Description
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.
Background
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.
Restrictions
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.