Senate Transportation Committee Records, 1948-2004

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Summary

Title:
California State Senate Transportation Committee Records
Dates:
1948-2004
Creators:
State Senate Transportation Committee Records
Abstract:
The Senate Transportation Committee records consist of 14.5 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual records organized into the following record series: Bill Files covering legislative sessions between 1975-2004; Hearing Files from 1948-2004; Subject Files from 1986-1988 and 1995-1996; General Correspondence from 1994-1998; Agency Correspondence from 1997-1998; Chronological Files from 1989-2004; and Committee Files from 1976-2004. The records reflect the activity of the committee in overseeing legislation and other matters affecting transportation issues.
Extent:
14.5 cubic feet
Language:
Languages represented in the collection: English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Senate Transportation Committee Records, LP[number]: [folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The Senate Transportation Committee records consist of 14.5 cubic feet of textual and audiovisual records organized into the following record series: Bill Files covering legislative sessions between 1975-2004; Hearing Files from 1948-2004; Subject Files from 1986-1988 and 1995-1996; General Correspondence from 1994-1998; Agency Correspondence from 1997-1998; Chronological Files from 1989-2004; and Committee Files from 1976-2004. The records reflect the activity of the committee in overseeing legislation and other matters affecting transportation issues.

The Bill Files document the legislation directed to the committee. The files include committee analysis, letters from interested parties, and the comments of affected agencies. These files show the close involvement of the committee in such issues as underground fuel pipelines (AB1408, 2003-2004), heavy duty vehicle emissions (AB1009, 2003-2004), Smog Check legislation (AB57, AB208, AB1492, 1997-1998), highway congestion, ports, "home study" traffic violator schools (AB2377, 2003-2004) and other issues related to transportation.

The Senate Transportation Committee considered bills that generated a substantial community response. The committee played an important role in enacting mandatory motorcycle helmet laws in California (AB36, 1987-1988), providing assistance to low income families for high-polluting vehicle repair (AB1492, 1997-1998), creating the state's highly contentious Smog Check II program, assembling the Global Gateways Development Council (SB924, 2003-2004), deciding truck length limitations for flower transportation (SB1135, 2003-2004), prohibiting the installation of specific automotive parts that pose a threat to the safety of others (AB377, 2003-2004), reformatting the 1965 Highway Beautification Project to fit the current needs and boundaries of the state's highway system, and other significant matters relating to transportation in California.

The committee conducted hearings, special hearings, and interim hearings on issues such as earthquake damage, the California Transportation Commission, specific locations such as the Embarcadero Freeway, the Clean Air Transportation Improvement Act of 1990 (Prop 116), disabled parking, and various legislative bills. These hearings, their agendas, committee notes and related information are included in the Hearing Files. The Subject Files consist of correspondence, pamphlets and brochures, letters of opposition and support, and related information regarding motorcycle helmet laws and smog check legislation. General Correspondence files include formal and informal letters, memorandums, notes, and other information between constituents and legislative members, as well as correspondence between constituents and agencies and the committee's staff members. Agency Correspondence includes informal and formal letters and notes between State Senate and Assembly members and staff, federal agencies and organizations, Legislative Counsel, and press. Chronological Files include general information organized by year. Committee Files include summaries, agendas and roll call votes for each bill heard in the committee between 1976 and 2004.

Together, these records reflect the committee's attempt to balance the varied and sometimes conflicting demands of California's citizens for responsible transportation practices, affordable vehicle ownership and operation, environmental protection, and public safety on highways and roads.

Biographical / historical:

From 1949-2004, the Senate Transportation Committee oversaw legislation regarding owning and operating transportation vessels, state transportation agencies and organizations, and general transportation matters at both state and local levels. The first Senate committee that had transportation under its purview was the Senate Transportation and Commerce Committee, created in 1940. In 1949 the committee's name changed to the Senate Transportation Committee by Senate Resolution 3 and its scope expanded to cover "bills amending the a)Vehicle Code, b) Streets and Highway Code, c) Harbors and Navigation Code, and d) Uncodified legislation relating to the same subjects or to aviation." On April 6, 1972, Senate Resolution 38 expanded the scope of the Senate Transportation Committee to consider "Bills relating to the operation, safety, equipment, transfer of ownership, licensing and registration of vehicles, aircraft and vessels other than public transportation systems," "legislation affecting the Division of Highways and the Department of Motor Vehicles" and "Bills relating to waterways, harbors, highways and airports." On March 17, 1983, Senate Resolution 11 changed the scope of the committee to reflect the name change of Division of Highways to Department of Transportation. In December 2004, Senate Resolution 4 combined the responsibilities of the Senate Housing and Community Development Committee with the responsibilities of the Senate Transportation Committee and the committee was renamed the Senate Transportation and Housing Committee.

The committee consisted of nine to fifteen members during its 64 year existence. The chairs of the committee were:

Senate Transportation Committee, 1949-2004

Collier, Randolph (Dem.), 1949-1971, 1975-1977

Carrell, Tom (Dem.), 1971-1973

Walsh, Lawrence (Dem.), 1973-1975

Presley, Robert (Dem.), 1977-1979

Foran, John (Dem.), 1979-1985

Deddeh, Wadie (Dem.), 1985-1989

Kopp, Quentin (Ind.), 1989-1997

Karnette, Betty (Dem.), 1997-2001

Murray, Kevin (Dem.), 2001-2004

Acquisition information:
The California State Archives acquired the Senate Transportation Committee Records according to state law.
Physical location:
California State Archives
Rules or conventions:
Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Processed by Sarah Starke
Date Prepared:
© 2012
Date Encoded:
Machine-readable finding aid created by Sarah Starke. Machine-readable finding aid derived from MS Word. Date of source: July 2011.

Access and use

Restrictions:

While the majority of the records are open for research, any access restrictions are noted in the record series descriptions.

Terms of access:

For permission to reproduce or publish, please contact the California State Archives. Permission for reproduction or publication is given on behalf of the California State Archives as the owner of the physical items. The researcher assumes all responsibility for possible infringement which may arise from reproduction or publication of materials from the California State Archives collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Senate Transportation Committee Records, LP[number]: [folder number], California State Archives, Office of the Secretary of State, Sacramento, California.

Location of this collection:
1020 "O" Street
Sacramento, CA 95814, US
Contact:
(916) 653-2246
reference@sos.ca.gov
Website