There is some good news for people that don’t like daylight savings time. There is a bill that was introduced this year that will do away with daylight savings time in California. Assembly Bill 807 (AB 807), if passed in the Legislature, would go on the ballot during the general election for voters to decide to repeal the 1949 initiative establishing daylight savings time in California. The measure was introduced by Assemblyman Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) earlier this year, and this is actually the second time that Assemblyman Chu has tried to end daylight savings time in California. He introduced a similar bill last year that ultimately failed to make it out of the Senate.
AB 807 would allow the Legislature to adjust daylight savings time, with a two-thirds vote. If the measure is passed the Legislature would be able to get rid of daylight savings time, switch the dates daylight savings time takes effect, or move daylight savings time on a year-round basis if the federal government allows it. Assemblyman Jay Obernolte (R-Hesperia) called the practice of changing clocks “anachronistic,” because studies have shown that the practice has adverse effects on health. The U.S. Department of Transportation claims that daylight savings time is needed to save energy, save lives, and reduce crime because of the extra daylight that we receive. Arizona is currently the only state in the United States that does not observe daylight savings time. AB 807 has so far passed some of the main hurtles in the Assembly, but we will have to wait and see if California will join Arizona in getting rid of daylight savings time.
