BILL NUMBER: SBX2 84	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Burton

                        JUNE 11, 2001

   An act to add Section 25403.8 to the Public Resources Code,
relating to energy, making an appropriation therefor, and declaring
the urgency thereof, to take effect immediately.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 84, as introduced, Burton.  State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission.
   Existing law requires the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission (Energy Commission) to undertake and implement
various programs regarding energy, and in order to achieve a
reduction in peak electricity demand, existing law appropriates to
the commission funds to be expended for various energy purposes.
   This bill would require the commission to develop and implement a
program to provide battery backup power for those official traffic
control signals that the commission, in consultation with the
Department of the California Highway Patrol, determines to be high
priority traffic control signals.
   The bill would require the Controller to reallocate an unspecified
sum to the commission from funds that are currently required to be
allocated by the controller to the commission for expenditure for
various energy purposes in order to accomplish the purposes of this
bill, thereby making an appropriation.
   The bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an
urgency statute.
   Vote:  2/3.  Appropriation:  yes.  Fiscal committee:  yes.
State-mandated local program:  no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  Section 25403.8 is added to the Public Resources Code,
to read:
   25403.8.  (a) The commission shall develop and implement a program
to provide battery backup power for those official traffic control
signals that the commission, in consultation with the Department of
the California Highway Patrol, determines to be high priority traffic
control signals.
   (b) Based on traffic factors considered by the commission,
including, but not limited to, traffic volume, number of accidents,
and presence of children, and in consultation with the Department of
the California Highway Patrol, the commission shall determine a
priority schedule for the installation of battery backup power for
traffic control systems.
   (c) The commission shall also develop the necessary technical
criteria as to wiring, circuitry, and recharging units for traffic
control signals. Only light-emitting diodes (LED) traffic control
signals are eligible for battery backup power.
   (d) Based on the criteria described in subdivision (c), the
commission shall provide to the Department of Transportation, cities,
and counties backup battery systems described in this section in
accordance with the priority schedule established by the commission
pursuant to subdivision (b).
  SEC. 2.  The sum of ____ dollars ($____) is hereby reallocated by
the Controller to the State Energy Resources Conservation and
Development Commission from funds appropriated and allocated pursuant
to subdivision (b) of Section 5 of Chapter 7 of the 2001-2002 First
Extraordinary Session for purposes of this act.
  SEC. 3.  This act is an urgency statute necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety within the
meaning of Article IV of the Constitution and shall go into immediate
effect.  The facts constituting the necessity are:
   Due to the shortage of electric generation capacity to meet the
needs of the people of the state and in order to limit the impact of
that shortage on the public health, safety, and welfare due to the
nonoperation of traffic control signal lights during anticipated
rotating blackouts, it is necessary that this act take effect
immediately.