BILL NUMBER: AB 877	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chu

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2015

   An act to amend Section  11007.1   14502
 of the Government Code, relating to transportation.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 877, as amended, Chu.  Transportation: property
acquisition.   Transportation.  
   Existing law creates the California Transportation Commission,
with specified powers and duties relating to allocation of
transportation capital funds through the state transportation
improvement program process and various other responsibilities.
Existing law provides for a commission of 13 members, composed of 9
members appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the
Senate, one member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, one
member appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, and, as ex officio
nonvoting members, one Member of the Assembly and one Member of the
Senate.  
   This bill would expand the commission to 15 members, with one
additional Member of the Assembly and one additional Member of the
Senate as ex officio nonvoting members.  
   Existing law provides various sources of funding for
transportation purposes, including the state highway system and local
street and road systems. These funding sources include, among
others, fuel excise taxes, vehicle weight fees, local transactions
and use taxes, and federal funds.  
   This bill would state findings and declarations and the intent of
the Legislature to enact legislation to find a funding stream to
supplement the fuel excise tax for transportation infrastructure
projects in California.  
   Existing law provides that when the Department of Transportation
or the High-Speed Rail Authority acquires title to real property for
highway or high-speed rail purposes, as specified, and leases that
property for commercial or business uses to the former owner for a
term exceeding 6 months, the department or authority, as the case may
be, may secure fire insurance for the property if the former owner
requests the coverage and the premium is included in the rental
agreed to be paid.  
   This bill would make nonsubstantive changes to these provisions.

   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

   SECTION 1.    The Legislature finds and declares as
follows:  
   (a) The state needs more funding to invest in road systems, but
the current financing methods are insufficient for the magnitude of
work. In comparison to other states, the Federal Highway
Administration found that California ranks 48th in rural interstate
conditions and 49th in the condition of urban interstates.  

   (b) California receives a large portion of its transportation
funding from a gasoline excise tax. In recent years, the revenues
from this excise tax have decreased. Even though the revenues have
decreased, the excise tax has stayed the same, creating a deficit in
funding available for transportation infrastructure projects. 

   (c) Therefore, it is the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation to find a funding stream to supplement the expected drop
in the fuel excise tax for transportation infrastructure projects in
California. One possibility would be to create a surcharge to be paid
by people who drive on the roads, highways, and bridges that will be
needing repair. It is the intent of the Legislature, if it enacts
such legislation, to ensure that such a surcharge would be fair to
all drivers. It is the further intent of the Legislature to explore
creating a two-tiered system, which would provide that a person who
drives a car made in 2005 or before would pay a lesser surcharge than
a person who drives a newer vehicle, and would continue to pay the
lesser surcharge if he or she purchases a newer, more fuel-efficient
vehicle. 
   SEC. 2.    Section 14502 of the  Government
Code   is amended to read: 
   14502.  The commission consists of  13   15
 members appointed as follows:
   (a) 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.
   (b)  One Member   Two Members  of the
Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and  one
Member   two Members  of the Assembly appointed by
the Speaker of the Assembly shall be ex officio members without 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 provision of law, a voting member of
the commission may serve on the High-Speed Rail Authority as
established in Division 19.5 (commencing with Section 185000) of the
Public Utilities Code. 
  SECTION 1.    Section 11007.1 of the Government
Code is amended to read:
   11007.1.  (a) The Department of Transportation, when it has
acquired title to any real property for highway purposes and leases
that property for commercial or business uses to the former owner for
a term exceeding six months, may secure insurance against the risk
of damage or destruction by fire if the former owner requests this
coverage and the premium therefor is included in the rental agreed to
be paid.
   (b) The High-Speed Rail Authority, when it has acquired title to
any real property for high-speed rail purposes and leases that
property for commercial or business uses to the former owner for a
term exceeding six months, may secure insurance against the risk of
damage or destruction by fire if the former owner requests this
coverage and the premium therefor is included in the rental agreed to
be paid.