Highway rest areas: vending machines: utility costs.

Existing law requires the Department of Transportation to authorize the placement of vending machines in safety roadside rests, except as specified, and requires the department to give preference in the placement of those vending machines to vendors operating under the Business Enterprises Program for the Blind. Existing law requires the department to determine the costs for specified activities, including any maintenance and operation, related to the vending machines and requires that the department be reimbursed for those costs from the revenues derived from the operation of the machines. This bill would prohibit the department from being reimbursed for utility costs incurred by vendors operating under the Business Enterprises Program for the Blind and would require the department to pay for those utility costs using state funds.