Pedestrian safety: school zones: speed limits.

As Assembly Member Berman frames the measure, it would authorize local authorities to establish a 20 mph prima facie speed limit in school zones and, under specified conditions, introduce a parallel framework for lower limits in adjacent residential corridors, with a sunset and transition tied to a 2031 date. The measure defines a school zone as the area within 500 feet of school grounds in any direction unless signs indicate a different boundary.

The proposal changes the mechanics of how speed limits near schools are set and signs are posted. It allows a local ordinance to declare a 20 mph limit in a school zone, with signage requirements identifying when the limit applies and the hours or conditions under which children are present. It also creates a separate pathway for more localized speed reductions: in residence districts on highways with posted speeds of 30 mph or slower, a 15 mph limit may be adopted in a school zone on highways that have two lanes and a 30 mph or slower limit immediately before and after the school zone; this 15 mph regime requires appropriate notice signs and, for state highways, Department of Transportation approval. Additionally, a 25 mph limit may be adopted when approaching a school zone from a distance of 500 to 1,000 feet. The bill treats the 20 mph, 15 mph, and 25 mph provisions as operative with a sunset in 2031.

The measure also revises enforcement-related provisions to align with the new structure. Definitions of a “speed trap” and related enforcement thresholds are updated to reflect the revised school-zone framework, including requirements around radar or other devices, operator training, and calibration standards. The bill preserves a local-signage-centric approach and contemplates state oversight where necessary, with local agencies potentially funding signage through grant programs and private contributions. It further provides that the state must reimburse local agencies and school districts for costs mandated by the state if the Commission on State Mandates determines such costs exist, with reimbursement procedures established under existing law.

In terms of implementation and fiscal context, the measure creates a state-mandated local program by design, requiring local adoption by ordinance or resolution and signaling a role for both local jurisdictions and state agencies in signage, enforcement standards, and reimbursement. It also specifies that the presence and use of school-zone signs, beacons, and hours posted will govern when the lower speed limits apply, and ties these elements to the broader regulatory framework governing speed limits and traffic control along roadways serving schools. Taken together, the provisions place school-area speed policy within a framework of local discretion guided by defined signage and timing criteria, while maintaining state-level standards and reimbursement mechanisms for mandated costs.