BILL NUMBER: AB 626	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  559
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 29, 2003
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 28, 2003
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  SEPTEMBER 11, 2003
	PASSED THE SENATE  SEPTEMBER 10, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  SEPTEMBER 4, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 20, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  AUGUST 18, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JULY 16, 2003
	AMENDED IN SENATE  JUNE 25, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  JUNE 2, 2003
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 27, 2003

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Liu

                        FEBRUARY 19, 2003

   An act to add Section 39800.5 to the Education Code, and to add
Section 10326.1 to the Public Contract Code, relating to motor
vehicles.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 626, Liu.  Vehicles:  15-passenger vans.
   Existing law authorizes a governing board of a school district to
purchase or lease vehicles to provide transportation of pupils to and
from school.  Existing law also authorizes the Department of General
Services or a state agency, as authorized by the Department of
General Services, to contract with suppliers to acquire goods and
services for state agencies.
   This bill makes legislative findings that 15-passenger vans are
unsafe and declares the intent of the Legislature that all school
districts, private schools, community colleges, and the California
State University should require that 15-passenger vans owned by those
entities only be driven by a person holding a commercial driver's
license.
   This bill would require school districts, private schools,
community colleges, and the California State University, to limit the
operation of those vehicles to persons issued an endorsement for the
operation of those vehicles and holding a class B driver's license.

   The California Constitution authorizes the Regents of the
University of California to enter into public contracts.
   This bill would provide that the Legislature recommends that the
Regents of the University of California adopt rules and regulations
that would impose upon the university the requirements contained in
the bill.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:


  SECTION 1.  (a) The Legislature finds and declares that the
National Transportation Safety Board has recently issued findings
that 15-passenger vans, because of their design, are involved in a
greater number of single-vehicle accidents that result in rollover
crashes than other passenger vehicles.
   (b) It is the intent of the Legislature that all school districts,
private schools, California Community Colleges, and all campuses of
the California State University that own a 15-passenger van should
require that those vehicles may only be driven by a person holding a
commercial driver's license.
  SEC. 2.  Section 39800.5 is added to the Education Code, to read:
   39800.5.  (a) Any school district and any owner or operator of a
private school that provides transportation for pupils that owns,
leases, or otherwise has possession or control of a 15-passenger van,
may not, on or after January 1, 2005, authorize the operation of
that van for the purpose of transporting passengers unless the person
driving or otherwise operating that van has both of the following:
   (1) A valid class B driver's license, as provided in Division 6
(commencing with Section 12500) of the Vehicle Code, issued by the
Department of Motor Vehicles.
   (2) An endorsement for operating a passenger transportation
vehicle, as provided in Article 6 (commencing with Section 15275) of
Chapter 7 of Division 6 of the Vehicle Code, issued by the Department
of Motor Vehicles.
   (b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for purposes of this
section, a "15-passenger van" means any van manufactured to
accommodate 15 passengers, including the driver, regardless of
whether that van has been altered to accommodate fewer than 15
passengers.
   (2) For purposes of this section, a "15-passenger van" does not
mean a 15-passenger van with dual rear wheels that has a gross weight
rating equal to, or greater than, 11,500 pounds.
  SEC. 3.  Section 10326.1 is added to the Public Contract Code, to
read:
   10326.1.  (a) A campus or a facility of a California Community
College or a campus or a facility of the California State University,
that owns, leases, or otherwise has possession or control of a
15-passenger van, may not, on or after January 1, 2005, authorize the
operation of that van for the purpose of transporting passengers
unless the person driving or otherwise operating that van has both of
the following:
   (1) A valid class B driver's license, as provided in Division 6
(commencing with Section 12500) of the Vehicle Code, issued by the
Department of Motor Vehicles.
   (2) An endorsement for operating a passenger transportation
vehicle, as provided in Article 6 (commencing with Section 15275) of
Chapter 7 of Division 6 of the Vehicle Code, issued by the Department
of Motor Vehicles.
   (b) (1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), for purposes of this
section, a "15-passenger van" means any van manufactured to
accommodate 15 passengers, including the driver, regardless of
whether that van has been altered to accommodate fewer than 15
passengers.
   (2) For purposes of this section, a "15-passenger van" does not
mean a 15-passenger van with dual rear wheels that has a gross weight
rating equal to, or greater than, 11,500 pounds.
   (c) The Legislature recommends that the Regents of the University
of California adopt rules and regulations similar to the provisions
contained in this section.