Today's Law As Amended


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SB-635 Cleanup activities on state highways, rights-of-way, off ramps, and homeless encampments.(2021-2022)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Article 3.5 (commencing with Section 735) is added to Chapter 3 of Division 1 of the Streets and Highways Code, to read:

Article  3.5. State Highway Cleanup Activities.
735.
 For purposes of this article, the following definitions apply:
(a) “Inspector General” means the director of the Independent Office of Audits and Investigations in the department, as described in Section 14460 of the Government Code.
(b) “Local Caltrans district” means District-1 to District-12, inclusive, established by the department.
736.
 (a) The department shall coordinate cleanup activities related to state highways, rights-of-way, off ramps, and homeless encampments on department-owned property.
(b) (1) In coordinating cleanup activities related to state highways, rights-of-way, off ramps, and homeless encampments, the department shall solicit information from, and coordinate with, health and safety agencies, mental health agencies, law enforcement agencies, continuum of care entities, nonprofit organizations, and any other federal, state, or local agencies or organizations who have jurisdiction over the maintenance and safety of roads and highways or that coordinate with the department for highway cleanup activities purposes.
(2) A local agency shall not be required to participate in any of the activities described in paragraph (1).
(3) The department shall inform local agencies on an annual basis of any opportunities to participate in the activities described in paragraph (1).
(c) (1) On or before January 1, 2023, the department shall submit a report to the Legislature that shall include all of the following:
(A) A summary of the barriers for the adequate and efficient coordination of cleanup activities related to state highways, rights-of-way, off ramps, and homeless encampments, including any identified statutory, funding, or regulatory gaps for efficient cleanup activities related to state highways, rights-of-way, off ramps, and homeless encampments.
(B) Proposed strategies for bringing resources and leveraging coordination with health and safety agencies, mental health agencies, law enforcement agencies, nonprofit organizations, and any other federal, state, or local agencies or organizations with jurisdiction over the maintenance and safety of roads and highways at both the agency and district level.
(C) Recommendations to address homeless encampments and opportunities to develop comprehensive strategies to maximize the health and safety of workers and the homeless population.
(D) Recommendations for statutory or regulatory changes, or both, needed to better keep state rights-of-way clean and safe.
(2) (A) On or before January 1, 2023, and annually thereafter, the Inspector General shall submit a report to the Legislature that shall include both of the following:
(i) Information on how the cleanup activities are planned and executed in each local Caltrans district, including information on the prevalence and efficiency of the Adopt-A-Highway program.
(ii) Information regarding the number of cleanup activities, including the number of customer service requests received and resolved in each local Caltrans district by month.
(B) For purposes of this report, each Caltrans district shall maintain records on both of the following:
(i) The number of customer service requests received and resolved, by month.
(ii) The number of Adopt-A-Highway program applications, the number of current Adopt-A-Highway entities, the number of cleanups conducted by those Adopt-A-Highway entities, and the total amount of debris removed by the programs.
(3) The reports required by this subdivision shall be submitted to the Legislature pursuant to Section 9795 of the Government Code.
737.
 The department shall establish an advisory board of the relevant state agencies, and those local agencies who wish to participate, for the ongoing planning and coordination of cleanup activities related to state highways, rights-of-way, off ramps, and homeless encampments.
738.
 Each local Caltrans district shall develop cleanup schedules once every two weeks and post these schedules on its internet website.