Inventory of the California State Senate Transportation Committee Records

Processed by Sarah Starke

California State Archives

1020 "O" Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Phone: (916) 653-2246

Fax: (916) 653-7363

Email: ArchivesWeb@sos.ca.gov

URL: http://www.sos.ca.gov/archives/

Inventory of the California State Senate Transportation Committee Records

Collection numbers: LP56:13, LP58:17-23, LP74:30-31, LP76:43-98, LP113:23-24, LP136:33-34, LP176:83-93, LP194:111, LP219:176, LP223:226-235, LP230:275-280, LP272:227-234, LP424:1-319

California State Archives

Office of the Secretary of State

Sacramento, California

Processed by:: Sarah Starke
Date Completed:: July 2011
Encoded by:: Brenda Newman

Descriptive Summary

Title: California State Senate Transportation Committee Records

Dates: 1948-2004

Collection number: LP56:13, LP58:17-23, LP74:30-31, LP76:43-98, LP113:23-24, LP136:33-34, LP176:83-93, LP194:111, LP219:176, LP223:226-235, LP230:275-280, LP272:227-234, LP424:1-319

Creator: State Senate Transportation Committee Records

Collection Size: 14.5 cubic feet

Repository: California State Archives

Sacramento, California

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.

Physical location: California State Archives

Languages: Languages represented in the collection: English

Administrative Information

Access

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

Publication Rights

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.

Acquisition History

The California State Archives acquired the Senate Transportation Committee Records according to state law.

Committee History

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

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.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Transportation --California

California. Dept. of Transportation

California. Legislature. Senate. Committee on Transportation

Related Collections at the California State Archives

Assembly Transportation Committee Records, 1954-2006

Assembly Interim Transportation and Commerce Committee, 1945-1969

Assembly Transportation and Commerce Committee, 1945-1969

Randolph Collier Papers, 1939-1976

Wadie P. Deddeh Papers, 1967-1993

Robert Presley Papers, 1973-1994

LP223:226-235, LP272:227-234, LP424:1-97

Series 1 Bill Files 1975-2004

Physical Description: 97 file folders, 1 VHS tape

Arrangement

Bill files are arranged chronologically by legislative session, then numerically by bill number.

Scope and Content Note

Bill Files created by the Senate Transportation Committee may include bill analyses, amendments and resolutions, author's statements, testimony, press releases, editorials and newspaper clippings, correspondence, committee statements, and other information. Some of the most important bills to the community were SB524, 2003-2004 (allowing private schools to offer drivers education); SB708, 2003-2004 (motor vehicle fees); SB871, 2003-2004 (vehicle accident reports); AB204, 2003-2004 (environmental impacts and mitigation); AB575, 2003-2004 (transportation of flammable and combustible materials); and AB2683, 2003-2004 (repeal of the "rolling exemption" from Smog Check II).

The Bill Files also show the committee's close involvement with state and local agencies and interest groups such as driver education schools, California Association of Hospitals and Health Systems, American Association of University Women, League of California Cities, many city and local governments, American Trauma Society, classic car clubs and vehicle maintenance and repair businesses.

1975-1976: SB13-SB2205, SCA34, SCR10-SCR97,SJR11-SJR30, SR49-SR51 (1 ff) LP223:226

1975-1976: AB80-AB4521, ACA41, ACR9-ACR228, AJR38 (2ff) LP223:227-228

1977-1978: SB13-SB2181, SCA49, SCR13-SCR85, SR36 (1ff) LP223:229

1977-1978: AB54-AB3803, ACR7-ACR146 (2ff) LP223:230-231

1979-1980: SB32-SB2055, SCR9-SCR82, SJR21 (2ff) LP223:232-233

1979-1980: AB32-AB3467, ACA37-ACA74, ACR23-ACR138 (2ff) LP223-234-235

1981-1982: SB33-SB2066, SCR8-SCR84 (2ff) LP272:227-228

1981-1982: AB50-AB3683, ACR150-ACR135 (2ff) LP272:229-230

1983-1984: SB33-SB2311, SCA37, SCR5-SCR84, SB22X (2ff) LP272:231-232

1983-1984: AB23-AB4051, ACR24-ACR171 (2ff) LP272:233-23

1987-1988: AB36 (4ff) LP424:1-4

1993-1994: SB198-SB2050 (2ff) LP424:5-6

1993-1994: AB2018 (1ff) LP424:6

1997-1998: AB57-AB1492 (1ff) LP424:7

2003-2004: SB87-SB1904, SCA2-SCA20, SCR3-SCR90, SJR7, SR10-SR33, SB13X (25ff) LP424:8-32

2003-2004: AB13-AB3050, ACR2-ACR209, AJR10-AJR74 (65ff) LP424:33-97

See Appendix A for LP numbers

Series 2 Hearing Files 1984-2004

Physical Description: 156 file folders, 2 audiocassettes

Access Information

Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.

Arrangement

Hearing Files are arranged chronologically by date of hearing.

Scope and Content Note

Hearing Files include agendas, audiotapes, transcripts, testimony, background reports, and working files for regular session hearings, interim hearings, and joint hearings. Audiotapes have been moved to a cold-storage vault for preservation purposes and separation sheets are included in the hearing file folders to alert the researcher to the existence of the tapes.

The files contain information from hearings on earthquake safety for bridges, freeway overpasses, and roads, disabled parking, alternative fuels, Southern California commuter development and coordination, Clean Air Act of 1990, Regional Transit Service consolidation, the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and Transportation District, fiscal bills, and various bills that relate to transportation issues and concerns.

See Appendix A in the master finding aid at the California State Archives for a list of hearing dates and topics.

LP424:219-250

Series 3 Subject Files 1986-2000

Physical Description: 32 file folders

Arrangement

Subject Files are arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Scope and Content Note

Subject Files created by the committee address the highly contentious motorcycle helmet law created by AB36 (1987-1988) and the Smog Check II program created in 1995. Records included in these subject files are informative brochures and pamphlets, agency and organization studies, statistical data, presentations, testimonies, newspaper and magazine articles, studies from the University of California, Berkeley, opposition and support letters from advocacy groups, and related information regarding both motorcycle helmet usage and US Environmental Protection Agency-mandated state smog check program. Some file folders contain photographs that have been placed in protective covers for preservation purposes.

LP424:251-266

Series 4 General Correspondence 1994-1998

Physical Description: 16 file folders

Access Information

Access to audiovisual material requires the production of use copies.

Arrangement

General Correspondence files are arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content Note

Correspondence includes letters and memoranda written and received by the Committee chairs, members, consultants, staff and lobbyists as well as letters written and received by constituents regarding concerns, local issues, and personal inquiries. Issues raised in correspondence include local construction projects such as the Amador/Solana Interstate 80 onramp, High Occupancy Vehicle (Carpool) lanes, late registration fees, license renewal, Department of Transportation, highway soundwalls, diesel fuel mandates, speed limits, toll booths, training and certification of repair technicians, license age restrictions, and high speed rail.

LP424:267-272

Series 5 Agency Correspondence 1997-1998

Physical Description: 6 file folders

Arrangement

Agency Correspondence files are arranged by alphabetically by type of correspondent.

Scope and Content Note

Agency Correspondence includes formal and informal letters, notes, and memoranda written and received by Committee chairs, members, and staff with other agencies and organizations. Records include meeting arrangements, monetary compensation, state and local issues, and direct involvement in the California Transportation Commission's work.

LP424:273-282

Series 6 Chronological Files 1989-1998

Physical Description: 10 file folders

Arrangement

Chronological Files are arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content Note

Chronological Files include data, notes, legal and business contracts, academic and organization reports and studies, constituent and agency correspondence regarding issues such as seismic retrofitting after the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, Bay Bridge structural changes and strengthening, California Air Resources Board's low aromatic fuel standards implementation, county congestion management programs, the San Mateo County Bike Trail Project, Smog Check II, San Francisco Airport noise insulation, the Alameda corridor, Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), port access, and other issues affecting transportation in California.

LP424:283-319

Series 7 Committee Files 1976-2004

Physical Description: 36 file folders

Arrangement

Committee Files are arranged chronologically by year.

Scope and Content Note

Committee Files include roll call votes, agendas, notes and memoranda for committee hearings. Committee Files include bills that addressed issues considered by the committee and reflect the changing conditions of California's transportation system over 30 years.