AB 579 — Schoolbuses: zero-emission vehicles.

Summary

Existing law authorizes state funds, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to be distributed to the Superintendent of Public Instruction for distribution to certain local educational agencies for the purchase of low- or zero-emission schoolbuses that replace, or increase the number of, schoolbuses in the existing schoolbus fleet or for retrofitting existing schoolbuses to achieve reductions in emissions, as specified. This bill would require, commencing January 1, 2035, 100% of all newly purchased or contracted schoolbuses of a school district, county office of education, or charter school to be zero-emission vehicles, where feasible. The bill would, in order to comply with that requirement, authorize local educational agencies, as defined, to request a one-time extension for a term not to exceed 5 years if a local educational agency determines that the purchase or contracting of a zero-emission schoolbus is not feasible due to both terrain and route constraints, provided that certain conditions are met. The bill would also, commencing January 1, 2040, authorize frontier local educational agencies, as defined, to apply for annual extensions, through January 1, 2045, to that requirement, if the frontier local educational agency determines that the purchase or contracting of a zero-emission schoolbus is not feasible due to both terrain and route constraints, provided that certain conditions are met. To the extent this requirement imposes additional duties on local educational agencies in connection with federally required pupil transportation services that go beyond the requirements in federal law, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law requires a continuing contract for pupil transportation services in school districts or schoolbus lease or rental to not exceed a 5-year term, or for a schoolbus lease or rental contract containing a purchase or cancel option, as specified, not to exceed a 10-year term. For the furnishing of transportation of pupils in school districts to and from school using schoolbuses that are zero-emission vehicles and for the lease or rental of schoolbuses that are zero-emission vehicles, the bill would extend the term limit to 15 years for a continuing contract and to 20 years for a schoolbus lease or rental contract containing a purchase or cancel option, as specified. The bill also would apply these contracting provisions to county offices of education and charter schools. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

Bill Text

• Chaptered 10/08/23 - Chaptered Current pdf October 08, 2023
• Enrolled 09/14/23 - Enrolled pdf September 14, 2023
• Amended 06/29/23 - Amended Senate pdf June 29, 2023
• Amended 06/19/23 - Amended Senate pdf June 19, 2023
• Amended 03/13/23 - Amended Assembly pdf March 13, 2023
• Introduced 02/08/23 - Introduced pdf February 08, 2023
• AB579 View text html

Action History

1. October 08, 2023

   Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 445, Statutes of 2023.

2. October 08, 2023

   Approved by the Governor.

3. September 19, 2023

   Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 4 p.m.

4. September 12, 2023

   Senate amendments concurred in. To Engrossing and Enrolling. (Ayes 63. Noes 11. Page 3235.).

5. September 12, 2023

   Assembly Rule 77 suspended. (Page 3228.)

6. September 11, 2023

   In Assembly. Concurrence in Senate amendments pending. May be considered on or after September 13 pursuant to Assembly Rule 77.

7. September 11, 2023

   Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Assembly. (Ayes 31. Noes 8. Page 2553.).

8. September 05, 2023

   Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

9. September 01, 2023

   From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (September 1).

10. August 14, 2023

    In committee: Referred to APPR suspense file.

11. June 29, 2023

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

12. June 28, 2023

    From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 6. Noes 1.) (June 28).

13. June 19, 2023

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

14. June 14, 2023

    Referred to Com. on ED.

15. June 01, 2023

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

16. May 31, 2023

    Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 61. Noes 14. Page 2024.)

17. May 18, 2023

    Read second time. Ordered to third reading.

18. May 18, 2023

    From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 11. Noes 3.) (May 18).

19. May 03, 2023

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Referred to APPR. suspense file.

20. April 26, 2023

    In committee: Hearing postponed by committee.

21. March 30, 2023

    From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 5. Noes 2.) (March 29). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

22. March 16, 2023

    In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

23. March 14, 2023

    Re-referred to Com. on ED.

24. March 13, 2023

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

25. February 17, 2023

    Referred to Com. on ED.

26. February 09, 2023

    From printer. May be heard in committee March 11.

27. February 08, 2023

    Read first time. To print.

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