Daylight saving time starts Sunday, but it could be the last in California

This Sunday at 2 a.m. is the start of daylight saving time, which means clocks will spring forward an hour.

Whether you love it or hate it, this year's daylight saving could be California's last. A bill to scrap daylight saving time made its way through another Senate committee last August, which means California may be closer to standard time year round.

In an interview with the Sacramento Bee, Assemblymember Kansen Chu (D-San Jose) – who authored the bill – said, "Daylight saving time is an institution that has been in place largely without a question for more than half a century." Chu continued, "I think we owe it to the general public to be given the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not daylight saving time ought to be continued."

Chu presented Assembly Bill 385 to the State Senate Appropriations Committee on August 11, 2016. The bill was initially introduced in 2015 and written to put an end to daylight saving time as we know it.

Remember: Daylight Savings is Sunday, March12 at 2:00 a.m. Set your clocks back one hour. Remember: Daylight Savings is Sunday, March12 at 2:00 a.m. Set your clocks back one hour. Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, Special To The Chronicle Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, Special To The Chronicle Image 1 of / 37 Caption Close Daylight saving time starts Sunday, but it could be the last in California 1 / 37 Back to Gallery

Chu also cited statistics in the bill that link daylight savings time to a higher heart attack rate, traffic accidents and fatalities and energy waste.

After several amendments last year, the bill made its way to the Senate Energy, Utilities and Communications Committee in June and eventually to the State Senate Appropriation Committee this past week.

After clearing the Senate committee, the bill is now headed to the Senate floor. If the bill passes and receives Gov. Jerry Brown's approval, California voters will see the bill on the ballot no later than 2018.