SB 511: Pupil nutrition: nutrition assistance: community program information. - California

03/26/25 - Amended Senate → 04/08/25 - Amended Senate · 7 edits · Apr 8, 2025

MODERATE

The April 8 amendment to SB 511 makes several substantive changes to California's autonomous vehicle framework: it narrows the exclusion for driver-assistance systems (now based on 'sustained automated steering' rather than 'active control or monitoring'), accelerates the zero-emission vehicle requirement from 2030/2031 model year to 2028/2028, limits the child-detection mandate to children under six, and reclassifies certain violations as infractions. The bill also now acknowledges a state-mandated local program and fiscal committee review.

DEFINITION

The exclusion for non-autonomous vehicles was narrowed: systems are now excluded if they are not capable of 'sustained automated steering of the vehicle' rather than if they are not capable of driving without 'active control or monitoring of a human operator.' This could bring more advanced driver-assistance systems within the autonomous vehicle definition.

The definition of 'autonomous technology' was changed from requiring capability to drive without 'the active physical control or monitoring by a human operator' to without 'the active physical control by a human operator,' removing the monitoring element.

TIMELINE

The zero-emission vehicle requirement for autonomous vehicles was accelerated: commencement moved from January 1, 2030 to January 1, 2028, and the applicable model year threshold changed from 2031 to 2028.

SCOPE

The child-detection requirement in Section 38757 was narrowed to apply only to 'an unattended child under six years of age or a pet' rather than any unattended child or pet, limiting the scope of vehicles that must be equipped with the sensing device.

ENFORCEMENT

The digest now states that violations of these provisions are punishable as an infraction (rather than a crime), and the special driver's license designation violation is specifically described as 'a new crime of infraction' rather than simply 'a new crime.'

FISCAL

The fiscal committee determination changed from 'no' to 'yes' and the state-mandated local program determination changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires fiscal analysis and acknowledges it imposes costs on local agencies.

TECHNICAL

The reference to 'as amended by Section 1 of Chapter 682 of the Statutes of 2024' was removed from the Section 38750 amendment language, a technical change to how the section is cited.

01/05/26 - Amended Senate → SB511 · 1 edit

MINOR

This diff reflects a formatting and presentation change rather than a substantive policy change. The earlier version was a partial bill text that included only the pupil nutrition provision (Section 8995) with a note stating that the autonomous vehicle provisions were omitted and appeared in an earlier amendment. The new version consolidates the full bill text into a single document, including both the autonomous vehicle digest and the pupil nutrition statutory text together. No changes were made to the actual statutory language.

TECHNICAL

The bill text was consolidated from a partial version (which omitted the autonomous vehicle provisions with a cross-reference note) into a complete single document showing all provisions together. The statutory language of Section 8995 of the Education Code is unchanged.

04/08/25 - Amended Senate → 01/05/26 - Amended Senate · 4 edits · Jan 5, 2026

MODERATE

SB 511 was substantially restructured between these versions. A new provision amending Section 8995 of the Education Code was added, encouraging schools with websites to post information about community nutrition assistance programs for families. The entire autonomous vehicle regulatory framework (Vehicle Code Sections 38750, 38750.5, 38756, and 38757) was removed from this version via a Joint Rule 11 amendment, with a note directing readers to the prior April 8, 2025 version for that omitted matter.

SCOPE

A new Section 1 amending Education Code Section 8995 was added. It encourages school administrations to post on their internet websites (if they maintain one) information about community programs that offer nutrition assistance to families. This is a non-mandatory encouragement, not a requirement.

The entire autonomous vehicle regulatory framework was omitted from this version via Joint Rule 11. This included: definitions of autonomous technology and vehicles, testing requirements, DMV application and approval processes, the Autonomous Vehicle Regulatory Fund, criminal penalties for unauthorized modification of vehicles to be autonomous, and child/pet detection device requirements for vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2028.

FISCAL

Fiscal committee designation changed from 'yes' to 'yes no' and state-mandated local program designation changed from 'yes' to 'yes no', reflecting the removal of the provisions that previously triggered those designations (the new crimes and infraction related to autonomous vehicles).

TECHNICAL

The sponsoring senator's name was shortened from 'Grayson Perez' to 'Perez' throughout, and various page numbering and formatting adjustments were made.

02/19/25 - Introduced → 03/26/25 - Amended Senate · 8 edits · Mar 26, 2025

MODERATE

The Senate amendment substantially expands SB 511 from a technical cleanup bill into a major policy expansion of California's autonomous vehicle framework. It broadens the definition of 'autonomous vehicle' to include Level 2 SAE J3016 systems, accelerates the zero-emission vehicle mandate by two years, creates criminal penalties for unauthorized software modifications that give vehicles autonomous capabilities, and requires new child/pet detection sensors in autonomous vehicles manufactured after January 1, 2028.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'autonomous vehicle' now includes Level 2 SAE J3016 (previously only Levels 3-5), adds a requirement that the vehicle can intentionally depart its lane on a marked roadway under automation control, and locks the standard to the April 2021 version by removing 'as may be revised.'

The exclusion for non-autonomous systems was changed from 'not capable of driving the vehicle without the active control or monitoring of a human operator' to 'not capable of sustained automated steering of the vehicle,' which narrows what is excluded and could capture more systems under regulation.

TIMELINE

The zero-emission vehicle requirement for autonomous vehicles was moved up from January 1, 2030 (model year 2031) to January 1, 2028 (model year 2028), accelerating the mandate by two years.

ENFORCEMENT

New Section 38756 makes it a crime to modify a vehicle with before-market or aftermarket software to give it autonomous vehicle functionality, and a separate crime to sell, lease, or transfer title to such a modified vehicle. Penalties include a fine up to $10,000, imprisonment in county jail up to one year, or both.

REQUIREMENT

New Section 38757 requires autonomous vehicles manufactured on or after January 1, 2028 to be equipped with an electronic sensing device that detects unattended children or pets inside the vehicle and can notify the owner or first responders of their presence.

The DMV is now required (not just authorized) to adopt regulations for administrative fines and penalties, and any regulation necessary to ensure safe operation. If the DMV adopts a special driver's license designation for autonomous vehicle operators, operating without that designation becomes a crime.

FISCAL

New Section 38750.5 creates the Autonomous Vehicle Regulatory Fund in the State Treasury, into which training, testing, and application fees will be deposited to recover regulatory costs.

TECHNICAL

Throughout the bill, the term 'driver' is replaced with 'operator' in multiple provisions, reflecting a broader conceptual shift in how the person controlling an autonomous vehicle is characterized.

Pupil nutrition: nutrition assistance: community program information.

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