Bill Text: CA AB911 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Emergency telecommunications medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.
Sponsorship: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)
Status: (Engrossed) 2025-07-02 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [AB911 Detail]
Download: California-2025-AB911-Introduced.html
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION
Assembly Bill
No. 911
| Introduced by Assembly Member Carrillo |
February 19, 2025 |
An act to add Section 43109 to the Health and Safety Code, relating to air pollution.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 911, as introduced, Carrillo.
Emergency telecommunications medium- and heavy-duty zero-emission vehicles.
Under existing law, the State Air Resources Board has adopted the Advanced Clean Fleets Regulations, which imposes various requirements for transitioning local, state, and federal government fleets of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, other high-priority fleets of medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and drayage trucks to zero-emission vehicles, as provided.
This bill would exempt emergency telecommunications vehicles owned or purchased by emergency telecommunications service providers that are used to participate in the federal Emergency Alert System, to provide access to 911 emergency services, or to provide wireless connectivity during service outages from specified requirements in the above-described regulations.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:(a) Communications systems are critical to transmit information that first responders rely on during a crisis, including the restoration of telecommunications services to health care providers following a disaster. The ability of first responders to communicate must be dependable and time sensitive to help minimize the risk to life, property, and recovery during emergencies.
(b) Bucket trucks are operated under various weather and geographic conditions and must restore operations during prolonged power outages. Zero-emission vehicle mandates for these trucks should not hinder a public or private entity’s ability to
respond to major disruption events, including, but not limited to, severe weather, wildfires, natural disasters, and physical attacks, and to maintain reliable communications services to California communities.
SEC. 2.
Section 43109 is added to the Health and Safety Code, to read:43109.
(a) Notwithstanding any other law, Article 3.4 (commencing with Section 2015) of Chapter 1 of Division 3 of Title 13 of the California Code of Regulations does not apply to an emergency telecommunications vehicle owned or purchased by an emergency telecommunications service provider that is used to participate in the federal Emergency Alert System, to provide access to 911 emergency services, or to provide wireless connectivity during service outages.(b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply:
(1) “Emergency telecommunications service provider” means either of the following:
(A) A public or
private entity that is required to participate in the federal Emergency Alert System or to provide access to 911 emergency services.
(B) A public or private entity that provides wireless connectivity services in emergencies or during other wireless connectivity services outages, including, but not limited to, providing support to the federal First Responder Network Authority and the Nationwide Public Safety Broadband Network.
(2) (A) “Emergency telecommunications vehicle” means either a bucket truck or a cell on wheels unit.
(B) “Bucket truck” means a vehicle configured with an affixed personnel or aerial lift system with a control platform at the end of the lift with a space for the operator to stand and work above the ground.
(C) “Cell on wheels unit” means a mobile unit vehicle configuration that is equipped with telecommunications infrastructure, including, but not limited to, antennas or network equipment, that is typically mounted on a platform and that enables the rapid deployment of temporary network coverage in remote areas or during emergency situations.
