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6-423 Legislative Bill Action ................................ ............................... AB 1625 (Benoit). Vehicles. Seat Belts. Fines. AB 1625 could potentially increase state and local revenue generated by penalty assess- ments and surcharges added to the base fines for seat belt use violations. AB 1625 increases the maximum penalty fine for an initial penalty from $22 to $65. It also increases the maximum penalty for repeat violators of the seat belt law from $55 to $140. Additionally the increase in fines could potentially act as a deterrent for none seat belt users. The bill passed out of Senate Appropriations on 8/25/03 by a vote of 7 -2. Staff: Natasha Fooman, Status: SenFlr, Position: Support. AB 625 (Spitzer) Towing. Storage Charge. AB 625, which could negatively impact a city's contracts with tow companies, is now a two year bill. The League will continue to work with the author to amend the bill next year. We encourage cities to send input on how to improve the bill to the League. Staff: Natasha Fooman; Status: SenApps, Position: Oppose. SB 966 (Alarcon). Prevailing Wages on Public Works: Contractor's Cost. Amendments made to SB 966 on 8/26/03 do not eliminate the problem of making a public agency liable when it does not explicitly require the developer to pay prevailing wages, even in cases where the public agency is uncertain as to whether the prevailing wages are required. However, the amendments lessened this problem for redevelopment agen- cies, which have now removed their opposition. For cities and other agencies, the bill could cost local agencies millions of dollars a year in added costs and penalties that should have been paid by others. For more information, and to view copies of the League opposition letters, please visit the League's website at www.cacities.oro /leatrackina. Staff: Natasha Fooman, Status: AsApps; Hrg -8/ 28, Position: Oppose. HOUSING AND LAND USE Don't Forget AB 1160 and SB 744: As the legislative session winds down, cities should be aware that there are two controversial land use bills likely to be revived. Although AB 1160 (Steinberg) and SB 744 (Dunn) are two- year - bills, they can move quickly in the next session. The League has opposed AB 1160 and SB 744 and strongly urges cities to go on record in opposition before both bills become eligible for action again in January. Sample opposition letters can be found on the League's website at www.cacities.ora /hced. AB 1160 (Steinberg). Second Units /Density Bonuses /Housing on School Sites: AB 1160 proposes a number of state mandates that would limit the ability of local governments to address complex issues associated with locating second units on single - family lots. Although, many local governments are still adjusting to the mandates imposed by last year's AB 1866 (Wriaht). which prohibited public hearings on second unit applica- tions, and created many unresolved legal issues, AB 1160 would go much further in dictating the specifics of these local ordinances: 1. Unit size: Requires local governments to permit units up to 1,200 square feet — the size of a three - bedroom home — in every neighborhood in the state. Local governments would have to permit even larger units if the size of the initial single - family home is greater than 3,000 square feet, based upon a 40% ratio. 2. All Residential Zones: Requires local governments to permit second units in all residen- tial zones, but impose greater restrictions in certain zones. Besides rezoning many neighbor- hoods in the state, the remainder of this proposal leaves little remaining local authority over these units. 3. Parking: Prohibits a local ordinance from requiring more than one parking space for every two bedrooms and authorize the vehicles to be parked on street. Under existing law a local government can require one space per bedroom and an additional parking space if they make some significant findings (topographical, fire, etc.) This bill, reduces parking standards statewide to only one per two bedrooms, plus gives an additional 33% discount for being near two bus lines, and PAGE 10 /PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the League's Official Web Site -- www.cacities.org