Sacramento CA: Special Legislative Session Update

Special Session Legislation
Governor Brown has called two special sessions to fix how California funds roads, highways and other infrastructure and the state’s core health program – Medi-Cal.

Included in this report below, are three legislative proposals on the first of two special sessions on transportation related funds and other infrastructure that should be monitored and tracked. In a future report, full background with supporting and opposing organizations will be provided.

The California State Senate held the first hearing in the Special Session on Transportation in early July. The newly-created Transportation Committee will be chaired by Senator Jim Beall (D), and Senator Anthony Cannella (R) will serve as vice chair.

Special Session committees will operate under different rules than Standing Committees. Legislative proposals will not need to be in print 30 days before they can be heard. Legislative proposals also will be exempt from the notice requirements that Standing Committees must follow – which will give legislators and the public less time to review each proposal.

Legislation that is approved with only a majority vote will take effect 91 days after adjournment of the Special Session unless they are urgency measures, which take effect immediately after the Governor signs them. Tax measures will still require a two-thirds vote. Legislative proposals will go through the Special Session Transportation Committee, but will then go to the Standing Appropriations for fiscal review.

SCA 1a (Huff – R) Motor Vehicles Fees and Taxes: Expenditure Restrictions

Summary

SCA 1a would constitutionally guarantee that the billions in transportation taxes already paid by California drivers are used only for transportation purposes – to fix highways and other transportation related projects.

SCA 1a was introduced on 06/19/2015 and is currently awaiting a hearing in Senate Rules Committee.

SB 2a (Huff – R) Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund

Summary

SB 2a would dedicate cap-and-trade taxes paid from putting gasoline production under Greenhouse Gas Emissions cap to improving California’s streets, roads, and highways.

SB 2a was introduced on 06/30/2015 and is currently awaiting a hearing assignment.

SB 3a (Vidak – R) Transportation Bonds: Highway and Road Projects

Summary

SB 3a would allow Californians to vote on whether they want to continue funding the High Speed Rail project, which is already estimated to cost $100 billion to complete, or redirect any money currently designated for High Speed Rail to repair or construct state highways, streets, and roads.

SB 3a was introduced on 07/01/2015 and is currently awaiting a hearing in Senate Transportation and Infrastructure Development Committee

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Robert Riechel

Senior Correspondent – San Bruno Patch

Photo Credit: San Bruno Patch Archives

http://SanBrunoPatch.com

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