Legislative Updates

LA Sanitation & Environment (LASAN) tracks federal and state legislation to ensure that these new policies support and enable the accomplishment of this agency’s mission, vision and strategic plan. Additionally, it's to help optimize operations and services to the City and its residents/businesses. Getting early information keeps us ready to address these new challenges and provides a keen understanding of any new impact of policy and legislation. This legislative program tracks, analyzes, and reports on local, state, and federal legislation, as well as relevant ballot initiatives. In addition to finance, safety, and labor, LASAN also tracks legislation in the following four program areas:

  • Clean water
  • Solid resources
  • Stormwater
  • Climate change/Renewable energy
Plastic pollution is a big problem for our oceans and waterways. Plastics do not break down in the environment, but instead break up into smaller pieces, which are ingested by marine life and poison, starve or suffocate them. Straws are of particular concern because their size and shape makes them almost impossible to recycle. To reduce their harmful effects, a new State law mandates that plastic straws be distributed by request only at full service restaurants. The City of LA will soon expand this mandate to include ALL eateries. While a local straws-on-request law will have a positive effect on the environment, the City of LA is also considering the possible effects of a complete ban on single-use, disposable plastic straws, much like the ban on single-use plastic bags.
  • Straws-on-request at full service restaurants: January 1, 2019
  • Straws-on-request applies to larger LA eateries: April 22, 2019
  • Straws-on-request applies to ALL LA eateries: October 1, 2019
  • Complaint-based enforcement begins: October 1, 2019
More about Plastic Straw Ban

Dockless Scooters and Bikes

Dockless scooters– meaning you ride them and leave them anywhere – began appearing on city sidewalks across the nation just over a year ago. These scooters are part of the micro-mobility movement for urban transportation. In addition to their popularity, there have come calls for a safety review for pedestrians and riders as well addressing street clutter. Cities have taken action by limiting the number of scooters and cracking down on where they can be ridden or parked.

What rules or laws apply to e-scooters?
  • Users must have a valid California driver’s license or instructional permit
  • Users must wear a helmet on e-scooters
  • Users must be 18 years or older
Where can I ride a Scooter?
  • Users are required to follow the rules of the road. Under state law, motorized scooter users must:
  • Ride in the street, and stay to the right.
  • Use multi-use paths or bike lanes if available.
  • Ride in a bike lane if the street has a posted speed limit greater than 25 mph.
  • Ride in a Class IV, or separated bikeway, if the street has a posted speed limit greater than 35 mph.
  • Leave at least 6 feet of sidewalk space for pedestrians and people with disabilities.
Don’t ride:
  • On sidewalks
Don’t park:
  • In front of driveways, crosswalks, and transit stops
  • Near ADA access ramps
  • Near utilities (such as fire hydrants)
  • Along color curbs (such as blue zones or yellow zones)
  • On landscaped areas or grass
  • On sidewalks less than 3 feet wide
What will the City do with scooters that are not parked correctly?
Improperly parked dockless vehicles and other concerns may be reported to the company directly, on the MyLA311 app, or by calling 3-1-1. Any dockless vehicle parked in any one location for more than 5 consecutive days without moving is subject to removal by LA Sanitation & Environment.
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