California 2021-2022 Regular Session Status: In Committee

AB 294 — Vehicle Tow and Storage Act.

Last action — From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

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

This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Summary

Existing law governs the licensing and regulation of tow truck drivers, authorizes the removal and storage of vehicles from public and private places, and regulates the storage of towed vehicles. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would establish the Vehicle Towing and Storage Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs and would empower the board to, among other things, regulate and resolve disputes involving vehicle towing businesses. The bill would require the board to maintain a public database on its internet website on vehicle towing businesses. The bill would require a business to obtain a Vehicle Tow and Storage Permit and pay an annual fee before operating a tow truck or tow vehicle in California. The bill would establish various penalties for violations of these provisions. The bill also would require a permit applicant or permitholder to submit specified information to the board under penalty of perjury. Because a violation of these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law makes an insurer that is responsible for reasonable towing and storage charges, as defined, liable to the person providing those services and requires that fees charged for towing and storage be reasonable. Under existing law, a towing and storage charge is deemed reasonable if it does not exceed those fees and rates charged for similar services provided in response to requests initiated by a public agency, including, but not limited to, the Department of the California Highway Patrol or a local police department. Existing law also provides that a storage fee is deemed reasonable if it is comparable to storage-related rates and fees charged by other facilities in the same locale. This bill would instead provide that a towing and storage charge is deemed reasonable if it does not exceed those fees and rates charged for similar services provided in the same geographical organization area established by the Department of the California Highway Patrol. Existing law prescribes certain consumer protection requirements for facilities that store towed and impounded vehicles, including, among others, a requirement that those facilities provide a specified notice to a vehicle owner. This bill would add to that notice information related to the Vehicle Tow and Storage Board. Existing law requires every motor carrier of property to comply with specified safety, permit, and liability insurance regulations and to pay the fees required by these provisions. Existing law also prohibits a motor carrier of property from releasing a vehicle to another motor carrier of property utilizing a tow truck until the releasing motor carrier obtains a copy of the motor carrier permit from the retrieving motor carrier. This bill would further restrict the releasing motor carrier from releasing the vehicle until the releasing motor carrier obtains a copy of the other motor carrier's Vehicle Tow and Storage Permit. 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

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1 line(s) added, 1 removed.

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Action History

  1. From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56.

  2. Died pursuant to Art. IV, Sec. 10(c) of the Constitution.

  3. In committee: Held under submission.

  4. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (January 11). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

  5. From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (January 10). Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

  6. Assembly Rule 77 suspended. (Page 3186.)

  7. Referred to Coms. on TRANS. and B. & P.

  8. From printer. May be heard in committee February 21.

  9. Read first time. To print.

Sponsors

  • Santiago · Primary

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 121 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

  • Santiago

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

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Appropriations]

Passed 15 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 6002
Republican 2000
Democratic 7001
Total 15003
% of votes cast 83%0%0%17%
How each member voted (18)
Member Party Vote
Bloom — Yea
Mullin — Yea
Cunningham — Yea
Ting — Yea
McCarty — Yea
Medina — Not Voting
Salas — Not Voting
Vince Fong — Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Bonta, Mia Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Grayson, Timothy S. Democratic Yea
Irwin, Jacqui Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Not Voting
Weber Pierson, M.D., Akilah Democratic Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea
Flora, Heath Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Do pass and be re-referred to the Committee on [Business and Professions]

Passed 12 Yea · 0 Nay · 3 Other
Party YeaNayPresentNot Voting
Unaffiliated 5002
Democratic 6001
Republican 1000
Total 12003
% of votes cast 80%0%0%20%
How each member voted (15)
Member Party Vote
O'Donnell — Yea
Cunningham — Yea
Nazarian — Yea
Daly — Yea
Medina — Not Voting
Friedman — Not Voting
Vince Fong — Yea
Berman, Marc Democratic Yea
Gipson, Mike A. Democratic Yea
Kalra, Ash Democratic Yea
Lee, Alex Democratic Yea
Nguyen, Stephanie Democratic Not Voting
Ward, Christopher M. Democratic Yea
Wicks, Buffy Democratic Yea
Davies, Laurie Republican Yea

Official roll call →

Subjects

public-safety transportation
Cross-referencing the record. Reading this bill against every other bill in the corpus by meaning, not keywords. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Matching · Ranking · Engrossing

Frequently asked questions

What does AB 294 do?
Existing law governs the licensing and regulation of tow truck drivers, authorizes the removal and storage of vehicles from public and private places, and regulates the storage of towed vehicles. A violation of the Vehicle Code is a crime. This bill would establish the Vehicle Towing and Storage Board in the Department of Consumer Affairs and would empower the board to, among other things, regulate and resolve disputes involving vehicle towing businesses. The bill would require the board to maintain a public database on its internet website on vehicle towing businesses. The bill would require a business to obtain a Vehicle Tow and Storage Permit and pay an annual fee before operating a tow truck or tow vehicle in California. The bill would establish various penalties for violations of these provisions. The bill also would require a permit applicant or permitholder to submit specified information to the board under penalty of perjury. Because a violation of these requirements would be a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law makes an insurer that is responsible for reasonable towing and storage charges, as defined, liable to the person providing those services and requires that fees charged for towing and storage be reasonable. Under existing law, a towing and storage charge is deemed reasonable if it does not exceed those fees and rates charged for similar services provided in response to requests initiated by a public agency, including, but not limited to, the Department of the California Highway Patrol or a local police department. Existing law also provides that a storage fee is deemed reasonable if it is comparable to storage-related rates and fees charged by other facilities in the same locale. This bill would instead provide that a towing and storage charge is deemed reasonable if it does not exceed those fees and rates charged for similar services provided in the same geographical organization area established by the Department of the California Highway Patrol. Existing law prescribes certain consumer protection requirements for facilities that store towed and impounded vehicles, including, among others, a requirement that those facilities provide a specified notice to a vehicle owner. This bill would add to that notice information related to the Vehicle Tow and Storage Board. Existing law requires every motor carrier of property to comply with specified safety, permit, and liability insurance regulations and to pay the fees required by these provisions. Existing law also prohibits a motor carrier of property from releasing a vehicle to another motor carrier of property utilizing a tow truck until the releasing motor carrier obtains a copy of the motor carrier permit from the retrieving motor carrier. This bill would further restrict the releasing motor carrier from releasing the vehicle until the releasing motor carrier obtains a copy of the other motor carrier's Vehicle Tow and Storage Permit. 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 294?
AB 294 is sponsored by Santiago.
What is the current status of AB 294?
This bill died with 2021-2022 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track AB 294?
Track AB 294 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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