Assembly OKs Bill to Ease Leaf Blower Ban

A bill that seeks to undo Los Angeles’ ban on gas-powered leaf blowers made its way through the state Assembly on Tuesday. The proposed legislation would allow the use of gas-powered blowers, but would place restrictions on their noise levels and times of use.

The bill, AB 1609, sponsored by Assemblyman Tony Cardenas (D-Sylmar), was approved by an Assembly vote of 45 to 17, with 15 members abstaining.

Cardenas’ bill would trump existing ordinances in 13 California cities--including Los Angeles, West Hollywood, Santa Monica and Malibu--that ban the use of gas-powered leaf blowers.

Under the measure, blowers would be allowed to operate during what Cardenas terms “normal business hours,” about 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and could emit no more than 65 decibels.

Current gas-powered blowers average 67 to 69 decibels, according to Afrack Vargas, a Cardenas aide.

Earlier this year the Legislature approved a bill, sponsored by Sen. John Burton (D-San Francisco), calling for an environmental impact study on leaf blowers by the State Air Resources Board.

Last year, Burton opposed Senate legislation similar to the Cardenas bill.

The Assembly-approved leaf blower bill may have difficulty getting through the Senate, Burton’s spokesman Dave Sebeck said. “The sense in the Senate right now is to just wait and see what the environmental study holds” before passing any other leaf blower laws, he said.

Cardenas is undecided about when to submit the bill to the Senate, which he could do as early as next week or hold until after the impact study, Vargas said.