Bill Text: CA AB1116 | 2021-2022 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 1116 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: High-Speed Rail Authority: oversight: Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2022-02-01 - From committee: Filed with the Chief Clerk pursuant to Joint Rule 56. [AB1116 Detail]

Download: California-2021-AB1116-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2021–2022 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1116

Introduced by Assembly Member Friedman

February 18, 2021

An act to add and repeal Section 185035.5 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to high-speed rail.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1116, as introduced, Friedman. High-Speed Rail Authority: oversight: Legislative Analyst’s Office.

Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority with specified powers and duties related to the development and implementation of a high-speed train system. Existing law, pursuant to the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, approved by the voters as Proposition 1A at the November 4, 2008, statewide general election, provides for the issuance of $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for high-speed rail and related rail purposes.

This bill would require the Legislative Analyst’s Office, for the purpose of reviewing the planning, financing, expenditures, and other elements of the statewide high-speed rail system, to review any materials submitted to the authority and documents the authority requests from contractors, consultants, or external parties, as specified, and to provide recommendations to the policy and budget committees of the Legislature regarding the statewide high-speed rail system and the development of shared mobility systems statewide. The bill would require the authority, and any entity contracting with the authority, to provide to the Legislative Analyst’s Office any information that it requests and to permit representatives of the Legislative Analyst’s Office to attend the authority’s internal meetings. The bill would repeal these requirements on January 1, 2031.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NO

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

It is the intent of the Legislature that this measure increase legislative oversight of the statewide high-speed rail system to ensure that the use of related funding is, to the maximum extent possible, used for purposes of increasing ridership on the state’s shared mobility systems and of reducing statewide vehicles miles traveled and emissions of greenhouse gases.

SEC. 2.

Section 185035.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:

185035.5.

(a) For the purpose of reviewing the planning, financing, expenditures, and other elements of the statewide high-speed rail system, the Legislative Analyst’s Office shall review any materials submitted to the authority and documents the authority requests from contractors, consultants, or external parties.

(b) In reviewing materials and documents pursuant to subdivision (a), the Legislative Analyst’s Office shall do all of the following:

(1) Provide external and independent oversight of the statewide high-speed rail system and provide recommendations to the policy and budget committees of the Legislature regarding the statewide high-speed rail system and the development of shared mobility systems statewide.

(2) Assess the reliability of the statewide high-speed rail system’s estimated costs, schedule, and revenue.

(3) Ensure that the statewide high-speed rail system’s risks are identified and managed by the authority.

(c) The authority, and any entity contracting with the authority, shall provide to the Legislative Analyst’s Office any information that the Legislative Analyst’s Office requests, and shall permit representatives of the Legislative Analyst’s Office to attend the authority’s internal meetings for purposes of facilitating the Legislative Analyst’s Office’s oversight of the statewide high-speed rail system.

(d) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2031, and as of that date is repealed.