BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | AB 1696|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: AB 1696
Author: Wieckowski (D)
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
SENATE GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE : 8-2, 6/24/14
AYES: Correa, Cannella, De Le�n, Galgiani, Hernandez, Lieu,
Padilla, Torres
NOES: Berryhill, Vidak
NO VOTE RECORDED: Vacancy
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 53-21, 5/1/14 - See last page for vote
SUBJECT : Alternatively fueled vehicles: incentives
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill adds parking spaces with charging stations
for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) to the list of
incentives that the Department of General Services (DGS) and the
Department of Transportation (Caltrans) may provide when
implementing advanced technology vehicle parking incentive
programs in DGS parking facilities and Caltrans park-and-ride
lots.
ANALYSIS :
Existing law:
1.Assigns Caltrans the responsibility for overseeing the design,
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construction, maintenance, and operation of the California
state highway system and related facilities, including park
and ride lots.
2.Assigns DGS the responsibilities of business manager for the
state including property management and fleet administration.
3.Defines "alternatively fueled vehicles" as light, medium, and
heavy duty vehicles that reduce petroleum usage and related
emissions by using advanced technologies and fuels such as
hybrid, plug-in hybrid, battery electric, natural gas, or fuel
cell vehicles.
4.Requires DGS and Caltrans to develop and implement advanced
technology vehicle parking incentive programs, to the extent
feasible, in public parking facilities of 50 spaces or more
operated by DGS and park-and-ride facilities owned and
operated by Caltrans to incentivize the purchase and use of
alternatively fueled vehicles in the state.
5.Requires that advanced technology vehicle parking incentive
programs provide meaningful, tangible benefits for drivers of
alternatively fueled vehicles and specifies that incentives
may include preferential parking spaces, reduced fees, and
alternative fueling infrastructure.
This bill adds parking spaces with charging stations for plug-in
hybrid and EVs to the list of incentives that DGS and Caltrans
may provide when implementing advanced technology vehicle
parking incentive programs in DGS parking facilities and
Caltrans park-and-ride lots.
Comments
The author's office notes that a potentially significant hurdle
that is discouraging people from moving to EVs and meeting the
Governor's ambitious and notable goals regarding EV vehicle
increases on California's roadways is the overall lack of
charging facilities. EVs still often have limited battery
capacity and may often require charging during the day for
commuters. The current relative dearth of EV charging stations,
however, risks dissuading potential buyers of EVs or failing to
meet consumer expectations once they purchase EVs. Reluctance
to install charging stations has also persisted even when the
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stations are offered at a significantly reduced cost. The
author states this bill will "seek to help address this part of
the EV infrastructure challenge to ensure California remains at
the forefront of this exciting technological and environmental
safety revolution."
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local:
No
SUPPORT : (Verified 6/24/14)
Union of Concerned Scientists
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : Supporters believe that the future is
starting now for EVs, with advanced electrified drivetrain
technology successfully entering the market. These electric
drive vehicles, including plug-in electric and hybrid electric
cars, could revolutionize transportation in the years to come,
reducing oil use and global warming emissions. They believe
that state parking lots can be an example by providing charging
stations in their lots.
ASSEMBLY FLOOR : 53-21, 5/1/14
AYES: Achadjian, Alejo, Ammiano, Atkins, Bloom, Bocanegra,
Bonilla, Bonta, Bradford, Buchanan, Ian Calderon, Campos,
Chau, Chesbro, Cooley, Dababneh, Daly, Dickinson, Eggman,
Fong, Fox, Frazier, Garcia, Gatto, Gomez, Gonzalez, Gordon,
Gray, Roger Hern�ndez, Holden, Jones-Sawyer, Levine,
Lowenthal, Medina, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Olsen, Pan,
Perea, V. Manuel P�rez, Quirk, Rendon, Ridley-Thomas,
Rodriguez, Skinner, Stone, Ting, Weber, Wieckowski, Williams,
Yamada, John A. P�rez
NOES: Allen, Bigelow, Ch�vez, Conway, Dahle, Donnelly, Beth
Gaines, Gorell, Grove, Hagman, Harkey, Jones, Linder, Logue,
Maienschein, Melendez, Nestande, Patterson, Wagner, Waldron,
Wilk
NO VOTE RECORDED: Brown, Hall, Mansoor, Quirk-Silva, Salas,
Vacancy
MW:e 6/25/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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