BILL NUMBER: SB 1455	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Kehoe

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2010

   An act to add Section 740.12 to the Public Utilities Code,
relating to electric vehicles.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1455, as introduced, Kehoe. Electric vehicles: electric vehicle
owner education handbook.
   Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has
regulatory authority over public utilities, including electrical
corporations and gas corporations, as defined. Existing law requires
the PUC, in cooperation with the State Energy Resources Conservation
and Development Commission (Energy Commission), the State Air
Resources Board (state board), air quality management districts and
air pollution control districts, electrical and gas corporations, and
the motor vehicle industry, to evaluate and implement policies to
promote the development of equipment and infrastructure needed to
facilitate the use of electric power and natural gas to fuel
low-emission vehicles.
   Existing law requires the PUC, in consultation with the Energy
Commission, the state board, electrical corporations, and the motor
vehicle industry, to evaluate policies to develop infrastructure
sufficient to overcome any barriers to the widespread deployment and
use of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles and, by July 1, 2011, to
adopt rules that address related matters.
   This bill would require, by January 1, 2013, the PUC, in
consultation with the Energy Commission, electrical corporations, the
motor vehicle industry, and the California Electric Transportation
Coalition, to develop an electric vehicle owner handbook containing
specified information.
   Under existing law, a violation of the Public Utilities Act or any
order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the
commission is a crime.
   Because the provisions of this bill are within the act and require
action by the commission to implement its requirements, a violation
of these provisions would impose a state-mandated local program by
creating a new crime.
   The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
   This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this
act for a specified reason.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: yes.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 740.12 is added to the Public Utilities Code,
to read:
   740.12.  (a) By January 1, 2013, the commission, in consultation
with the State Energy Conservation and Development Commission,
electrical corporations, the motor vehicle industry, and the
California Electric Transportation Coalition, shall develop an
electric vehicle owner education handbook.
   (b) The handbook shall contain information that does all of the
following:
   (1) Notifies an owner of an electric vehicle about the necessary
energy requirements for safely using an electric vehicle charging
device from a garage or an in-home outlet, by means of an attached or
detached dwelling unit that provides electricity.
   (2) Notifies an owner of an electric vehicle who should be
contacted to ensure that electrical features at the charging location
conform to any applicable code.
   (3) Provides examples of hazards to avoid when charging an
electric vehicle and examples of a safe charging environment.
  SEC. 2.  No reimbursement is required by this act pursuant to
Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California Constitution because
the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency or school
district will be incurred because this act creates a new crime or
infraction, eliminates a crime or infraction, or changes the penalty
for a crime or infraction, within the meaning of Section 17556 of the
Government Code, or changes the definition of a crime within the
meaning of Section 6 of Article XIII B of the California
Constitution.