BILL NUMBER: SBX2 84	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 17, 2001
	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 to undertake and implement various programs
regarding energy.
   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 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 commission to
give priority to a city, county, or city and county that did not
receive a grant from the state for the installation of light-emitting
diode traffic control signals. 
   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 cities, counties, or cities and
counties, determines to be high priority traffic control signals.
   (b) Based on traffic factors considered by cities, counties, or
cities and counties, including, but not limited to, traffic volume,
number of accidents, and presence of children, the commission shall
determine a priority schedule for the installation of battery backup
power for traffic control systems.   The commission shall give
priority to a city, county, or city and county that did not receive a
grant from the state of California for the installation of
light-emitting diode traffic control signals. 
   (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 matching grants to cities, counties, and
cities and counties  for  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 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.