Chapter 15. Freeway Service Patrols of California Streets And Highways Code >> Division 3. >> Chapter 15.

This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Freeway Service Patrol Act.

(a) The purpose of this chapter is to provide for the implementation of a freeway service patrol system using a formula-based allocation, referred to as baseline funding allocation, to all eligible regional and local agencies for traffic-congested urban freeways throughout the state, involving a cooperative effort between state and local agencies. All regional or local agency programs that meet the minimum eligibility requirements set forth in this section and Section 2562.1 shall receive initial funding from the baseline funding allocation.
  (b) In addition to the formula-based allocation program established, subject to funds being appropriated in the annual Budget Act, in subdivision (a), there is hereby established a Competitive Freeway Service Patrol Grant Program to provide funding of a freeway service patrol system to reduce traffic congestion.

As used in this chapter, each of the following terms has the following meaning:
  (a) "Emergency roadside assistance" has the same meaning as defined in Section 2436 of the Vehicle Code.
  (b) "Employer" has the same meaning as defined in Section 2430.1 of the Vehicle Code.
  (c) "Freeway service patrol" means a program managed by the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the department, and a regional or local entity which provides emergency roadside assistance on a freeway in an urban area.
  (d) "Regional or local entity" has the same meaning as defined in Section 2430.1 of the Vehicle Code.
  (e) "Tow truck driver" has the same meaning as defined in Section 2430.1 of the Vehicle Code.

The freeway service patrol in any particular area shall be operated pursuant to an agreement between the Department of the California Highway Patrol, the department, and the appropriate regional or local entity.

(a) Funding for the freeway service patrols established pursuant to this chapter shall be provided, upon appropriation in the annual Budget Act, from the State Highway Account in the State Transportation Fund. In addition, the appropriate regional or local entity shall ensure that local resources are expended on freeway service patrols in an amount not less than 25 percent of the amount provided from the State Highway Account.
  (b) In locations where a freeway service patrol exists, the department shall coordinate and integrate the funds appropriated pursuant to this section into the existing program. In the allocation of these funds, no local entity may be penalized for having an existing freeway service patrol program.
  (c) No state funding may be released prior to the execution of the agreement developed under Section 2561.3.
  (d) No program funded under this chapter may supplant emergency response towing services provided by the department as of January 1, 1992.
  (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that funding provided under subdivision (a) of Section 2560.5 be consistent from year to year in order to facilitate the awarding of multiyear contracts between participating regional and local entities and providers of freeway patrol services. The department shall only recognize multiyear contract commitments equal to or less than three years. If new freeway service patrol regional or local entity programs are added to the baseline funding allocation, as described in Section 2560.5, those programs shall be phased in so as not to impact the multiyear contract commitments. However, once a new application from an eligible regional or local entity is submitted and approved, the share of the baseline funding allocation to the regional or local agency shall be phased in within three years of the date the application is approved.

(a) Funding for the program established in subdivision (a) of Section 2560.5 in a participating area shall be based 25 percent on the number of urban freeway lane miles in the participating area to the total number of freeway lane miles in all the participating areas, 50 percent on the basis of the ratio of the population of the participating area to the total population of all the participating areas, and 25 percent on the basis of traffic congestion as ascertained by the department pursuant to the most recent Statewide Highway Traffic Congestion Monitoring Program. A regional or local agency submitting an application after July 1, 2003, for funding shall demonstrate in the application an overall benefit-cost ratio of 3 to 1. The department shall determine the benefit-cost ratio methodology.
  (b) If a regional or local agency submits an application for funding that is approved by the department before December 31 of any year and additional funding is not provided to the baseline funding allocation, the department shall allocate the funding allocation at a maximum over three years as follows:
  (1) Thirty-three and three-tenths percent of the total amount of the allocation during the immediately following fiscal year.
  (2) Sixty-six and six-tenths percent of the total amount of the allocation during the fiscal year that immediately follows the fiscal year described in paragraph (1).
  (3) One hundred percent of the total amount of the allocation during the fiscal year that immediately follows the fiscal year described in paragraph (2).

(a) Not later than 90 days after the effective date of this section, the department shall prepare guidelines for the implementation of a Competitive Freeway Service Patrol Grant Program and shall submit those guidelines to each regional or local agency operating a freeway service patrol. Not later than 30 days after receipt of the guidelines, the regional or local agency shall submit its written comments to the department.
  (b) Not later than 150 days after the effective date of this section, the department shall publish the final guidelines for the Competitive Freeway Service Patrol Grant Program and commence implementation of the program. The guidelines shall not constitute a regulation for the purposes of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
  (c) The guidelines prepared pursuant to this section shall comply with the following requirements:
  (1) Grants to be awarded to a regional or local agency applicant on a competitive basis for contracting with an employer for the provision of a new or expanded freeway service patrol service and for contracting with the Department of the California Highway Patrol for the provision of only direct supervisory services warranted by workload standards to reduce traffic congestion.
  (2) The grant to require a matching share by the regional or local agency equaling not less than 25 percent of the amount provided from the State Highway Account.
  (3) The grant to be awarded on the basis of project need and effectiveness calculated on a cost benefit analysis.
  (4) The amount of a grant to be made to a regional or local agency shall not exceed 35 percent of the total amount of the available grant funds.
  (5) The regional or local agency demonstrates that the services it proposes to fund with the grant are new freeway service patrol services that were not previously provided in its jurisdiction.
  (6) The regional or local agency demonstrates its ability to support and supervise the new or expanded services provided by the Department of the California Highway Patrol.
  (d) This section shall be operative only if funds are appropriated for its purposes in the annual Budget Act.

In determining the baseline annual funding allocation, regional or local entities shall apply to the department in accordance with operational standards as outlined in the program guidelines and in accordance with the eligibility requirements described in Sections 2561.5 and 2562.1. A regional or local entity that meets the eligibility requirements may not be denied its fair share of the baseline annual allocation made by the department.

Each tow truck participating in a freeway service patrol shall bear a logo comprised of, at a minimum, a circle, a triangle, and a tow truck silhouette, with the words "Freeway Service Patrol," which identifies the Department of the California Highway Patrol and the department, and, at the option of the entity, the participating regional or local entity. Participating regional or local entities may place an approved logo on participating tow trucks.

Tow truck drivers and employers participating in a freeway service patrol pursuant to this chapter are subject to the standards and qualifications established under Article 3.3 (commencing with Section 2430) of Chapter 2 of Division 2 of the Vehicle Code.

Not more than 2 percent of the state funds appropriated for purposes of this chapter shall be used for administrative overhead expenses or purposes by state agencies. No state funds shall be used for administrative purposes by the participating local and regional entities.

The department, the Department of the California Highway Patrol, and participating and eligible regional and local entities shall develop and periodically update guidelines for program operations, as those guidelines and updates may be required. The guidelines shall address operational requirements only and may not prevent a regional or local entity from entering the program.