BILL NUMBER: SBX2 84	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 9, 2001

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 amended, 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  
cities, counties, or cities and counties  , determines to be
high priority traffic control signals.   The bill would authorize
the commission to grant 70% of the funds to a city, county, or city
and county for backup battery power for traffic control signals
retrofitted with light-emitting diodes.  
   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 appropriate $10,000,000 from the General Fund to
the commission for the purpose of providing matching grants pursuant
to the bill. 
   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  , operated by a city, county, or city and county, 
that the commission, in consultation with  the Department of
the California Highway Patrol   cities, counties, or
cities and counties  , determines to be high priority traffic
control signals.
   (b) Based on traffic factors considered by  the commission
 cities, counties, or cities and counties  ,
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   and presence of children, the commission
shall determine  a priority schedule for the installation of
battery backup power for traffic control systems.
   (c) The commission shall also develop  or adopt 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 
for the full operation of the traffic control signal or a flashing
red mode.  A city, county, or city and county may apply for a
matching grant for battery backup power for traffic control signals
retrofitted with light-emitting diodes .
   (d) Based on the criteria described in subdivision (c), the
commission shall provide  to the Department of
Transportation,   matching grants to  cities, 
counties, and cities  and counties backup battery systems
described in this section in accordance with the priority schedule
established by the commission pursuant to subdivision (b).   The
commission shall provide 70 percent of the funds for a battery backup
system, and the city, county, or city and county shall provide 30
percent.  
  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. 2.  The sum of ten million dollars ($10,000,000) is hereby
appropriated from the General Fund to the State Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission for the purpose of providing
matching grants for battery backup power for traffic control signals
retrofitted with light-emitting diodes pursuant to Section 25403.8 of
the Public Resources Code. 
  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.