Back

Legislative Committee

SYNOPSIS: 

The Legislative Committee considered agenda items including recommended positions on the following bills for which the Board will consider adopting positions:

 

AB 2835 (Hertzberg)	-- Urban Traffic Congestion
ACR 132 (Firebaugh)	-- Phase 3 Reformulated Gasoline
HR 3546 (McGovern)	-- Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2000
S 2083 (Robb)	-- Commuter Benefits Equity Act of 2000

RECOMMENDED ACTION

Approve the legislative positions recommended below.

Beatrice J.S. LaPisto-Kirtley, Chair
Legislative Committee

Attendance

The Legislative Committee met on June 9, 2000. Present were Committee Chair Beatrice LaPisto-Kirtley, Vice Chair Jane Carney, and Committee member Cynthia Verdugo-Peralta. Pursuant to the Procedures for Standing Committees of the Governing Board, adopted March 8, 1996, Norma Glover, AQMD Vice-Chair, was appointed as an ad hoc member of the Legislative Committee for the June 9, 2000, meeting only. Committee members Roy Wilson and Michael Antonovich were unable to participate.
(Attachment 1)

Washington Update

Peter Robertson, AQMD Washington Legislative Representative, provided the Committee with an update on activities in Washington. The House Appropriations Committee has passed the VA/HUD bill, which contains funding for EPA. The bill now passes to the House of Representatives for consideration. Funding for grants to air districts was included in the bill at $11 million above President Clinton's request. There has also been a fair amount of money set aside for tax cuts and with the possibility for reallocation of those resources, additional funding may be provided to fund some additional projects. Work will continue with members of the California Congressional delegation from the South Coast District to ensure that the Clean Air Technology Transfer Proposal is one of those projects that receives favorable consideration.

Sacramento Legislative Update

Allan Lind, AQMD Sacramento Legislative Representative, briefed the Committee on recent activities in Sacramento. (Attachment 2) A chart outlining clean air budget items was distributed. (Attachment 3) The school bus program negotiations between Senator Solis and the Governor's office have reached an impasse and Senator Solis has chosen not to pursue her bill, SB 1991, but rather defer to administrative procedures of the ARB to define how the funding for a school bus replacement program would be allocated.

Dr. Barry Wallerstein, Executive Officer, stated that all are in agreement that $50 million for the school bus program is a good thing, but the amount to spend on retrofit versus new buses is at issue.

Chair LaPisto-Kirtley requested a comparison chart indicating how many buses would be affected by retrofit, alternative fuel, etc. Dr. Wallerstein stated that a summary of the requested data is available and will be provided to the Board.

The California Chamber of Commerce has been circulating material alerting the Legislature to the AQMD's fleet rules to be considered by the AQMD Governing Board on June 16. Mr. Lind is circulating background information on the fleet rules to legislative offices. AB 2784 (Margett), which required that a multimedia review be done on mandatory fleet conversion rules, failed to pass from Assembly Appropriations. SB 1985 (Murray) which sought to revise the criteria and guidelines of the Carl Moyer Program was held in the Senate Appropriations Committee. Both bills are now considered dead.

Dr. Wallerstein stated that the Governing Board will consider a recommendation by Councilman Hal Bernson regarding AQMD's authority to require retrofit requirements for on-road motor vehicles either through ARB rulemaking or additional legislative authority.

Ms. Verdugo-Peralta asked about a bill mentioned to her by Senator Polanco regarding challenging AQMD's authority. Mr. Lind responded that he was not aware of the bill but would look into it.

Consideration of Resolution Supporting the Alameda Corridor-East Trade Corridor Project

Chair LaPisto-Kirtley stated that the Alameda Corridor East Project was formed by the San Gabriel Valley to mitigate additional trains traveling through the area. The resolution does not bind the AQMD in any way other than stating support for the Project. (Attachment 4)

Richard Alexander, Assistant to Board Member Coad, distributed a map outlining railroad tracks going through Fullerton-Placentia. According to authorities, 40 percent of the train traffic would go through Fullerton-Placentia. There are fewer grade separations in Placentia than any other location and it would seem logical that the resolution include Orange County and parts of San Bernardino and Riverside where the trains pass through.

Ms. Valdez stated that Governor Davis has proposed several million dollars for the Alameda East Corridor Project, which is divided between Los Angeles, Inland Empire and Orange, as part of the Transportation Congestion Relief Plan. The Legislative Committee voted to support the Resolution Supporting the Alameda East Corridor Project.

Recommended Positions on Bills

Staff provided analyses and recommendations on four bills and provided a brief description of each bill. (Attachment 5)
 

• AB 2835 (Hertzberg), authorizes the Governor to create an urban traffic congestion advisory committee, including representatives from government agencies, the private sector, and interested individuals. The Legislative Committee concurred with staff's recommendation to Support AB 2835.
  
  
• ACR 132 (Firebaugh), urges the Air Resources Board and the California Environmental Policy Council to conduct public hearings in the Los Angeles Air Basin and the San Francisco East Bay Area to discuss the potential impacts of proposed California Phase 3 Reformulated Gasoline (RFG) regulations on air quality, public health, and on the price and supply of gasoline. Ms. Valdez stated that this issue was raised at town hall meetings because of the potential increase in truck traffic with the use of ethanol in proposed Phase 3 RFG. The Legislative Committee concurred with staff's recommendation to Support ACR 132.
  
  
• HR 3546 (McGovern) and S 2083 (Robb), amend the Internal Revenue Code to provide a uniform dollar limitation for all types of transportation fringe benefits excludable from gross income. These two bills seek to increase the monthly tax-free benefit for transit passes and vanpool benefits from $65 to $175 per month, equal to the current parking benefit. The Legislative Committee concurred with staff's recommendation to Support HR 3546 and S 2083.

Other Business

Ms. Valdez stated that the Legislature will recess during July. With very little activity in Sacramento during that time, Ms. Valdez asked if the Committee members wished to cancel the July meeting and reconvene in August. The Committee agreed.

Public Comment

No public comment.

Ethnic Community Advisory Group

Attached for information is the Ethnic Community Advisory Group minutes for the April 12, 2000, meeting. (Attachment 6)

Attachments

1. Attendance Roster
2. Legislative Status Report
3. State Budget Update Chart
4. Resolution in Support of the Alameda East-Trade Corridor Project
5. Recommended Positions on Bills
6. Ethnic Community Advisory Group Minutes (April 12, 2000)

/ / /