BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                     AB 604


                                                                    Page  1





          Date of Hearing:  May 6, 2015


                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS


                                 Jimmy Gomez, Chair


          AB  
          604 (Olsen) - As Amended April 20, 2015


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          Urgency:  No  State Mandated Local Program:  NoReimbursable:  No


          SUMMARY:


          This bill authorizes public agencies, including, but not limited  
          to, the Regents of the University of California (UC) and the  
          Trustees of the California State University (CSU), to adopt  
          rules or regulations to restrict, or specify the conditions for,  








                                                                     AB 604


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          the use of electrically motorized skateboards on public property  
          under the jurisdiction of that agency. 


          The bill defines "electrically motorized skateboard" as any  
          four-wheeled device that has a floorboard designed to be stood  
          upon when riding that is not greater than 60 inches deep and 18  
          inches wide, is designed to transport only one person, and has  
          an electric propulsion system averaging less than 1,000 watts,  
          the maximum speed of which, when powered solely by a propulsion  
          system on a paved level surface, is no more than 20 miles per  
          hour.


          FISCAL EFFECT:


          Negligible fiscal impact.


          COMMENTS:


          Background and Purpose. Current law prohibits the use of  
          motorized skateboards in California.  This prohibition has been  
          in place since 1977 and came about in response to skateboards  
          that were being equipped with loud, polluting gas motors and  
          that had no brakes or other safety features. The motorized  
          skateboard of the 21st century is a very different product.  The  
          boards are difficult to distinguish from regular skateboards  
          while in use, are silent and produce no emissions, and include  
          brakes. 


          AB 604 defines an electrically motorized skateboard and  
          authorizes local governments and other specified entities, such  
          as universities on their campuses, to regulate their use.  
          Effectively, the bill treats electrically motorized skateboards  
          the same way that current law treats skateboards. According to  








                                                                     AB 604


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          the author, the current prohibition on motorized skateboards  
          "directly affects manufacturers that build this product right  
          here in California. It is unacceptable that an environmentally  
          conscious and safe product, assembled and designed in our state,  
          cannot be legally operated under existing law."





          Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)  
          319-2081