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7A Page 15 TRANSPORTATION, COMMUNICATION & PUBLIC WORKS AB 468 (Ruskin). Abandoned Vehicle Abatement. AB 468 revises current statute relating to the Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Program. Specifically, AB 468 clarifies the definition of "abatement" for service authorities that administer this program to provide more flexibility to use the fees imposed on vehicle registration, as well as the moneys received from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund, for the abatement and removal, orthe disposal of abandoned vehicles, To date, the abandoned vehicle removal programs in place have been quite successful. However, a recent interpretation of the current statute by the CHP has called into question the activities of many countywide authorities' activities. Their interpretation suggests that a countywide authority could only use the fees for the removal of vehicles, removal meaning the towing and destroying of abandoned vehicles. It is imperative for the health and safety of all California citizens, that the service authorities be allowed more flexibility to remove vehicles without these vehicles necessarily being destroyed. Staff: Liisa Lawson Stark; Status: SenAppr; Position: Support. AB 945 (Carter). Transportation Needs Assessment. AS 945 would require the California Transportation Commission (CTC) to develop an assessment of the unfunded costs of programmed state projects and federally earmarked projects in the state, as well as an assessment of available funding for transportation purposes and unmet transportation needs on a statewide basis. The legislation requires the process to be done every five years. An on-gong needs assessment is necessary to evaluate where our transportation infrastructure stands because of California's continual population growth and increasing vehicle miles traveled in the state. Staff: Uisa Lawson Stark; Status: SenAppr; Position: Support. SB 619 (Migden). Retention Proceeds. SB 619 would require that contract retention proceeds not exceed five percent of the payment of all contracts entered into after January 2008, between a public entity and an original contractor, between an original contractor and a subcontractor, and between all subcontractors. This bill removes the authority of public entities to decide the appropriate amount of retention. Local agencies commonly reduce retention to five percent at 50 percent completion of public works projects, if adequate progress is being made and the contractor is acting in good faith. However, sa 619 would require local agencies to reduce retention regardless of the progress or good faith of the contractor, thus protecting potential bad actors either unknown to the public agency or even known "bad actors". Thus, this measure protects those contractors and places at risk the public interest and public funds. The League has had many discussions in recent years regarding similar proposals (AB 1949: Conroy, 1996, vetoed; AB 940: Miller, 1997, vetoed; AB 806: Keeley, 1999, vetoed); however, we continue to express concern over these measures because we have yet to see specific examples where 10 percent retention is problematic. On the other hand, we have specific examples from cities opposed to these proposals because in certain instances current retention of 10 percent is inadequate. Staff: Liisa Lawson Stark; Status: AsmAppr; Position: Oppose. SB 717 (Perata). Transportation Investment Fund. SB 717 will continuously authorize sales tax revenue derived from the sale of motor vehicle fuels to be transferred to the Transportation Investment Fund (TIF) beginning in fiscal year 2008-09 under Proposition 42. SB 717 would also maintain the current distribution formula of the tax revenues at 20 percent to the Public Transit Account (PTA), 40 percent to the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP), and 40 percent to cities and counties (20 percent to cities and 20 percent to counties) for street and road purposes. Staff: Liisa Lawson Stark; Status: AsmAppr; Position: Support. Want To Send A Letter In Support Of A League Position? Here's Who To Call: SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE-(17)-Torlakson (Chair), Cox (Vice Chair), Aanestad, Ashburn, Battin, Calderon, Cedillo, Corbett, Correa, Dutton, Florez, Kuehl, Oropeza, Ridley-Thomas, Runner, Yee and vacancy. Phone: (916) 651-4101. Room: 2206. 7