Amended  IN  Assembly  March 01, 2023
Amended  IN  Assembly  February 23, 2023

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill
No. 832

Introduced by Assembly Member Cervantes

February 13, 2023

An act to amend Sections Section 14502 and 14504 of the Government Code, relating to the California Transportation Commission.


LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


AB 832, as amended, Cervantes. California Transportation Commission: membership.
Existing law establishes the California Transportation Commission in the Transportation Agency. Existing law vests the California Transportation Commission with various powers and duties relative to the programming of transportation capital projects and allocation of funds to those projects pursuant to the state transportation improvement program and various other transportation funding programs. Under existing law, the commission consists of 13 members, including 9 members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and one member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, as specified. Existing law requires the Governor, in appointing those members to the commission, to make every effort to ensure, among other things, the commission has a diverse membership with expertise in transportation issues, taking into consideration factors, including, but not limited to, socioeconomic background and professional experience, which may include experience working in, or representing, disadvantaged communities.
This bill would delete the above-described requirement that the Governor, in appointing those members to the commission, make every effort to ensure the commission has a diverse membership with expertise in transportation issues and would instead require that at least one of those Governor-appointed members of the commission reside in, and work directly with, communities in the state that are disproportionately burdened by, and vulnerable to, high levels of pollution, including, but not limited to, communities with diverse racial and ethnic populations and communities with low-income populations. have expertise in transportation issues and professional experience that includes experience working in, or representing, disadvantaged communities.
Vote: MAJORITY   Appropriation: NO   Fiscal Committee: YES   Local Program: NO  

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:


SECTION 1.

 Section 14502 of the Government Code is amended to read:

14502.
 The commission consists of 13 members appointed as follows:
(a) (1) Nine members shall be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. One member shall be appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and one member shall be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, with neither of these members subject to confirmation by the Senate. A member appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall not simultaneously hold an elected public office, or serve on any local or regional public board or commission with business before the commission.
(2) Of the members appointed by the Governor pursuant to this subdivision, at least one shall reside in, and work directly with, communities in the state that are disproportionately burdened by, and vulnerable to, high levels of pollution, including, but not limited to, communities with diverse racial and ethnic populations and communities with low-income populations. have expertise in transportation issues and professional experience that includes experience working in, or representing, disadvantaged communities.
(b) One Member of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and one Member of the Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly shall be ex officio members without a vote and shall participate in the activities of the commission to the extent that such participation is not incompatible with their positions as Members of the Legislature.
(c) Notwithstanding any other law, a voting member of the commission may serve on the High-Speed Rail Authority as established in the California High-Speed Rail Act (Division 19.5 (commencing with Section 185000) of the Public Utilities Code).

SEC. 2.Section 14504 of the Government Code is amended to read:
14504.

(a)In appointing members, the Governor shall make every effort to ensure that there is a geographic balance of representation on the commission as a whole, with members from the northern and southern areas and from the urban and rural areas of the state.

(b)Each member of the commission shall represent the state at large.