BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 1937
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 14, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                     AB 1937 (Gordon) - As Amended:  May 6, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              Utilities and  
          Commerce     Vote:                            12-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              No

           SUMMARY  

          This bill requires a gas corporation to provide at least three  
          days notice to a school or hospital prior to performing  
          excavation construction of gas pipeline maintenance or testing  
          if the work is located within 500 feet of a school or hospital.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible state costs.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Rationale.   According to the author, there are numerous  
            locations throughout California where a gas pipeline exists on  
            or adjacent to school and hospital property.  However, there  
            are no public noticing requirements to schools or hospitals in  
            statute or regulations, regarding noticing when maintenance or  
            pipeline testing is being performed.   
             
            This bill requires gas corporations to provide not less than  
            three days notice for excavation construction work to the  
            administration of a school or hospital.

           2)Background.   In January 2014, a gas line ruptured on the  
            campus of Mira Mesa middle school, forcing the shutdown of  
            nearby roads and the use of emergency crews to contain the  
            leak.  San Diego Gas & Electric crews examined the size of the  
            leak and stopped the flow of gas.  The ruptured line was also  
            in the vicinity of nearby Walker Elementary School and Miramar  
            College.  Investigators concluded that construction crews on  
            campus hit the line with a backhoe.   








                                                                 AB 1937
                                                                  Page  2


             In 2011, Century High School was evacuated and closed due to a  
            gas leak.  It was determined construction workers accidently  
            severed a four-inch gas line. The leak was detrimental enough  
            to close the school.  The gas company sealed the leak within a  
            few hours.

           3)Amendments.    Clarifying amendments are required to ensure the  
            provisions of the bill to apply to nonemergency activities.     
             
             

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Jennifer Galehouse / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081