SB 897: Vehicles: abandoned vehicles.
- Session Year: 2025-2026
- House: Senate
- Latest Version Date: 2026-08-24
Current Status:
Passed
(2026-08-24: Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 126, Statutes of 2026.)
Introduced
In Committee
Awaiting First Chamber Vote
Passed First Chamber
In Committee
Awaiting Second Chamber Vote
Passed Second Chamber
Enacted
What does this bill do?
This bill lets the City of Laguna Woods use abandoned-vehicle abatement funds (and any interest) that came from the fee charged by the service authority that formerly operated in Orange County to pay for enforcing vehicle laws on public roads.
The summary is provided by generative AI which can make mistakes. For original language, please view the details in the table below.
Existing law authorizes a county satisfying specified conditions to establish a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles and to impose a $1 vehicle registration fee for the abatement of abandoned vehicles. The fees imposed and the moneys received by the service authority from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, can only be used for the abatement, removal, and disposal of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles from private or public property. The service authority is authorized to adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement, removal, and disposal, as a public nuisance, of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle and for the recovery of costs.
This bill, notwithstanding these provisions, would authorize the City of Laguna Woods to use the amount of abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by the service authority that formerly operated in the County of Orange, and the interest accrued thereon, for purposes of enforcing provisions of this code on public highways.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Laguna Woods.
Existing law authorizes a county satisfying specified conditions to establish a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles and to impose a $1 vehicle registration fee for the abatement of abandoned vehicles. The fees imposed and the moneys received by the service authority from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, can only be used for the abatement, removal, and disposal of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles from private or public property. The service authority is authorized to adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement, removal, and disposal, as a public nuisance, of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle and for the recovery of costs.
This bill, notwithstanding these provisions, would authorize the City of Laguna Woods to use the amount of abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by the service authority that formerly operated in the County of Orange, and the interest accrued thereon, for purposes of enforcing provisions of this code on public highways.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Laguna Woods.
Existing law authorizes a county satisfying specified conditions to establish a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles and to impose a $1 vehicle registration fee for the abatement of abandoned vehicles. The fees imposed and the moneys received by the service authority from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund, a continuously appropriated fund, can only be used for the abatement, removal, and disposal of abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicles from private or public property. The service authority is authorized to adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement, removal, and disposal, as a public nuisance, of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle and for the recovery of costs.
This bill, notwithstanding these provisions, would authorize the City of Laguna Woods to use the amount of abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by the service authority that formerly operated in the County of Orange, and the interest accrued thereon, for purposes of enforcing provisions of this code on public highways.
This bill would make legislative findings and declarations as to the necessity of a special statute for the City of Laguna Woods.
(a)A service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles may be established, and a one dollar ($1) vehicle registration fee imposed, in a county if the board of supervisors of the county, by a two-thirds vote, and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population within the county have adopted resolutions providing for the establishment of the authority and imposition of the fee. The membership of the authority shall be determined by concurrence of the board of supervisors and a majority vote of the majority of the cities within the county having a majority of the incorporated population.
(b)The authority may contract and may undertake any act convenient or necessary to carry out a law relating to the authority. The authority shall be staffed by existing personnel of the city, county, or county transportation commission.
(c)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a service authority may adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement, removal, and disposal, as a public nuisance, of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part of the vehicle from private or public property; and for the recovery, pursuant to Section 25845 or 38773.5 of the Government Code, or assumption by the service authority, of costs associated with the enforcement of the ordinance. Cost recovery shall only be undertaken by an entity that may be a county or city or the department, pursuant to contract with the service authority as provided in this section.
(2)(A)The money received by an authority pursuant to Section 9250.7 and this section shall be used only for the abatement, removal, or the disposal as a public nuisance of any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part of the vehicle from private or public property. The money received shall not be used to offset the costs of vehicles towed under authorities other than an ordinance adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) or when costs are recovered under Section 22850.5.
(B)The money received by a service authority pursuant to Section 9250.7 and this section that are unexpended in a fiscal year may be carried forward by the service authority for the abandoned vehicle abatement program in the following fiscal year as agreed upon by the service authority and its member agencies.
(d)(1)An abandoned vehicle abatement program and plan of a service authority shall be implemented only with the approval of the county and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population.
(2)(A)The department shall provide guidelines for an abandoned vehicle abatement program. An authoritys abandoned vehicle abatement plan and program shall be consistent with those guidelines, and shall provide for, but not be limited to, an estimate of the number of abandoned vehicles, a disposal and enforcement strategy including contractual agreements, and appropriate fiscal controls.
(B)The departments guidelines provided pursuant to this paragraph shall include, but not be limited to, requiring each service authority receiving funds from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund to report to the Controller on an annual basis pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 9250.7, in a manner prescribed by the department, and pursuant to an approved abandoned vehicle abatement program.
(C)A service authority may carry out an abandoned vehicle abatement from a public property after providing a notice as specified by the local ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 22660 of the jurisdiction in which the abandoned vehicle is located and that notice has expired.
(3)After a plan has been approved pursuant to paragraph (1), the service authority shall, not later than August 1 of the year in which the plan was approved, submit it to the department for review, and the department shall, not later than October 1 of that same year, either approve the plan as submitted or make recommendations for revision. After the plan has received the departments approval as being consistent with the departments guidelines, the service authority shall submit it to the Controller.
(4)Except as provided in subdivision (e), the Controller shall not make an allocation for a fiscal year, commencing on July 1 following the Controllers determination to suspend a service authority when a service authority has failed to comply with the provisions set forth in Section 9250.7.
(5)A governmental agency shall not receive funds from a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles pursuant to an approved abandoned vehicle abatement program unless the governmental agency has submitted an annual report to the service authority stating the manner in which the funds were expended, and the number of vehicles abated. The governmental agency shall receive that percentage of the total funds collected by the service authority that is equal to its share of the formula calculated pursuant to paragraph (6).
(6)Each service authority shall calculate a formula for apportioning funds to each governmental agency that receives funds from the service authority and submit that formula to the Controller with the annual report required pursuant to paragraph (2). The formula shall apportion 50 percent of the funds received by the service authority to a governmental agency based on the percentage of vehicles abated by that governmental agency of the total number of abandoned vehicles abated by all member agencies, and 50 percent based on population and geographic area, as determined by the service authority. When the formula is first submitted to the Controller, and each time the formula is revised thereafter, the service authority shall include a detailed explanation of how the service authority determined the apportionment between per capita abatements and service area.
(7)Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, the Controller may allocate to the service authority in the County of Humboldt the net amount of the abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by that authority, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 9250.7, for calendar years 2000 and 2001.
(8)Notwithstanding any other law, the City of Laguna Woods may use the amount of abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by the service authority that formerly operated in the County of Orange pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 9250.7, and the interest accrued thereon, for purposes of enforcing provisions of this code on public highways.
(e)A plan that has been submitted to the Controller pursuant to subdivision (d) may be revised pursuant to the procedure prescribed in that subdivision, including compliance with any dates described therein for submission to the department and the Controller, respectively, in the year in which the revisions are proposed by the service authority. Compliance with that procedure shall only be required if the revisions are substantial.
(f)For purposes of this section, abandoned vehicle abatement means the removal of a vehicle from public or private property by towing or any other means after the vehicle has been marked as abandoned by an official of a governmental agency that is a member of the service authority.
(g)A service authority shall cease to exist on the date that all revenues received by the authority pursuant to this section and Section 9250.7 have been expended.
(h)In the event of a conflict with other provisions of law, this section shall govern the disbursement of money collected pursuant to this section and from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund for the implementation of the abandoned vehicle abatement program.
SEC. 2.The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances relating to the abatement of abandoned vehicles in the City of Laguna Woods.
(a)A service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles may be established, and a one dollar ($1) vehicle registration fee imposed, in a county if the board of supervisors of the county, by a two-thirds vote, and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population within the county have adopted resolutions providing for the establishment of the authority and imposition of the fee. The membership of the authority shall be determined by concurrence of the board of supervisors and a majority vote of the majority of the cities within the county having a majority of the incorporated population.
(b)The authority may contract and may undertake any act convenient or necessary to carry out a law relating to the authority. The authority shall be staffed by existing personnel of the city, county, or county transportation commission.
(c)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a service authority may adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement, removal, and disposal, as a public nuisance, of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part of the vehicle from private or public property; and for the recovery, pursuant to Section 25845 or 38773.5 of the Government Code, or assumption by the service authority, of costs associated with the enforcement of the ordinance. Cost recovery shall only be undertaken by an entity that may be a county or city or the department, pursuant to contract with the service authority as provided in this section.
(2)(A)The money received by an authority pursuant to Section 9250.7 and this section shall be used only for the abatement, removal, or the disposal as a public nuisance of any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part of the vehicle from private or public property. The money received shall not be used to offset the costs of vehicles towed under authorities other than an ordinance adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) or when costs are recovered under Section 22850.5.
(B)The money received by a service authority pursuant to Section 9250.7 and this section that are unexpended in a fiscal year may be carried forward by the service authority for the abandoned vehicle abatement program in the following fiscal year as agreed upon by the service authority and its member agencies.
(d)(1)An abandoned vehicle abatement program and plan of a service authority shall be implemented only with the approval of the county and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population.
(2)(A)The department shall provide guidelines for an abandoned vehicle abatement program. An authoritys abandoned vehicle abatement plan and program shall be consistent with those guidelines, and shall provide for, but not be limited to, an estimate of the number of abandoned vehicles, a disposal and enforcement strategy including contractual agreements, and appropriate fiscal controls.
(B)The departments guidelines provided pursuant to this paragraph shall include, but not be limited to, requiring each service authority receiving funds from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund to report to the Controller on an annual basis pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 9250.7, in a manner prescribed by the department, and pursuant to an approved abandoned vehicle abatement program.
(C)A service authority may carry out an abandoned vehicle abatement from a public property after providing a notice as specified by the local ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 22660 of the jurisdiction in which the abandoned vehicle is located and that notice has expired.
(3)After a plan has been approved pursuant to paragraph (1), the service authority shall, not later than August 1 of the year in which the plan was approved, submit it to the department for review, and the department shall, not later than October 1 of that same year, either approve the plan as submitted or make recommendations for revision. After the plan has received the departments approval as being consistent with the departments guidelines, the service authority shall submit it to the Controller.
(4)Except as provided in subdivision (e), the Controller shall not make an allocation for a fiscal year, commencing on July 1 following the Controllers determination to suspend a service authority when a service authority has failed to comply with the provisions set forth in Section 9250.7.
(5)A governmental agency shall not receive funds from a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles pursuant to an approved abandoned vehicle abatement program unless the governmental agency has submitted an annual report to the service authority stating the manner in which the funds were expended, and the number of vehicles abated. The governmental agency shall receive that percentage of the total funds collected by the service authority that is equal to its share of the formula calculated pursuant to paragraph (6).
(6)Each service authority shall calculate a formula for apportioning funds to each governmental agency that receives funds from the service authority and submit that formula to the Controller with the annual report required pursuant to paragraph (2). The formula shall apportion 50 percent of the funds received by the service authority to a governmental agency based on the percentage of vehicles abated by that governmental agency of the total number of abandoned vehicles abated by all member agencies, and 50 percent based on population and geographic area, as determined by the service authority. When the formula is first submitted to the Controller, and each time the formula is revised thereafter, the service authority shall include a detailed explanation of how the service authority determined the apportionment between per capita abatements and service area.
(7)Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, the Controller may allocate to the service authority in the County of Humboldt the net amount of the abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by that authority, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 9250.7, for calendar years 2000 and 2001.
(8)Notwithstanding any other law, the City of Laguna Woods may use the amount of abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by the service authority that formerly operated in the County of Orange pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 9250.7, and the interest accrued thereon, for purposes of enforcing provisions of this code on public highways.
(e)A plan that has been submitted to the Controller pursuant to subdivision (d) may be revised pursuant to the procedure prescribed in that subdivision, including compliance with any dates described therein for submission to the department and the Controller, respectively, in the year in which the revisions are proposed by the service authority. Compliance with that procedure shall only be required if the revisions are substantial.
(f)For purposes of this section, abandoned vehicle abatement means the removal of a vehicle from public or private property by towing or any other means after the vehicle has been marked as abandoned by an official of a governmental agency that is a member of the service authority.
(g)A service authority shall cease to exist on the date that all revenues received by the authority pursuant to this section and Section 9250.7 have been expended.
(h)In the event of a conflict with other provisions of law, this section shall govern the disbursement of money collected pursuant to this section and from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund for the implementation of the abandoned vehicle abatement program.
SEC. 2.The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances relating to the abatement of abandoned vehicles in the City of Laguna Woods.
(a)A service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles may be established, and a one dollar ($1) vehicle registration fee imposed, in a county if the board of supervisors of the county, by a two-thirds vote, and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population within the county have adopted resolutions providing for the establishment of the authority and imposition of the fee. The membership of the authority shall be determined by concurrence of the board of supervisors and a majority vote of the majority of the cities within the county having a majority of the incorporated population.
(b)The authority may contract and may undertake any act convenient or necessary to carry out a law relating to the authority. The authority shall be staffed by existing personnel of the city, county, or county transportation commission.
(c)(1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a service authority may adopt an ordinance establishing procedures for the abatement, removal, and disposal, as a public nuisance, of an abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part of the vehicle from private or public property; and for the recovery, pursuant to Section 25845 or 38773.5 of the Government Code, or assumption by the service authority, of costs associated with the enforcement of the ordinance. Cost recovery shall only be undertaken by an entity that may be a county or city or the department, pursuant to contract with the service authority as provided in this section.
(2)(A)The money received by an authority pursuant to Section 9250.7 and this section shall be used only for the abatement, removal, or the disposal as a public nuisance of any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part of the vehicle from private or public property. The money received shall not be used to offset the costs of vehicles towed under authorities other than an ordinance adopted pursuant to paragraph (1) or when costs are recovered under Section 22850.5.
(B)The money received by a service authority pursuant to Section 9250.7 and this section that are unexpended in a fiscal year may be carried forward by the service authority for the abandoned vehicle abatement program in the following fiscal year as agreed upon by the service authority and its member agencies.
(d)(1)An abandoned vehicle abatement program and plan of a service authority shall be implemented only with the approval of the county and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population.
(2)(A)The department shall provide guidelines for an abandoned vehicle abatement program. An authoritys abandoned vehicle abatement plan and program shall be consistent with those guidelines, and shall provide for, but not be limited to, an estimate of the number of abandoned vehicles, a disposal and enforcement strategy including contractual agreements, and appropriate fiscal controls.
(B)The departments guidelines provided pursuant to this paragraph shall include, but not be limited to, requiring each service authority receiving funds from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund to report to the Controller on an annual basis pursuant to subdivision (c) of Section 9250.7, in a manner prescribed by the department, and pursuant to an approved abandoned vehicle abatement program.
(C)A service authority may carry out an abandoned vehicle abatement from a public property after providing a notice as specified by the local ordinance adopted pursuant to Section 22660 of the jurisdiction in which the abandoned vehicle is located and that notice has expired.
(3)After a plan has been approved pursuant to paragraph (1), the service authority shall, not later than August 1 of the year in which the plan was approved, submit it to the department for review, and the department shall, not later than October 1 of that same year, either approve the plan as submitted or make recommendations for revision. After the plan has received the departments approval as being consistent with the departments guidelines, the service authority shall submit it to the Controller.
(4)Except as provided in subdivision (e), the Controller shall not make an allocation for a fiscal year, commencing on July 1 following the Controllers determination to suspend a service authority when a service authority has failed to comply with the provisions set forth in Section 9250.7.
(5)A governmental agency shall not receive funds from a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles pursuant to an approved abandoned vehicle abatement program unless the governmental agency has submitted an annual report to the service authority stating the manner in which the funds were expended, and the number of vehicles abated. The governmental agency shall receive that percentage of the total funds collected by the service authority that is equal to its share of the formula calculated pursuant to paragraph (6).
(6)Each service authority shall calculate a formula for apportioning funds to each governmental agency that receives funds from the service authority and submit that formula to the Controller with the annual report required pursuant to paragraph (2). The formula shall apportion 50 percent of the funds received by the service authority to a governmental agency based on the percentage of vehicles abated by that governmental agency of the total number of abandoned vehicles abated by all member agencies, and 50 percent based on population and geographic area, as determined by the service authority. When the formula is first submitted to the Controller, and each time the formula is revised thereafter, the service authority shall include a detailed explanation of how the service authority determined the apportionment between per capita abatements and service area.
(7)Notwithstanding any other provision of this subdivision, the Controller may allocate to the service authority in the County of Humboldt the net amount of the abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by that authority, as described in subdivision (b) of Section 9250.7, for calendar years 2000 and 2001.
(8)Notwithstanding any other law, the City of Laguna Woods may use the amount of abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by the service authority that formerly operated in the County of Orange pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 9250.7, and the interest accrued thereon, for purposes of enforcing provisions of this code on public highways.
(e)A plan that has been submitted to the Controller pursuant to subdivision (d) may be revised pursuant to the procedure prescribed in that subdivision, including compliance with any dates described therein for submission to the department and the Controller, respectively, in the year in which the revisions are proposed by the service authority. Compliance with that procedure shall only be required if the revisions are substantial.
(f)For purposes of this section, abandoned vehicle abatement means the removal of a vehicle from public or private property by towing or any other means after the vehicle has been marked as abandoned by an official of a governmental agency that is a member of the service authority.
(g)A service authority shall cease to exist on the date that all revenues received by the authority pursuant to this section and Section 9250.7 have been expended.
(h)In the event of a conflict with other provisions of law, this section shall govern the disbursement of money collected pursuant to this section and from the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund for the implementation of the abandoned vehicle abatement program.
SEC. 2.The Legislature finds and declares that a special statute is necessary and that a general statute cannot be made applicable within the meaning of Section 16 of Article IV of the California Constitution because of the unique circumstances relating to the abatement of abandoned vehicles in the City of Laguna Woods.
|
Date
|
Status
|
|---|---|
| Aug 24, 2026 | Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 126, Statutes of 2026. |
| Aug 24, 2026 | Approved by the Governor. |
| Aug 11, 2026 | Enrolled and presented to the Governor at 3 p.m. |
| Aug 4, 2026 | In Senate. Ordered to engrossing and enrolling. |
| Aug 3, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 74. Noes 0. Page 6040.) Ordered to the Senate. |
| Aug 3, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. |
| Jul 1, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. |
| Jun 30, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 15. Noes 0.) (June 29). |
| May 4, 2026 | Referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Apr 23, 2026 | In Assembly. Read first time. Held at Desk. |
| Apr 23, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Apr 23, 2026 | Read third time. Passed. (Ayes 37. Noes 0. Page 4033.) Ordered to the Assembly. |
| Apr 16, 2026 | Read second time. Ordered to consent calendar. |
| Apr 15, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0.) (April 14). |
| Apr 15, 2026 | From committee: Do pass. Ordered to consent calendar. (Ayes 12. Noes 0. Page 3872.) (April 14). |
| Mar 26, 2026 | Set for hearing April 14. |
| Feb 11, 2026 | Referred to Com. on TRANS. |
| Jan 20, 2026 | From printer. May be acted upon on or after February 16. |
| Jan 16, 2026 | Introduced. Read first time. To Com. on RLS. for assignment. To print. |
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Date
|
Description
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Location
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Votes
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 3, 2026 | SB 897 Choi Consent Calendar Second Day Regular Session | Assembly Floor |
Passed |
|
| Jun 29, 2026 | Do pass. To Consent Calendar. | Assembly Standing Committee on Transportation |
Passed |
|
| Apr 23, 2026 | Consent Calendar 2nd SB897 Choi et al. | Senate Floor |
Passed |
|
| Apr 14, 2026 | Do pass and be ordered to the Consent Calendar | Senate Standing Committee on Transportation |
Passed |
This list shows positions taken on this bill by organizations on the date displayed, which is linked to the original source.
Positions by individuals are not included.
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Organization
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Position
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Date
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|---|---|---|
| City of Laguna Woods | ** Support | |
| League of California Cities Orange County Division | ** Support |
Date of Hearing: June 29, 2026
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Lori D. Wilson, Chair
SBPCA Bill Id:SB 897
Author:(Choi) – As Introduced Ver:January 16, 2026
SENATE VOTE: 37-0
SUBJECT: Vehicles: abandoned vehicles
SUMMARY: Authorizes the City of Laguna Woods to use the amount of abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by the service authority that formerly operated in the County of Orange, and the interest accrued thereon, for purposes of enforcing provisions of the Vehicle Code.
EXISTING LAW:
- Authorizes the creation of a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles, and the imposition of a one dollar ($1) vehicle registration fee, in a county if the board of supervisors of the county, by a two-thirds vote, and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population within the county have adopted resolutions providing for the establishment of the authority and imposition of the fee. (Vehicle Code (VEH) 22710)
- Specifies that the money received by a service authority shall be used only for the abatement, removal, or the disposal as a public nuisance of any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part of the vehicle from private or public property. (VEH 22710)
- Allows the money received by a service authority that is unexpended in a fiscal year to be carried forward by the service authority for the abandoned vehicle abatement program in the following fiscal year as agreed upon by the service authority and its member agencies. (VEH 22710)
- Provides that a service authority shall cease to exist on the date that all revenues received by the authority have been expended. (VEH 22710)
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: Existing law gives local governments the power to create service authorities for the abatement of abandoned vehicles. A county and its constituent cities can establish a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles and impose a $1 surcharge on vehicle registrations, plus another $2 on commercial vehicles, within the county to fund the service authority.
In 1991, Orange County authorized the surcharge on vehicles in the county and renewed the surcharges a decade late. In 2012, the County decided against renewing the charge, in part because of the lack of need for the revenue. Per law, the existing revenue was distributed back to the localities in which the funds were raised.
Laguna Woods is a unique, master-planned city in southern Orange County, California, primarily comprised of Laguna Woods Village, one of the nation's premier gated communities for adults aged 55 and older. Incorporating in 1999 as the county's 32nd city, it spans roughly four square miles of rolling hills and features a quiet, beautifully landscaped suburban environment focused heavily on active senior living. The city offers its residents an extensive array of amenities, including championship golf courses, equestrian facilities, multiple clubhouses, and hundreds of special-interest clubs.
The City of Laguna Woods has over $42,000 in unspent Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Fee revenue. According to the City of Laguna Wood’s Budget and Work Plan, Fiscal Year’s 2025-2027, “The City maintains funds in its Service Authority for Abandoned Vehicles Fund to assist with the abatement of abandoned vehicles. Service Authority for Abandoned Vehicles (SAAV) revenue was generated as a result of the City’s former membership in the now defunct Orange County Service Authority for Abandoned Vehicles (OC SAAV), which operated between 1991 and 2012, pursuant to California Vehicle Code Section 22710(a).
During its operation, the OC SAAV imposed and collected a $1 per vehicle registration fee ($2 for commercial vehicles) to offset member agencies’ costs of abating abandoned vehicles. The City continues to maintain SAAV funds that it has been unable to spend due to a lack of abandoned vehicles to abate (none in at least the past 17 years). The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA), which acted as the administrator of the OC SAAV, has informed the City that its SAAV funds cannot be returned to OCTA, nor transferred to another city that has a use for them, due to limitations in state law. As a result, the City is pursuing state legislation that would provide for alternative use or disposition of its SAAV funds.”
According to the author, “The City of Laguna has not had a single case of an abandoned vehicle needing abatement in over 17 years. The funds are from the SAAV funds are accruing interest and not being used. This legislation will authorize City of Laguna to spend the funds towards other transportation and safety related issues.”
The City of Laguna Woods, writing as the sponsor of this bill, argues “SB 897 would give the City of Laguna Woods the authority to spend its SAAV fund balance in a manner that creates clear public benefit. Specifically, since the original purpose of the SAAV funds was to enforce provisions of the Vehicle Code related to abandoned vehicles, SB 897 seeks only to allow the City of Laguna Woods to use its SAAV fund balance to enforce other provisions of the Vehicle Code (e.g., reckless driving, running red lights, speeding, and other moving violations). SB 897 would make use of the City of Laguna Woods’ SAAV fund balance possible while ensuring that such use remains both vehicle and public safety focused.”
Previous legislation. AB 486 (Ruskin) Chapter 389, Statutes of 2007 expanded the circumstances under which a county service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles may use the revenue it generates from imposing a $1 annual vehicle registration surcharge, required that the use of the funds be audited each year, and modified the statutory authority to abate abandoned vehicles.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
City of Laguna Woods (sponsor)
League of California Cities Orange County Division
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by: David Sforza / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
SENATE RULES COMMITTEE Office of Senate Floor Analyses (916) 651-4171 | SB 897 |
CONSENT
Bill No: SB 897
Author: Choi (R), et al.
Introduced: 1/16/26
Vote: 21
SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 12-0, 4/14/26
AYES: Cortese, Strickland, Archuleta, Arreguín, Blakespear, Dahle, Gonzalez, Grayson, Menjivar, Richardson, Seyarto, Wiener
NO VOTE RECORDED: Valladares
SUBJECT: Vehicles: abandoned vehicles
SOURCE: City of Laguna Woods
DIGEST:
This bill authorizes the City of Laguna Woods to use unspent abandoned vehicle abatement fees to broadly enforce provisions of the Vehicle Code.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Authorizes the creation of a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles, and the imposition of a one dollar ($1) vehicle registration fee, in a county if the board of supervisors of the county, by a two-thirds vote, and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population within the county have adopted resolutions providing for the establishment of the authority and imposition of the fee.
- Specifies that the money received by a service authority shall be used only for the abatement, removal, or the disposal as a public nuisance of any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part of the vehicle from private or public property.
- Allows the money received by a service authority that is unexpended in a fiscal year to be carried forward by the service authority for the abandoned vehicle abatement program in the following fiscal year as agreed upon by the service authority and its member agencies.
- Provides that a service authority shall cease to exist on the date that all revenues received by the authority have been expended. (Vehicle Code §22710)
This bill authorizes the City of Laguna Woods to use the amount of abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by the service authority that formerly operated in the County of Orange, and the interest accrued thereon, for purposes of enforcing provisions of the Vehicle Code.
Comments
- Purpose of the bill. According to the author’s office, “The City of Laguna has not had a single case of an abandoned vehicle needing abatement in over 17 years. The funds are from the SAAV funds are accruing interest and not being used. This legislation will authorize City of Laguna to spend the funds towards other transportation and safety related issues.”
- What are Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Fees? Existing law gives local governments the power to create service authorities for the abatement of abandoned vehicles. This law allows a county and its constituent cities to establish a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles and to impose a $1 surcharge on vehicle registrations, plus another $2 on commercial vehicles, within the county to fund the service authority.
A county may establish the authority and impose the fee only if two conditions are met: (1) the county board of supervisors approves the action by a two-thirds vote, and (2) a majority of the county’s cities—representing a majority of the county’s population—also adopt approving resolutions. The fee remains in effect for 10 years and may be extended using the same approval process. Currently, 37 counties in California participate in the program.
The Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Fee is collected by the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) and sent to the State Controller’s Office. The State Controller’s Office then allocates the money in the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Funds to each county service authority in proportion to the revenues received from the fee imposed by the service authority. The service authorities disburse the money in the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund to each of their jurisdictions based on the percentage of abandoned vehicles abated.
- City of Laguna Woods’ funds. The City of Laguna Woods is a city in Orange County with a population just over 17,000. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) previously administered the Orange County Service Authority for Abandoned Vehicles (SAAV), which was established in 1991 and funded through a $1 annual vehicle registration fee. The program was reauthorized once, but ultimately sunset in April 2012 after the OCTA Board directed staff not to extend it. Prior to its dissolution, all SAAV funds were distributed to participating cities and the County in accordance with state law. One of participating cities was Laguna Woods.
The City of Laguna Woods currently has over $42,000 in unspent Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Fee revenue. According to the city, they have not had a single case of an abandoned vehicle needing abatement in over 17 years. Because the funds can only be used for abandoned vehicle abatement, the money has sat unused, collecting interest, for years.
- Enforcing the Vehicle Code. The City of Laguna Woods, the sponsor of this bill, would like to use their remaining abandoned vehicle abatement fees to enforce any provision of the Vehicle Code. This bill would grant the city significant flexibility to use the roughly $42,000. The Vehicle Code contains a wide array of transportation-related statues, including statues on speeds, bicycles, licensing, commercial vehicles, and vehicle sales, among many other provisions. Although this bill would extend to the City of Laguna Woods substantial flexibility to use the abandoned vehicle abatement funds, the city reports that their intention is to use the funds primarily to increase enforcement of speeding.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No
SUPPORT: (Verified 4/15/26)
City of Laguna Woods (source)
OPPOSITION: (Verified 4/15/26)
Prepared by: Isabelle LaSalle / TRANS. / (916) 651-4121
4/20/26 9:40:31
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SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION
Senator Dave Cortese, Chair
2025 - 2026 Regular
Bill No: Hearing Date: 4/14/2026
Author: | Choi | ||
Version: | 1/16/2026 Introduced | ||
Urgency: | No | Fiscal: | No |
Consultant: | Isabelle LaSalle | ||
SUBJECT:
DIGEST: This bill authorizes the City of Laguna Woods to use unspent abandoned vehicle abatement fees to broadly enforce provisions of the Vehicle Code.
ANALYSIS:
Existing law:
- Authorizes the creation of a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles, and the imposition of a one dollar ($1) vehicle registration fee, in a county if the board of supervisors of the county, by a two-thirds vote, and a majority of the cities having a majority of the incorporated population within the county have adopted resolutions providing for the establishment of the authority and imposition of the fee.
- Specifies that the money received by a service authority shall be used only for the abatement, removal, or the disposal as a public nuisance of any abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, or inoperative vehicle or part of the vehicle from private or public property.
- Allows the money received by a service authority that is unexpended in a fiscal year to be carried forward by the service authority for the abandoned vehicle abatement program in the following fiscal year as agreed upon by the service authority and its member agencies.
- Provides that a service authority shall cease to exist on the date that all revenues received by the authority have been expended. (VEH §22710)
This bill:
- Authorizes the City of Laguna Woods to use the amount of abandoned vehicle abatement funds received from the fee imposed by the service authority that formerly operated in the County of Orange, and the interest accrued thereon, for purposes of enforcing provisions of the Vehicle Code.
COMMENTS:
- Purpose of the bill. According to the author’s office, “The City of Laguna has not had a single case of an abandoned vehicle needing abatement in over 17 years. The funds are from the SAAV funds are accruing interest and not being used. This legislation will authorize City of Laguna to spend the funds towards other transportation and safety related issues.”
- What are Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Fees? Existing law gives local governments the power to create service authorities for the abatement of abandoned vehicles. This law allows a county and its constituent cities to establish a service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles and to impose a $1 surcharge on vehicle registrations, plus another $2 on commercial vehicles, within the county to fund the service authority.
A county may establish the authority and impose the fee only if two conditions are met: (1) the county board of supervisors approves the action by a two-thirds vote, and (2) a majority of the county’s cities—representing a majority of the county’s population—also adopt approving resolutions. The fee remains in effect for 10 years and may be extended using the same approval process. Currently, 37 counties in California participate in the program.
The Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Fee is collected by DMV and sent to the State Controller’s Office. The State Controller’s Office then allocates the money in the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Funds to each county service authority in proportion to the revenues received from the fee imposed by the service authority. The service authorities disburse the money in the Abandoned Vehicle Trust Fund to each of their jurisdictions based on the percentage of abandoned vehicles abated.
- City of Laguna Woods’ funds. The City of Laguna Woods is a city in Orange County with a population just over 17,000. The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) previously administered the Orange County Service Authority for Abandoned Vehicles (SAAV), which was established in 1991 and funded through a $1 annual vehicle registration fee. The program was reauthorized once, but ultimately sunset in April 2012 after the OCTA Board directed staff not to extend it. Prior to its dissolution, all SAAV funds were distributed to participating cities and the County in accordance with state law. One of participating cities was Laguna Woods.
The City of Laguna Woods currently has over $42,000 in unspent Abandoned Vehicle Abatement Fee revenue. According to the city, they have not had a single case of an abandoned vehicle needing abatement in over 17 years. Because the funds can only be used for abandoned vehicle abatement, the money has sat unused, collecting interest, for years.
- Enforcing the Vehicle Code. The City of Laguna Woods, the sponsor of SB 897, would like to use their remaining abandoned vehicle abatement fees to enforce any provision of the Vehicle Code. This bill would grant the city significant flexibility to use the roughly $42,000. The Vehicle Code contains a wide array of transportation-related statues, including statues on speeds, bicycles, licensing, commercial vehicles, and vehicle sales, among many other provisions. Although this bill would extend to the City of Laguna Woods substantial flexibility to use the abandoned vehicle abatement funds, the city reports that their intention is to use the funds primarily to increase enforcement of speeding.
Related/previous Legislation:
AB 486 (Ruskin, Chapter 389, Statutes of 2007) – This bill expanded the circumstances under which a county service authority for the abatement of abandoned vehicles may use the revenue it generates from imposing a $1 annual vehicle registration surcharge, required that the use of the funds be audited each year, and modified the statutory authority to abate abandoned vehicles.
FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:
POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday,
April 8, 2026.)
SUPPORT:
City of Laguna Woods (sponsor)
OPPOSITION:
None received.
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Bill Author
