Go Zone demonstration programs.

(1) Existing law provides for the development of a congestion management program for each county that includes an urbanized area by a designated congestion management agency. Existing law authorizes the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to jointly adopt a commute benefit ordinance that requires covered employers operating within the common area of the 2 agencies with a specified number of covered employees to offer those employees certain commute benefits. This bill would authorize 2 Go Zone demonstration programs in northern California and 2 in southern California. The bill would define "Go Zone demonstration program" to mean a transportation program that reduces vehicle congestion by targeting highly congested areas with additional transportation choices and decongestion fees that encourage people to take transit, carpool, bike, walk, or adjust trip times at congested times of day. The bill would require the governing body of an eligible participating jurisdiction, as defined, to adopt an ordinance containing various elements, including a decongestion fee element, and would require the proposed ordinance to be approved by the applicable congestion management agency subject to specified findings, including a finding that the proposed demonstration project is likely to be successful. The bill would require a charge by such an ordinance to be imposed consistent with the California Constitution and federal law. The bill would enact other related provisions. (2) Existing law prohibits a local agency from imposing a tax, permit fee or other charge, except as specified, after December 31, 1990, unless the charge had been imposed prior to June 1, 1989. This bill would provide that this prohibition does not apply within a jurisdiction undertaking a Go Zone demonstration program for the duration of that program. This bill, by imposing new duties on congestion management agencies, would impose a state-mandated local program. (3) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.