HomeMy Public PortalAbout08 August 9, 1995 LegislativeAGENDA ITEM #9E
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
DATE: August 9, 1995
TO: Riverside County Transportation Commission
FROM: Louise Givens, Assistant Director Intergovermental Programs
SUBJECT: Legislative Report
This item is a report of the Legislative Committee Meeting and is presented as
recommendations for positions on current legislation and policy. This item is
recommended to the Commission as an action to adopt legislative and policy positions
as proposed by the Committee.
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Attachment
RIVERSIDE COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
(COMMISSIONERS ALEX CLIFFORD, KAY CENICEROS, TOM MULLEN)
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 9, 1995
11:30 A.M. -1:30 P.M.
NORCO CITY HALL, BOARD ROOM
2870 CLARK AVENUE
NORCO, CALIFORNIA
*NOTE: LOCATION CHANGE
AGENDA
1. WELCOME
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS
The item on the agenda is provided to allow members of the public the opportunity
to offer input on issues to come before this committee. Public comments will be
limited to three minutes for each person. Persons wishing to speak will provide
their name and affiliation for the record.
3. SACRAMENTO REPORT AND BUDGET UPDATES
This item is presented as a review of the Sacramento Legislative Report provided
by Consultants Smith-Kempton. The report by staff and the consultant will review
current activities in the Legislature and the status of the State Budget. Committee
is asked to recommend forwarding to the Commission for receive and file.
4. STATE LEGISLATION
4A. RCTC SPONSORED LEGISLATION
The current status of the legislation will be reviewed and the next steps in the
progress of these bills. The Committee is asked to review the attached bill
language and forward positions to the Commission of receive -and file for the first
two bills and support the amendments to the third:
4A(1). SB 457 (KELLEY) - RAIL FUNDING
This legislation has successfully advanced from the Senate to the Assembly
and has passed out of the Assembly Transportation Committee. The bill is
now scheduled for consideration in the Assembly Appropriations Committee
before going to the floor.
Legislative Committee
Page 2
August 9, 1995
4A(2).AB 772 (AGU/AR) - SEC 16 FUNDING FOR TRANSIT (Cosponsored)
This bill was heard in the Senate Transportation Committee on July 10th.
A strong campaign of opposition was developed by the insurance agency for
many of the state's elderly and handicapped transit providers. The author
has asked that the bill be carried over in the face of a committee vote that
could have killed the bill. Talks are now underway with representatives of
the rural counties who made up a significant portion of the opposition.
Further amendments to the bill will be developed in order to make the
language more acceptable to those areas. The bill will be brought back to
committee in upcoming committee sessions.
4A(3). AB 1795 (GRANLUND) - RIDESHAR/NG FUNDING EQUITY
The ridesharing program bill has had increasing number of interest groups
involved in recent weeks. The ongoing negotiations between Caltrans and
regional transportation agencies and the association of California Councils
of Governments (CALCOG) have failed to get a firm commitment from
Caltrans on the guidelines for the program. After many months of talks, the
effort continues. With the need to resolve the issue increasing at the change
of the fiscal year on July 1st, we have asked the author to take action by
writing to the Senate Transportation Committee Chairperson Quentin Kopp.
The letter is attached for review. Staff is working with Smith-Kempton and
CALCOG to draft amendments to the bill in order to codify the structure for
the Rideshare Program. Updates will be provided as the meeting when the
amendments should be available. The Committee is asked to comments on
the amendments and forward a recommendation of support to the
Commission.
5. OTHER SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION
5A. SB 75 (POLANCO) - TDA FUNDS FOR NON-TRANSPORTA770N USE
A bill was introduced in late July to specify the use of a portion of Los
Angeles Counties' funds under the Transportation Development Act be
diverted for use in resolving the financial crisis. The legislation called for
use of the funds for other than transportation purpose. The legislation
passed both sides of the General Assembly, but was vetoed by the
Governor. -Staff has taken action on this issue as an urgency matter and
forwarded a letter of opposition under Chairperson Clifford's signature. The
legality of this effort has also been questioned by staff and a response on
this issue from legal council will be presented at the meeting. Also included
for consideration is a law suit filed by the Professional Engineers in
California Govemment (PECG) to further clarify this issue. (See Item 6B
below.)
Legislative Committee
Page 3
August 9, 1995
5B. SB 501(CALDERON) - VEHICLE RETIREMENT - AIR QUALITY
Calderon's bill was carried over from a previous agenda at the Committee's
request for additional research on positions held by others. The bill has been
amended to address that opposition which related to adequacy and
assurances of the program. The amendments will add flexibility of funds
available for the program, prohibit the re -registration of vehicles previously
retired by the program, increase control of access to Department of Motor
Vehicles records and require smog inspections a licensed testing stations
to determine the emissions levels of a vehicle for inclusion in the scrappage
program. Staff recommends support of the amended version of the bill which
was changed to address issues raised by the environmental community.
5C. SB 780 (LEONARD) - ALTERNATIVE FUELS
Commercial and heavy-duty vehicles produce a disproportionate amount of
air pollution in relation to their numbers in the vehicle population. This bill
offers incentive programs to encourage replacement of high polluting
commercial vehicles, rather than establish mandates. The legislation
reinstates until the year 2001, a sales tax exemption for the incremental cost
of replacing commercial vehicles with low -emission vehicles; provides until
the year 2000, a tax credit of the differential cost of replacement with low -
emission commercial vehicles; and provides until the year 2000, a 50% tax
credit for the differential cost of low -emission vehicle refueling facilities. Staff
recommends a support position be adopted by the Committee and forwarded
to the Commission for action.
5D. SB 916 (HAYNES) - TOLL FACIUTY PRIVATE FINANCING
A bill to expand from 4 to 6 projects which can be developed in California as
private toll roads and has been previously opposed by the RCTC. The bill
was scheduled for hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee in April,
but was canceled at the author's request and has become a two year bill.
The author has indicated an understanding of the RCTC position and a lack
of readiness for the bill to continue at this time. Senator Haynes has
indicated a willingness to discuss the issues prior to advancing the bill. The
Committee is asked to accept these staff comments for receive and file.
Legislative Committee
Page 4
August 9, 1995
6. POLICY MATTERS
6A. "CONGESTION PRICING" POLICY
This item is provided as a review of the Commission's "Congestion Pricing" Policy
or Toll Facility policy adopted in February 1993. An amendment has been
proposed to the policy and additional language may be added as a result of this
Committee's recommendations. Staff recommends approval of the proposed
amendments to be forwarded to the Commission.
6B. PECG LAW SUIT - USE OF TRANSPORTATION FUNDS
The attached brief describes the law suit recently filed by the Professional
Engineers in California Government (PECG). The suit seeks to establish the
illegality of transfer of transportation funds in the State Budget to the General Fund
to be used for non -transportation purposes. The suit further seeks the repayment
to the State Highway Account and other transportation funds, amounts previously
transferred and utilized for other than transportation uses. Staff requests that the
Committee consider the issues in the suit and adopt a position of support for the
effort. The Committee may also wish to consider whether to join in the suit after
receiving an opinion from RCTC legal council, and recommend that further action
by the Commission.
7. FEDERAL LEGISLATION
A report will be provided on the trip to Washington, D.C. by Commissioner Tom Mullen and
staff for work on the projects forwarded for consideration for funding by members of
Congress and through various agency processes. The Committee may be asked to take
action on positions related to the current proposals for the Federal Budget, the National
Highway System (NHS) bill, transit funding and the AMTRAK reauthorization legislation.
OVERVIEW:
This item is provided as a review of the 1995 Legislative Program and for possible action
related to legislative positions and the Sacramento Monthly Report. A report will be
provided on the meeting of the Legislative Committee held in advance of the regular RCTC
meeting, with possible recommendations for action .