If enacted, AB 687 would not introduce sweeping changes to state highway regulations but would refine the language related to route numbering as established by the California Transportation Commission. The bill maintains the current structure overseen by the Department of Transportation while attempting to improve the clarity and understanding of how state routes are documented and referenced in legal and regulatory contexts.
Summary
Assembly Bill No. 687, introduced by Assembly Member Chen on February 15, 2017, seeks to amend Section 231 of the Streets and Highways Code concerning the classification and identification of state highway routes. The existing law grants the Department of Transportation the authority over all state highways and stipulates how these routes are numbered. AB 687's proposed changes are characterized as nonsubstantive, aimed at clarifying terminology rather than altering existing regulatory functions significantly.
Contention
While AB 687 primarily seeks to make administrative changes without significant impact on policy or funding, it represents a continuous effort to streamline state bureaucratic processes. However, as with many legislative proposals, discussions may arise around the need for any changes to be initiated at all when current laws already adequately cover the required protocols. Some legislators might question whether resources should be allocated to revise language that seemingly has little effect on policy implementation.