Bill Text: CA SB241 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Neighborhood electric vehicles.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-08-10 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 156, Statutes of 2015. [SB241 Detail]

Download: California-2015-SB241-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 241	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  156
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  AUGUST 10, 2015
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  AUGUST 10, 2015
	PASSED THE SENATE  APRIL 23, 2015
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  JULY 16, 2015
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 21, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Bates
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Brough and Daly)

                        FEBRUARY 17, 2015

   An act to amend Sections 1965.3, 1965.6, and 1965.7 of the Streets
and Highways Code, relating to neighborhood electric vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 241, Bates. Neighborhood electric vehicles.
   Existing law, until January 1, 2017, authorizes the County of
Orange to establish a neighborhood electric vehicle (NEV)
transportation plan for the Ranch Plan Planned Community in that
county. Under existing law, operation of a neighborhood electric
vehicle in violation of certain provisions is an infraction.
   This bill would extend the operative period of these provisions
until January 1, 2022. By extending the operative period of a crime,
the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
   Existing law requires NEV lanes to be classified, as specified,
for the purposes of the NEV transportation plan for the Ranch Plan
Planned Community. Existing law requires that a lane used by both
NEVs and conventional vehicle traffic on a street with a speed limit
of 25 miles per hour or less be classified as a Class III NEV route.
   This bill would, instead, require that a lane used by NEVs and
conventional vehicle traffic on a street with a speed limit of 35
miles per hour or less be classified as a Class III NEV route.
   Existing law requires the county to provide a report to the
Legislature, by November 1, 2015, if the county adopts a plan as
authorized.
   This bill would, instead, require the county to provide that
report by November 1, 2020.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 1965.3 of the Streets and Highways Code is
amended to read:
   1965.3.  The transportation plan shall include, but is not limited
to, all of the following elements:
   (a) Route selection, which includes a finding that the route will
accommodate NEVs without an adverse impact upon traffic safety, and
will consider, among other things, the travel needs of commuters and
other users.
   (b) Transportation interfacing, which shall include, but not be
limited to, coordination with other modes of transportation so that a
NEV driver may employ multiple modes of transportation in reaching a
destination in the plan area.
   (c) Provision for NEV related facilities including, but not
limited to, special access points and NEV crossings.
   (d) Provisions for parking facilities, including, but not limited
to, community commercial centers, golf courses, public areas, parks,
and other destination locations.
   (e) Provisions for special paving, road markings, signage and
striping for NEV travel lanes, road crossings, parking, and
circulation.
   (f) Provisions for NEV electrical charging stations.
   (g) NEV lanes for the purposes of the transportation plan shall be
classified as follows:
   (1) Class I NEV routes provide for a completely separate
right-of-way for the use of NEVs.
   (2) Class II NEV routes provide for a separate striped lane
adjacent to roadways with speed limits of 55 miles per hour or less.
   (3) Class III NEV routes provide for shared use by NEVs with
conventional vehicle traffic on streets with a speed limit of 35
miles per hour or less.
  SEC. 2.  Section 1965.6 of the Streets and Highways Code is amended
to read:
   1965.6.  (a) If the County of Orange adopts a NEV transportation
plan for the Ranch Plan Planned Community pursuant to this chapter,
the county shall submit a report to the Legislature on or before
November 1, 2020, in consultation with the Department of
Transportation, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, and
local law enforcement agencies.
   (b) The report shall include all of the following:
   (1) A description of the NEV transportation plan and its elements
that have been authorized up to that time.
   (2) An evaluation of the effectiveness of the NEV transportation
plan, including its impact on traffic flows and safety.
   (3) A recommendation as to whether this chapter should be
terminated, continued in existence and applicable solely to the Ranch
Plan Planned Community, or expanded statewide.
  SEC. 3.  Section 1965.7 of the Streets and Highways Code is amended
to read:
   1965.7.  This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1,
2022, and as of that date is repealed, unless a later enacted
statute, that is enacted before January 1, 2022, deletes or extends
that date.
  SEC. 4.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.