BILL ANALYSIS �
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 842|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 842
Author: Knight (R), et al.
Amended: 4/22/14
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION & HOUSING COMMITTEE : 11-0, 4/8/14
AYES: DeSaulnier, Gaines, Beall, Cannella, Galgiani, Hueso,
Lara, Liu, Pavley, Roth, Wyland
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : Senate Rule 28.8
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SUBJECT : Highway directional signs
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires that the Department of
Transportation (Caltrans) erect signs, at appropriate locations,
on state highway routes, directing motorists to each veterans
home of California.
ANALYSIS : Existing law assigns Caltrans the responsibility of
operating and maintaining the state highway system, including
the installation and maintenance of highway signs. In
administering its duties, Caltrans has developed guidelines to
use when considering whether to erect non-required signage along
the state's highways, or what Caltrans refers to as
"supplemental destination signage."
Supplemental destination signs give information to motorists
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regarding the location of specific destinations, such as
historical sites, cultural centers, and tourist attractions,
which are accessible from an upcoming highway exit. Caltrans
has established specific qualifying criteria for certain
destinations considered traffic generators, for example:
Post-secondary schools (public or private) with a minimum
enrollment of 1,000 students each week;
Museums, zoos, stadiums, and sports arenas (publicly owned and
nonprofit) with a minimum of one million in annual attendance;
Convention centers (publicly owned) with a minimum of 500,000
in annual attendance;
Fairgrounds (publicly owned and operated) with a minimum of
500,000 in annual attendance;
Governmental centers with a 5,000 minimum number of employees.
The operative theory regarding these criteria is that only those
facilities that generate a substantial amount of traffic should
receive highway signing. For destinations such as veterans
homes, for which attendance criteria are not specifically
identified in its manual, Caltrans considers destination signs
only when "unusual operational or safety issues become apparent
that would be mitigated by signing."
The Department of Veterans Affairs maintains eight veterans
homes in the state to provide long-term care to resident
veterans. These live-in, residential care facilities offer
comprehensive services and social activities for veteran
residents, and range in size from 60 to over 1,000 residents.
Veterans who are over 55 years old, or disabled, and discharged
from active military service under honorable conditions are
eligible to apply for admission.
This bill rerquires that Caltrans erect signs, at appropriate
locations, on state highways directing motorists to each of
California's veterans homes, consistent with the signing
requirements of the state highway system, upon receiving
donations from non-state sources sufficient to cover the signage
costs.
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Comments
The author states that Caltrans currently has an inconsistent
policy on highway signage to veterans homes. Homes in
Yountville, Barstow, and Chula Vista have highway signage, while
other homes in the state do not have signs. According to the
author, Caltrans denied requests for highway signage to three of
the homes in 2011, and appeals thereafter. This bill would
streamline and make consistent the policy for erecting signage
to the homes.
The Department of Veterans Affairs states that veterans homes
are centers where veterans' organizations, community groups, and
others congregate to recognize and thank veterans for their
service. At each of the state's homes there are multiple
celebrations throughout the year including Veterans Day,
Memorial Day, Independence Day, Pearl Harbor Day, VE Day, VJ
Day, Flag Day, the birthdays of each military branch, Women's
Military History Week, and many more. While the veterans homes
may have as few as 60 permanent residents, their community
impacts are much larger. They have become hubs where veterans
and the community come together.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 4/29/14)
American Legion Auxiliary Unit 221
American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California Sign Association
California State Commanders Veterans Council
City of Lancaster
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of
Chapters
Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce
Veterans Caucus of the California Democratic Party
Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
West Los Angeles Neighborhood Council
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JA:nl 4/30/14 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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