California 2011-2012 Regular Session Status: Enacted

AB 578 — Public utilities: natural gas pipelines: safety.

Last action — Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 462, Statutes of 2012.

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. ✓
    In Committee
  3. ✓
    Passed Assembly
  4. ✓
    Passed Senate
  5. ✓
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 16, 2011. Enacted.

Prognosis

Likely to advance 70% · moderate confidence

Where this bill stands today.

Odds of enactment

High

How often bills like it became law.

  • Enacted

    Current position in the legislative process.

  • 1 sponsor

    1 primary, 0 co-sponsors signed on.

  • Cleared a recorded vote

    Passed 9 recorded votes so far.

Prognosis reads this bill's own signals — stage, sponsorship breadth, committee status, recorded votes and cross-state momentum. Odds come from a model trained on which bills have become law.

Summary

Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities. The Public Utilities Act authorizes the commission to ascertain and fix just and reasonable standards, classifications, regulations, practices, measurements, or services to be furnished, imposed, observed, and followed by specified public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 designates the commission as the state authority responsible for regulating and enforcing intrastate gas pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities pursuant to federal law, including the development, submission, and administration of a state pipeline safety program certification for natural gas pipelines. When the federal National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) submits a safety recommendation letter concerning gas pipeline safety to the commission, this bill would require the commission, within 90 days, to provide the NTSB with a formal written response to each recommendation stating: (1) the commission's intent to implement the recommendations in full, with a proposed timetable for implementation of the recommendations, (2) the commission's intent to implement part of the recommendations, with a proposed timetable for implementation of those recommendations, and detailed reasons for the commission's refusal to implement those recommendations that the commission does not intend to implement, or (3) the commission's refusal to implement the recommendations, with detailed reasons for the commission's refusal to implement the recommendations. When the NTSB issues a safety recommendation letter concerning any commission-regulated gas pipeline facility to the United States Department of Transportation, the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) , a gas corporation, or to the commission, or the PHMSA issues an advisory bulletin concerning any commission-regulated gas pipeline facility, the bill would require the commission to determine if implementation of the recommendation or advisory is appropriate and further require that the basis for the commission's determination be detailed in writing and be approved by a majority vote of the commission. If the commission determines that a safety recommendation made by the NTSB is appropriate or that action concerning an advisory bulletin by the PHMSA is necessary, the bill would require that the commission issue orders or adopt rules to implement the safety recommendations or advisory as soon as practical and to consider whether a more effective, or equally effective and less costly, alternative exists to address the safety issue that the recommendation or advisory addresses. The bill would require the commission to include a detailed description of any action taken on an NTSB safety recommendation, or to implement an advisory bulletin, in a specified annual report the commission is required to make to the Legislature. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because this bill would require the commission to issue orders or adopt rules to implement any safety recommendation by the NTSB relative to natural gas pipeline safety that the commission determines to be appropriate and a violation of these orders or rules would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.

Bill Text

Action History

  1. Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 462, Statutes of 2012.

  2. Approved by the Governor.

  3. Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 12:15 p.m.

  4. Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 79. Noes 1. Page 6614.).

  5. From committee: That the Senate amendments be concurred in. (Ayes 14. Noes 0.) (August 29).

  6. Joint Rule 62(a), file notice suspended. (Page 6587.)

  7. Re-referred to Com. on U. & C. pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.2.

  8. In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after August 30 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

  9. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 4869.).

  10. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  11. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 7. Noes 0.) (August 16).

  12. In committee: Placed on APPR. suspense file.

  13. Read second time and amended. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  14. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 10. Noes 0.) (May 15).

  15. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to committee. Read second time, amended, and re-referred to Com. on E., U. & C.

  16. Referred to Com. on E., U. & C.

  17. In Senate. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment.

  18. Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 57. Noes 19. Page 3624.)

  19. Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

  20. From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 12. Noes 5.) (January 19).

  21. Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  22. Read second time and amended.

  23. From committee: Do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 11. Noes 2.) (January 9).

  24. Re-referred to Com. on U. & C. pursuant to Assembly Rule 96.

  25. Re-referred to Com. on G.O.

  26. From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on G.O. Read second time and amended.

  27. Referred to Com. on G.O.

  28. From printer. May be heard in committee March 19.

  29. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

  • Hill · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on · 3 voted No

Sponsors (1)

  • Hill

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (121)

121 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 121 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Votes

AB 578 HILL Concurrence in Senate Amendments

Passed 79 Yea · 1 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Republican 2000
Unaffiliated 76100
Democratic 1000
Total 79100
% of votes cast 99%1%0%0%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Hagman — Yea
Garrick — Yea
Butler — Yea
Huber — Yea
Hueso — Yea
John A. Pérez — Yea
Mitchell — Yea
Jeffries — Yea
Carter — Yea
Knight — Yea
Miller — Yea
Perea — Yea
Wagner — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Fuentes — Yea
Campos — Yea
Furutani — Yea
Galgiani — Yea
Gordon — Yea
Cedillo — Yea
Portantino — Yea
Gorell — Nay
Halderman — Yea
Conway — Yea
Allen — Yea
Hall — Yea
Hayashi — Yea
Bonilla — Yea
Fong — Yea
Fletcher — Yea
Cook — Yea
Lara — Yea
Alejo — Yea
Beall — Yea
Davis — Yea
Dickinson — Yea
Donnelly — Yea
Mendoza — Yea
Monning — Yea
Morrell — Yea
Nestande — Yea
Nielsen — Yea
Norby — Yea
Olsen — Yea
Silva — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Smyth — Yea
Swanson — Yea
Torres — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Achadjian — Yea
Ammiano — Yea
Block — Yea
Blumenfield — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Brownley — Yea
Buchanan — Yea
Harkey — Yea
Hill — Yea
Huffman — Yea
Logue — Yea
Ma — Yea
Mansoor — Yea
Pan — Yea
Solorio — Yea
Valadao — Yea
Williams — Yea
Chesbro — Yea
Eng — Yea
Feuer — Yea
Gatto — Yea
Yamada — Yea
Beth Gaines — Yea
Bill Berryhill — Yea
Bonnie Lowenthal — Yea
Roger Hernández — Yea
V. Manuel Pérez — Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Yea
Jones, Brian W. Republican Yea

Official roll call →

amendments be concurred in.

Passed 14 Yea · 0 Nay · 1 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 14001
Total 14001
% of votes cast 93%0%0%7%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Fletcher — Yea
Bonilla — Yea
Fong — Yea
Fuentes — Yea
Gorell — Yea
Nestande — Not Voting
Skinner — Yea
Swanson — Yea
Valadao — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Buchanan — Yea
Knight — Yea
Ma — Yea
Williams — Yea
Roger Hernández — Yea

Official roll call →

3rd Reading AB578 Hill By Corbett

Passed 37 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 34003
Republican 1000
Democratic 2000
Total 37003
% of votes cast 93%0%0%8%
How each member voted (40)
Member Party Vote
Yee — Yea
Hancock — Yea
Wyland — Not Voting
Lowenthal — Yea
De León — Yea
Evans — Yea
Negrete McLeod — Yea
Fuller — Yea
Rubio — Yea
Runner — Not Voting
Harman — Yea
Hernandez — Yea
Cannella — Yea
Kehoe — Yea
Leno — Yea
Blakeslee — Yea
Corbett — Yea
Dutton — Yea
Lieu — Yea
Price — Yea
Simitian — Yea
Vargas — Yea
Walters — Yea
Wolk — Yea
Alquist — Yea
Anderson — Yea
Huff — Yea
Liu — Not Voting
Pavley — Yea
Steinberg — Yea
Wright — Yea
Emmerson — Yea
Correa — Yea
DeSaulnier — Yea
Beth Gaines — Yea
Bill Berryhill — Yea
La Malfa — Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass.

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Dutton — Yea
Alquist — Yea
Kehoe — Yea
Price — Yea
Steinberg — Yea
Walters — Yea
Lieu — Yea

Official roll call →

Placed on Appropriations Suspense file.

Passed 7 Yea · 0 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 7000
Total 7000
% of votes cast 100%0%0%0%
How each member voted (7)
Member Party Vote
Dutton — Yea
Lieu — Yea
Steinberg — Yea
Alquist — Yea
Kehoe — Yea
Price — Yea
Walters — Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended, and re-refer to the Committee on Appropriations.

Passed 10 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 9002
Republican 0001
Democratic 1000
Total 10003
% of votes cast 77%0%0%23%
How each member voted (13)
Member Party Vote
Fuller — Yea
De León — Not Voting
Rubio — Not Voting
Kehoe — Yea
Pavley — Yea
Simitian — Yea
Wright — Yea
Corbett — Yea
Emmerson — Yea
DeSaulnier — Yea
Bill Berryhill — Yea
Padilla, Stephen C. Democratic Yea
Strickland, Tony Republican Not Voting

Official roll call →

AB 578 HILL Assembly Third Reading

Passed 57 Yea · 19 Nay · 4 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 561704
Republican 0200
Democratic 1000
Total 571904
% of votes cast 71%24%0%5%
How each member voted (80)
Member Party Vote
Gordon — Yea
Hall — Yea
Yamada — Yea
Butler — Yea
Eng — Yea
Campos — Yea
Fuentes — Yea
Furutani — Yea
Garrick — Nay
Fong — Yea
Carter — Yea
Gatto — Yea
Allen — Yea
Hagman — Nay
Harkey — Nay
Cedillo — Yea
Portantino — Yea
John A. Pérez — Yea
Mitchell — Yea
Hayashi — Yea
Fletcher — Yea
Huber — Yea
Hueso — Yea
Chesbro — Yea
Jeffries — Yea
Bonilla — Yea
Atkins — Yea
Logue — Nay
Alejo — Yea
Ammiano — Yea
Beall — Yea
Conway — Nay
Davis — Yea
Mendoza — Yea
Monning — Yea
Nestande — Yea
Olsen — Yea
Perea — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Solorio — Yea
Swanson — Yea
Valadao — Yea
Wagner — Nay
Williams — Yea
Gorell — Not Voting
Halderman — Nay
Knight — Nay
Cook — Not Voting
Donnelly — Nay
Miller — Nay
Morrell — Nay
Norby — Nay
Silva — Nay
Achadjian — Yea
Block — Yea
Blumenfield — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Brownley — Yea
Buchanan — Yea
Hill — Yea
Huffman — Yea
Lara — Not Voting
Ma — Yea
Mansoor — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Pan — Yea
Smyth — Nay
Torres — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Feuer — Yea
Dickinson — Yea
Galgiani — Yea
Beth Gaines — Nay
Bill Berryhill — Yea
Bonnie Lowenthal — Yea
Roger Hernández — Yea
V. Manuel Pérez — Not Voting
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea
Grove, Shannon Republican Nay
Jones, Brian W. Republican Nay

Official roll call →

Do pass.

Passed 12 Yea · 5 Nay
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 11500
Democratic 1000
Total 12500
% of votes cast 71%29%0%0%
How each member voted (17)
Member Party Vote
Fuentes — Yea
Campos — Yea
Gatto — Yea
Hall — Yea
Mitchell — Yea
Harkey — Nay
Hill — Yea
Blumenfield — Yea
Chesbro — Yea
Donnelly — Nay
Nielsen — Nay
Norby — Nay
Solorio — Yea
Wagner — Nay
Ammiano — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Calderon, Lisa Democratic Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass as amended and be re-referred to the Committee on Appropriations.

Passed 11 Yea · 2 Nay · 2 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 11202
Total 11202
% of votes cast 73%13%0%13%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
Ma — Yea
Fletcher — Yea
Nestande — Yea
Swanson — Yea
Fong — Yea
Fuentes — Yea
Huffman — Not Voting
Knight — Nay
Perea — Yea
Skinner — Yea
Wieckowski — Yea
Bradford — Yea
Buchanan — Yea
Valadao — Not Voting
Beth Gaines — Nay

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety energy
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Frequently asked questions

What does AB 578 do?
Under existing law, the Public Utilities Commission has regulatory authority over public utilities. The Public Utilities Act authorizes the commission to ascertain and fix just and reasonable standards, classifications, regulations, practices, measurements, or services to be furnished, imposed, observed, and followed by specified public utilities, including gas corporations. Existing law authorizes the commission to fix the rates and charges for every public utility, and requires that those rates and charges be just and reasonable. The Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act of 2011 designates the commission as the state authority responsible for regulating and enforcing intrastate gas pipeline transportation and pipeline facilities pursuant to federal law, including the development, submission, and administration of a state pipeline safety program certification for natural gas pipelines. When the federal National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) submits a safety recommendation letter concerning gas pipeline safety to the commission, this bill would require the commission, within 90 days, to provide the NTSB with a formal written response to each recommendation stating: (1) the commission's intent to implement the recommendations in full, with a proposed timetable for implementation of the recommendations, (2) the commission's intent to implement part of the recommendations, with a proposed timetable for implementation of those recommendations, and detailed reasons for the commission's refusal to implement those recommendations that the commission does not intend to implement, or (3) the commission's refusal to implement the recommendations, with detailed reasons for the commission's refusal to implement the recommendations. When the NTSB issues a safety recommendation letter concerning any commission-regulated gas pipeline facility to the United States Department of Transportation, the federal Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) , a gas corporation, or to the commission, or the PHMSA issues an advisory bulletin concerning any commission-regulated gas pipeline facility, the bill would require the commission to determine if implementation of the recommendation or advisory is appropriate and further require that the basis for the commission's determination be detailed in writing and be approved by a majority vote of the commission. If the commission determines that a safety recommendation made by the NTSB is appropriate or that action concerning an advisory bulletin by the PHMSA is necessary, the bill would require that the commission issue orders or adopt rules to implement the safety recommendations or advisory as soon as practical and to consider whether a more effective, or equally effective and less costly, alternative exists to address the safety issue that the recommendation or advisory addresses. The bill would require the commission to include a detailed description of any action taken on an NTSB safety recommendation, or to implement an advisory bulletin, in a specified annual report the commission is required to make to the Legislature. Under existing law, a violation of any order, decision, rule, direction, demand, or requirement of the commission is a crime. Because this bill would require the commission to issue orders or adopt rules to implement any safety recommendation by the NTSB relative to natural gas pipeline safety that the commission determines to be appropriate and a violation of these orders or rules would be a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Who sponsors AB 578?
AB 578 is sponsored by Hill.
What is the current status of AB 578?
This bill has been enacted into law. Introduced February 16, 2011. Enacted.
Where can I track AB 578?
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