BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 1937
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 1937 (Gordon)
As Amended June 30, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |73-0 |(May 23, 2014) |SENATE: |34-0 |(August 7, |
| | | | | |2014) |
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Original Committee Reference: U. & C.
SUMMARY : 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
of the work is located within 500 feet of a school or hospital.
Specifically, this bill :
1)Requires the notification to include specified information.
2)Requires the gas corporation to maintain a record of the date
and time of any notification provided to the administration of
a school or hospital and any subsequent contacts with the
administration and actions taken, if any, in response to those
subsequent contacts.
The Senate amendments strike a provision that requires an
excavator or operator, as defined, including, but not limited
to, a gas corporation, to comply with those requirements.
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS : According to the author, "an increasing number of
significant natural gas pipeline accidents in California have
received attention throughout the country over the past several
years. The most visible of those took place in San Bruno in
late 2010, and additional natural gas accidents in Cupertino and
Roseville at the end of 2011 also highlight exactly how
pervasive our problems really are.
"There are numerous locations throughout California where a gas
pipeline exists on or adjacent to school and hospital property.
There have been an increasing number of instances where schools
are being evacuated due to gas pipelines being struck when
AB 1937
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maintenance or excavations are being performed, and these
circumstances have resulted in the public's safety being put at
risk. As such, there are currently no public noticing
requirements to schools (or hospitals) in statute or CPUC
[California Public Utilities Commission] regulations, regarding
noticing when maintenance or pipeline testing is being
performed, and AB 1937 will be a tool to improve the safety of
the public.
"Undoubtedly, it is in the public's best interest to ensure that
public gathering places, such as schools and hospitals, are
given ample notice of a gas company's pipeline maintenance or
testing, especially when the work is located in the direct
vicinity of some of California's most precious, and potentially
vulnerable, human resources."
Analysis Prepared by : DaVina Flemings / U. & C. / (916)
319-2083 FN:
0004452