With the end of the 2017-2018 legislative session, it’s an opportune moment to review the fortunes of some of the bills we have supported this year.
SB 328 (Portantino): This bill would have required middle and high schools throughout the state to start no earlier than 8:30 am. The Safe Routes Partnership took a support-if-amended position on the bill after consulting with stakeholders (read our statement here). In the end, the author did not incorporate our proposed amendments, but did exempt rural school districts entirely. The amended bill passed the State Legislature, but was vetoed by Governor Brown. We continue to believe that SB 328 is a worthy endeavour, and we will be pleased to work with the author if he resubmits it next session to balance start times and safety for kids walking and biking.
AB 2363 (Friedman): As we wrote in June, what started as an effort to allow jurisdictions to set lower speed limits was turned into an authorization for a “Zero Fatalities Task Force” after a compromise in the Assembly Transportation Committee. While we are frustrated that some legislators continue to feel the need to study traffic injuries when abundant proof already exists that speed kills, we are hopeful that this Task Force will lay out a clear path towards eliminating dangerous driving on California roads. Governor Brown signed the bill.
AB 2447 (Reyes): We were particularly enthusiastic about this bill, sponsored by many equity and environmental justice groups, that would have ensure that residents of disadvantaged communities can provide input on land use changes that could significantly impact neighborhood health. It passed the legislature, but was inexplicably vetoed by Governor Brown.
SB 961 (Allen): Governor Brown signed into law this bill sponsored by our partners at Move LA, which will ease the creation of Enhanced Infrastructure financing districts (EIFD) in exchange for more spending on affordable housing than under existing EIFD law. The bill was also amended in the Assembly to require that 10% of the funds raised through bonding be used for parks, active transportation infrastructure, or other specified purposes.
