BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  SB 1236
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          Date of Hearing:   July 2, 2014

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   SB 1236 (Monning) - As Amended:  April 24, 2014 

          Policy Committee:                              
          TransportationVote:15-0 (Consent)

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

           SUMMARY  

          This bill allows certain transit district employees to enforce  
          specified infractions and expands the actions constituting  
          violations with respect to transit district property,  
          facilities, or vehicles. Specifically, this bill:

          1)Provides that the following are infractions subject to a fine  
            of up to $75 for the first or second offense and a fine of up  
            to $250 for a subsequent offense or by community service:

             a)   Knowingly giving false information to a transit district  
               employee or security officer engaged in enforcement of a  
               district law or state ordinance or obstructing the issuance  
               of a citation for a violation of such.

             b)   Violating a transit district's conditions for boarding a  
               transit district vehicle with a bike and stowing the bike.

          2)Authorizes transit districts to designate employees, except  
            union-represented employees who drive revenue-generating  
            transit vehicles or contracted security officers, to enforce  
            specified infractions established in state law on transit  
            vehicles and district property.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Likely minor increase in fine revenue.

           COMMENTS  

           1)Background  . Current law allows several transit operators to  








                                                                  SB 1236
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            designate employees or contractors to issue citations for  
            various infractions listed in Penal Code Section 640, but not  
            those listed in Penal Code Section 640.5 and Public Utilities  
            Code Section 99170. Designated individuals must complete a  
            specialized training course and are not considered peace  
            officers and have no authority to carry weapons or exercise  
            the powers of arrest. According to the author, many transit  
            operators must contact their local law enforcement agencies to  
            enforce infractions on transit vehicles or in stations, which  
            is burdensome on understaffed law enforcement agencies.

           2)Purpose  . This bill authorizes all transit districts to  
            designate district employees, other than drivers or security  
            officers contracted by the district, to issue citations for  
            infractions on transit vehicles and on district property, and  
            establishes two additional infractions. The author contends  
            this bill will help transit operators increase safety on their  
            vehicles and facilities without creating additional burdens on  
            local law enforcement.  

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081