BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    




                    Appropriations Committee Fiscal Summary
          
                                           2591 (Leno)
          
          Hearing Date:  8/04/04          Amended: 7/7/04        
          Consultant:  Lisa Matocq            Policy Vote: E, U & C  
          8-1 
                                                                       
                                         Pub Saf 6-0        
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          BILL SUMMARY:  AB 2591 modifies numerous statutes governing  
          taxicabs and charter-party carriers, e.g., limousines.  
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                          Fiscal Impact (in thousands)

           Major Provisions                    2004-05             2005-06   
                      2006-07            Fund

           PUC                    Increased costs of $100-150  
          one-time.          Special*
                                 Costs should be offset by increased  
          fee 
                                 revenues.
          Fine revenues                      Minor increased revenues  
                           General
          Local agencies          Probably not substantial,  
          nonreimbursable    Local
                                  costs 

          *Public Utilities' Commission Transportation Reimbursement  
          Account        
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          STAFF COMMENTS:   Among other things, this bill: 

           requires the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to ensure  
            that charter-party carriers operate on a prearranged  
            basis, and that specified information is included on  
            waybills or trip reports; 
           authorizes local agencies to establish rules for the  
            inspection of waybills; 
           modifies the fine for operating a charter-party carrier  
            or taxicab without a valid permit or certificate, from  










            $1,000 to $5,000 depending on the conviction number, to  
            $2,500 for a first conviction, and $5,000 for a  
            subsequent conviction; 
           authorizes the PUC, after a hearing, to impose a fine of  
            up to $5,000 per violation on a person or corporation  
            operating a charter-party carrier as a taxicab without a  
            valid certificate or permit. 

          Increased costs to the PUC could be $100,000 to $120,000 to  
          adopt regulations. Public Utilities' Commission  
          Transportation Reimbursement Account revenues are derived  
          from fees imposed on limousine services and other  
          charter-party carriers. Therefore, any increased costs to  
          the PUC should be recovered from fee revenues. 

          The average annual civil fine revenues from charter-party  
          carriers is about $15,000. There could be unknown, probably  
          not substantial, increased General Fund revenues to the  
          extent that the PUC imposes fines on charter-party carriers  
          operating as taxicabs without a valid certificate or  
          permit.