California Senate Bill SB516 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: SB 516INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Fuller FEBRUARY 26, 2015 An act to amend Sections 2550 and 2557 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to highways. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 516, as introduced, Fuller. Transportation: motorist aid services. Existing law authorizes the establishment of a service authority for freeway emergencies in any county if the board of supervisors of the county and the city councils of a majority of the cities within the county adopt resolutions providing for the establishment of the service authority. Existing law authorizes a service authority to impose a fee of $1 per year on vehicles registered in the counties served by the service authority. Existing law requires moneys received by a service authority to be used for the implementation, maintenance, and operation of a motorist aid system of call boxes and authorizes moneys received by a service authority in excess of what is needed for that system to be used for additional motorist aid services, including, among other things, changeable message signs and lighting for call boxes. This bill would instead require that those moneys be used for service expenses associated with the implementation, maintenance, and operations of a motorist aid system. The bill would additionally authorize the use of those moneys for traveler information systems and other transportation demand management services, litter and debris removal, and Intelligent Transportation System architecture and infrastructure. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 2550 of the Streets and Highways Code is amended to read: 2550. The Legislature declares that its intent in enacting this chapter is to encourage  the placement of call boxes   a motorist aid system comprising multiple service elements and infrastructure  along the California Freeway and Expressway System to enable motorists in need of aid to obtain assistance. However, it is not intended that a motorist aid system  of call boxes  be considered an emergency  telephone  system. SEC. 2. Section 2557 of the Streets and Highways Code is amended to read: 2557. (a)  Except as provided in subdivisions (c) and (d), the   The  moneys received by each authority pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 9250.10 of the Vehicle Code shall be used for the implementation, maintenance, and operation of a motorist aid  system of call boxes,   system,  including the lease or lease-purchase of facilities and equipment for the system, on the portions of the California Freeway and Expressway System and a county expressway system, and the unincorporated county roads in that county, and on state highway routes that connect segments of these systems,  which   that  are located within the county in which the authority is established  as well as associated service expenses  . The  Department of Transportation   department  and the Department of the California Highway Patrol shall each review and approve plans for implementation of a motorist aid system  of call boxes  proposed for any state highway route and shall be reimbursed by the service authority for all costs incurred due to review and approval of the plan. (b) An authority or any other public entity may construct and maintain, and lease or lease-purchase on terms and conditions it deems appropriate, the facilities of a motorist aid system or it may contract with a private person or entity to do so. (c) If leases or lease-purchase agreements are entered into pursuant to subdivision (a), or if revenue bonds are issued and sold pursuant to Section 2558, the moneys received by each authority pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 9250.10 of the Vehicle Code shall be used to the extent necessary to make lease payments or to pay the principal of, and interest on, the amount of bonded indebtedness outstanding, as the case may be. Facilities and equipment acquired through the expenditure of proceeds from the sale of those bonds shall have a useful life at least equal to the term of the bonds. (d) (1) Any  money   moneys  received by an authority pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 9250.10 of the Vehicle Code  that exceeds the amount needed   may be used  for full implementation and ongoing costs to maintain and operate the motorist aid system  of call boxes, installed  pursuant to subdivision (a),  may be used  for purposes of paragraph  (2)   (2),  and for additional motorist aid services or support, including, but not limited to, the following safety-related projects:  (A) Call boxes.   (A)   (B)  Changeable message signs.  (B)   (C)  Lighting for call boxes.  (C)  (D)  Support for traffic operations centers.  (D)   (E)  Contracting for removal of disabled vehicles from the traveled portion of the right-of-way, including operation of the freeway service patrol pursuant to Chapter 15 (commencing with Section 2560).  (F) Traveler information systems and other transportation demand management services.   (G) Litter and debris removal.   (H) Intelligent Transportation System architecture and infrastructure.  (2) Any amendment to an existing plan for a motorist aid system  of call boxes  adopted by an authority for any state highway route shall, prior to implementation, be submitted to the  Department of Transportation   department  and the Department of the California Highway Patrol for review and approval and shall not be implemented until so reviewed and approved. The authority shall reimburse each department for the costs of that review. (e) An authority may develop policies for the retention of records, including, but not limited to, authority operations, contracts, and programs, and the length of the retention period. (f) A motorist aid system constructed, maintained, or operated pursuant to this section shall meet the applicable standards of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (Public Law 101-336) and federal regulations adopted pursuant thereto.