Administration of Justice 01/07/2011
Brown Act/Sequential Meetings
AB 23 (Smyth) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on December 6, 2010
AB 23, by Assembly Member Cameron Smyth, would, in its current
form, prohibit a local legislative body from holding serial
meetings of other legislative bodies that consist of a quorum of
the initially convened body.
It is our understanding that the author is seeking to address a
situation that came to light in the City of Bell whereby a
sitting body reconstituted itself into other legislative bodies
for serial meetings and collected payment for each. The author
has indicated that the measure is a work in progress, and
amendments to narrow the language to address the issue of serial
meeting compensation are anticipated.
Staff will provide updates on this measure as more information is
available. Counties are encouraged to contact CSAC with questions
or concerns.
AB 23 is awaiting committee assignment.
Public Safety Funding
AB 66/AB X1 9 (Chesbro) – Support
As Introduced December 13, 2010
AB 66 and ABX1 9, by Assembly Member Wes Chesbro are identical
measures seeking to extend the Vehicle License Fee (VLF)
dedicated to the Local Safety and Protection Account (LSPA). The
two bills, in their introduced forms, merely eliminate the
provision setting a sunset on the authority to charge 0.15
percent of VLF and direct the related proceeds to the LSPA. As
counties are aware, the LSPA supports a range of local public
safety programs benefiting county sheriff, probation, district
attorney and local police agencies.
As outlined previously, the dedication of the 0.15 percent of VLF
to local public safety purposes came about as a result of a
budget deal passed in February 2009. Under current law, the
authority for the VLF increase and, accordingly, the dedication
of these resources to the LSPA will expire on June 30, 2011.
Given the advance time that the Department of Motor Vehicles must
have to prepare and mail its vehicle registration renewals, it is
imperative that the Legislature act quickly. If there is a threat
that the VLF will be allowed to lapse back to the 0.65 percent
rate, preparations will need to be made as early as late March or
early April to prepare renewal bills at the lower rate.
CSAC is joining with other county associations and the local
public safety community to support the extension of the VLF
public safety increment. We view the range of funding sources
supported by the LSPA as vital to key prevention, enforcement,
and intervention efforts at the local level. CSAC has already
signaled its strong support for this measure in a letter to the
author.
AB 66 is awaiting committee assignment.
Confidential Home Addresses
AB 3 (Miller) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on December 6, 2010
AB 3, by Assembly Member Jeff Miller, would require any person
who, as permitted under current law, has requested to have his or
her residential address kept confidential by Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV), to supply the DMV with a current employment
address as an alternative.
AB 3 is seeking to preserve the ability of specified public
officials to keep their residential addresses confidential, but
allowing government agencies access to current contact
information for these individuals should the agencies need to
process and service the collection of traffic, parking or toll
road violations. It is estimated that millions of dollars in
fines are not collected because the violator’s address is kept
confidentially by the DMV. By requiring these individuals to
provide the DMV with a current work address, state and local
government agencies will be better able, when necessary, to
recover payment.
CSAC is requesting that counties review the measure and provide
feedback as soon as is practical.
AB 3 is awaiting committee assignment.
Automated Traffic Enforcement Systems
SB 29 (Simitian) – Request for Comment
As Introduced on December 6, 2010
SB 29, by Senator Joe Simitian, is a reintroduction of his red
light cameras measure, SB 1362, of last year.
Counties will recall that last year, Senator Simitian sought to
regulate the use of red-light cameras. As introduced, SB 29
largely mirrors the version of SB 1362 that remained in the
Assembly Appropriations Committee in 2010. The measure seeks to
do the following:
- Prohibit revenue generation beyond what is needed to cover the costs of red light camera operation to be a motivating factor in installing red light cameras.
- Expand the information that shall be included on the citation to the vehicle’s registered owner.
- Require signage to be posted near intersections where red light cameras are in operation.
- Require uniform guidelines for screening and issuing violations and for the processing and storage of confidential information, and establish procedures to ensure compliance with guidelines.
- Require manufacturers or suppliers to report on various facets of their automated speed enforcement cameras to the Judicial Council on an annual basis.
CSAC encourages counties that operate red light cameras in their
unincorporated areas – or are considering installing red light
cameras – to review this measure and provide feedback to CSAC
staff.
SB 29 is currently awaiting committee assignment.