Should California put an end to daylight saving time in the state?

It’s getting closer to closer to happening now that both the Assembly and Senate have voted to repeal an initiative that has been in place for decades.

Here’s what you should know.

What exactly is daylight saving time?

A uniform daylight saving time was established by federal law in 1966.

It occurs in most of the U.S. when the standard time of each zone is advanced by one hour at 2 a.m. on the second Sunday of March until 2 a.m. on the first Sunday of November each year.

What’s the point of it?

Here’s why we do it, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, which is responsible for all of this.

It saves energy. During daylight saving time, the sun sets one hour later in the evenings, so the need to use electricity for household lighting and appliances is reduced. People tend to spend more time outside in the evenings during daylight saving time, which reduces the need to use electricity in the home. Also, because the sunrise is very early in the morning during the summer months, most people will awake after the sun has already risen, which means they turn on fewer lights in their homes.

It saves lives and prevents traffic injuries. During daylight saving time, more people travel to and from school and work and complete errands during the daylight.

It reduces crime. During daylight saving time, more people are out conducting their affairs during the daylight rather than at night, when more crime occurs.

How and why does California want to end daylight saving time here?

The state Senate approved Assembly Bill 807, introduced by Assemblyman Kansen Chu, D- San Jose, on Wednesday. Now the Assembly — which initially passed the measure in 2017 — is expected to approve amendments made in the Senate and then it goes to the governor who will decide whether he wants to give his signature of approval.

That would give voters the chance to decide this November whether the state should repeal the law establishing daylight saving time in California. If they approve the repeal, the state Legislature would be given authority to use a simple majority to adjust make the change.

States can opt out of the annual daylight saving time adjustment that takes place across the country if they pass a state law to observe standard time year-round.

Chu said he believes the practice of switching the clocks in fall and spring is “outdated” and that the time change has a negative affect on public health including increases in the occurrence rates of heart attacks and strokes.

Are there other places in the U.S. that don’t observe daylight saving time?

Daylight saving time is not observed in Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and most of Arizona.

What’s the response to California’s efforts?

People hearing about the news that California lawmakers are trying to make a change with daylight saving time showed their appreciation on Twitter.

Others see changing the law as an unneccessary adjustment.

The Conversation

The Conversation with Abby and Luis is live on Facebook every weekday at noon PDT. They discuss what’s written on this blog and more with viewers and welcome questions and comments that they reply to in real time.

Check out Abby and Luis talking about daylight saving time below.

Email: abby.hamblin@sduniontribune.com

Twitter: @abbyhamblin