeronautics Account to fund the CAAP if
funds in the LALA exceed projected needs and the
transfers do not reduce the fund balance below $5
million. The LALA provides discretionary state loans
to eligible airports. The CAAP provides grants to fund
operational safety and airport improvement projects
within California's air transportation system of 245
public-use airports and leverages about $275 million
in federal funds annually. This proposal would retain
a healthy fund balance so that loans could still be
provided to airports and, at the same time, increase
the funding available for projects at public-use
airports.
2. Right-of-Way Costs for Transportation Projects.
Closes a loophole in the state transportation
improvement program (STIP) process that programs and
allocates funds for transportation capital projects
over a multi-year period. This change would help to
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better ensure that project costs shown in the STIP
better reflect actual right-of-way purchase costs and
thereby improve the process for allocating
transportation funds.
3. Date of Program Adoption for the Active
Transportation Program (ATP). Changes the date of
adoption for the 2015 program of projects for the ATP
from April 1, 2015 to December 31, 2015, so that the
adoption of the initial program of projects does not
overlap with the call for projects for the second
round of funding. This is a one-time change. Beyond
this date, programs of projects would be adopted by
April 1 of each odd-numbered year, or alternatively,
on an annual basis. The ATP is intended to encourage
use of active modes of transportation such as biking
and walking.
4. AB 60 (Alejo), Chapter 524, Statutes of 2013,
Affidavit-Related Language. Allows an applicant to use
the Department of Motor Vehicle's driver's license
application to declare that he or she has never been
issued a social security number or is not presently
eligible for one. Existing law requires an applicant
to submit an affidavit attesting that he or she is
both ineligible for a social security account number
and unable to submit proof of authorized presence in
the United States.
5. Study of Advertising on Electronic Changeable
Message Signs. Requires the Department of
Transportation to report by January 10, 2015 to the
budget and appropriate policy committees of both
houses of the Legislature, on the subject of
advertising on electronic changeable message signs on
the state highway system. The report will assess the
feasibility of a pilot project and include estimates
of revenue.
6. Fresno County Proposition 42 Maintenance of Effort
Extension (MOE). Extends until June 30, 2020, Fresno
County's requirement that it meet its MOE currently
owed to its local Transportation Investment Fund for
the 2009-10 fiscal year. The extension of the MOE is
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conditioned on the County of Fresno continuing to
provide medical services to the indigent and
undocumented persons consistent with the eligibility
and benefit provisions that were in effect in the
2013-14 fiscal year.
7. Cap on Clean Air Vehicle Program. Increases the cap
on the "green sticker" Clean Air Vehicle program from
40,000 to 55,000. This program allows certain
low-emission and energy-efficient vehicles with a
single occupant to use high-occupancy vehicle lanes.
8. Study of Funding for the Off-Highway-Vehicle (OHV)
Trust Fund. Requires the Department of Transportation
in cooperation with the Department of Parks and
Recreation and the Department of Motor Vehicles to
conduct an updated study of OHV utilization to
determine the appropriate transfer of gas taxes to the
OHV trust fund. The study is due to the Legislature by
January 1, 2016.
Fiscal Effect: The funding related to the changes in this
bill is contained in the 2014-15 budget.
Support: NA
Opposed: NA
Comments: This bill provides the necessary statutory
references to enact the 2014-15 budget related to
transportation.
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