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 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Transportation |Vote:|11 - 3 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 Page 2 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 Page 3 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