Skip to main content

Ting Urges Governor Brown to Sign Electric Vehicle Legislation

For immediate release:

(SACRAMENTO, CA) – The State Legislature approved a bill authored by Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Assembly Democratic Caucus, to help expand the availability of electric vehicle recharging equipment in California.

In a letter urging Governor Jerry Brown to sign the measure, Ting said, “Electric vehicle charging stations in state-owned parking facilities increase the availability and awareness of electric vehicle charging, which serve as an important part of replacing greenhouse gas-emitting cars and trucks with clean electric vehicles.”

AB 2414 clarifies that the use of electricity by employees of any state or government entity or by members of the public for the charging of an electric vehicle at a state parking lot is not an illegal gift of public funds.  The California Constitution allows the Legislature to authorize gifts of public resources if they are deemed to serve a public purpose.

The bill is supported by the CA Electric Transportation Coalition, the CA Municipal Utilities Association, the Sacramento Electric Vehicle Association, and the Southern California Public Power Authority.  The State Senate passed Assembly Bill (AB) 2414 with a 25-11 vote yesterday, following a 52-20 Assembly vote in the month of May.  Governor Brown has 12 days to act on Ting’s legislation.  Further information is available online at www.leginfo.ca.gov.

The full text of Ting’s letter to Governor Brown follows.

August 4, 2014

The Honorable Edmund G. Brown Jr.
Governor, State of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: Request for signature on AB 2414 – Electric Vehicle Charging

Dear Governor Brown:

I respectfully request your signature on Assembly Bill 2414. This bill ensures that electric vehicle charging stations built in state-owned parking areas are not considered gifts of public funds.

The California Constitution and a variety of state statutes make it clear that public funds may not be expended for purposes that are primarily personal. Public funds must be expended for an authorized public purpose. While electric vehicle charging stations provide benefits to individuals, they also serve a public purpose. Electric vehicle charging stations in state-owned parking facilities increase the availability and awareness of electric vehicle charging, which serve as an important part of replacing greenhouse gas-emitting cars and trucks with clean electric vehicles.

This bill makes clear that the use of electricity by state officers, employees or any member of the public for the charging of an electric vehicle in a state-owned parking facility is not a gift of public funds.

I appreciate your consideration of this measure to support electric vehicle charging infrastructure and expand electric vehicle adoption.

Sincerely,
Philip Y. Ting
Assemblymember, 19th District