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Legislative Bill Action SB 1466 (Alarcon). Contracts for Labor or in the U.S. economy by providing.jobs and support- Services. SB 1466 Provides that any entity that lng commerce across the nation. In an already enters into a labor contract for construction or Slowing economy, a $620 million transportation janitorial services, when the entity knows, or should funding cut would further aggravate the unemploy- know, that the contract does not provide funds merit rate. Furthermore, the California Department of sufficient to allow the contractor to comply with all Transportation estimates that a funding decrease of labor laws and regulations, is guilty of a misde- this magnitude would likely result in nearly 20,000 meanor and subject to civil penalties. Additionally, layoffs in California alone. It is imperative that all SB 1466 establishes a rebuttable presumption that measures are taken to prevent these cuts from the entity entering into a contract for labor or occurring. Staff: Natasha Fooman, Status: SenApps, services does not violate the provisions of this bill if Position: Support. the contract contains comprehensive information about the contractor and it's workforce. SB 1446 AB 2275 (Aanestad). Transportation. AB 2275 exposes public agencies to civil and criminal penal- would place restrictions on the flexibility to expend ties and undermines an agency's confidence in State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) determining the Iowerst responsible bidder. While monies on rehabilitation projects for local streets SB 1466 allows for a rebuttable presumption, an and roads. This flexibility granted local elected agency would have to require highly specific infor- officials is Critical to preserving the public's invest- marion, which is not usually known at the time of ment in the local system. Although only 7 percent contracting, be included in it's contracts in order forof the 75 percent programmed by regional agencies the agency to successfully assert a rebuttable is currently programmed for rehabilitation projects, presumption. This requirement makes obtaining the the flexibility remains critical for several reasons. rebuttable presumption exceptionally difficult, First, California is losing its investment in the local hence unnecessarily exposing public agencies to system. The backlog on the local system for reha- criminal and civil liability. We need your input! bilitation has grown to an $11 billion problem that Contact League staff if you have any concerns with is increasing by $400 million annually. Second, an SB 1466. Staff: Amy Brown/Natasha Fooman, Status: efficient use of all transportation monies is critical. SenLbr&lndRehHrg: 4/24, Position: Review and Allowing rehabilitation projects will save taxpayers 5 Comment. . to 10 times as much should a road deteriorate to the point of requiring reconstruction, which is an uncon- S JR 36 (Murray). Federal Highway Funding. tested eligible project within the STI P. Further, President Bush's recently released 2003 Federal should project delivery problems continue for budget proposes to reduce Federal transportation expansion projects rehabilitation pro~ects should infrastructure funding by $8.5 billion. Specifically, remain an option to put these taxpayer dollars to California's highway funding would decrease by work without delay. Third, Proposition 42 will not approximately $620 million from last year's level -- ~,rovide significant r~,w revenues to cities and an amount which exceeds that of any other state, counties to address this need until 2008-09, and in This reduction in spending would severely impact fact cities and counties will actually receive no California's cities. S JR 36 supports the efforts of the revenue in 2006-07 and 2007-08. The projected House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate to revenue stream under Proposition 42 is not nearly restore 2003,federal highway funding to the levels enough to declare victory over the local maintenance anticipated in the Transportation Equity Act for the and rehabilitation problem or to retire the backlog Twenty-First Century (TEA-21). As you know, outlined above. The League opposes placing any California's highway network plays an important role restrictions on the current flexibility of local elected Visit the League's Official Web Site--www. cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 5