BILL ANALYSIS �
AB 2355
Page 1
Date of Hearing: May 7, 2014
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Mike Gatto, Chair
AB 2355 (Levine) - As Amended: April 1, 2014
Policy Committee: Local
GovernmentVote:9 - 0
Transportation 13 -
0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: Yes
SUMMARY
This bill encourages local agencies to adopt standards for
recycled materials. Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires, by January 1, 2017, local agencies with jurisdiction
over streets or highways to do either of the following:
a) Adopt the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) standards for recycled paving materials and for
recycled base, sub-base, and previous backfill materials;
or,
b) Discuss why the standards are not being adopted at a
regularly scheduled public hearing of the local agency's
legislative or other governing body.
2)Authorizes local agencies to adopt standards that require even
more recycled materials than the Caltrans standards.
FISCAL EFFECT
Potential reimbursable state mandate, likely less than $25,000
statewide, to cover one-time county administrative costs.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . The author's intent is to increase the number of
cities and counties using more recycled road materials in road
construction. The author believes that if cities and counties
AB 2355
Page 2
have to formally consider adopting Caltrans recycled materials
standards, the discussion itself will necessarily include the
benefits of using recycled material, and thus, the bill will
lead to a greater use of recycled materials.
Supporters of this bill explain that when cities and counties
use standards other than Caltrans general standards, their
costs increase because they have to stop production and
restart with an entirely different mix. Increasing the number
of agencies that use identical standards will lower production
costs for the supplier.
2)Background . Caltrans has policies and procedures in place to
promote the use of recycled material whenever and wherever it
is cost-effective to do so. Caltrans' standards enable
contractors to use up to 100% recycled aggregate in road base,
up to 25% reclaimed asphalt pavement in asphalt pavement, and
recycled aggregates in concrete, provided they meet
performance standards. Since recycled materials generally are
less costly, contractors have a strong incentive to use as
much recycled material possible. Many California cities and
counties already use Caltrans's recycled materials standards,
although some rural counties have not adopted the standards
because recycled materials are not readily available.
3)Previous legislation . AB 812 (Ma), Chapter 230, Statutes of
2012, allows Caltrans to establish standards for the use of
40% reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) for hot asphalt mixes on
or before January 1, 2014, and requires Caltrans to report to
the Legislature regarding the progress toward developing and
implementing the standards on or before March 1, 2016.
Analysis Prepared by : Jennifer Swenson / APPR. / (916)
319-2081