BILL NUMBER: SB 1141	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 5, 2016

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Moorlach

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2016

   An act to add Section 155.7 to the Streets and Highways Code,
relating to state highways.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 1141, as amended, Moorlach. State highways: transfer to local
agencies: pilot program.
   Existing law provides that the Department of Transportation has
full possession and control of all state highways and associated
property, and sets forth the powers and duties with respect to
operation, maintenance, and improvement of state highways. Existing
law authorizes the California Transportation Commission to exercise
various powers and duties on transportation matters, including the
allocation of certain transportation capital improvement funds
available to the state.
   This bill would require the department to participate in a pilot
program over a 5-year period under which 2 counties, one in northern
California and one in southern California,  are 
 may be  selected to operate, maintain, and make
improvements to all state highways, including freeways, in the
affected county. The bill would require the department, with respect
to those counties, for the duration of the pilot program, to convey
all of its authority and responsibility over state highways in the
county to the county or to a regional transportation agency that has
jurisdiction in the county. The bill would require the commission to
administer and oversee the pilot program and to select the 
county or  counties  that will participate 
 participating  in the  program.  
program by January 1, 2018, from applications received, but would
provide that participation of a county in the pilot program is
voluntary.  The bill would require certain moneys to be
appropriated for these purposes as a block grant in the annual Budget
Act to a participating county, as specified. The bill would
authorize any cost savings realized by a participating county to be
used by the county for other transportation priorities. The bill
would require the participating counties to report to the Legislature
upon the conclusion of the pilot program.  The bill would
provide that its provisions shall become inoperative on January 15,
2018, if the commission is unable to select at least one county to
participate in the pilot program because no county has submitted an
application to the commission   . 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 155.7 is added to the Streets and Highways
Code, to read:
   155.7.  (a) The department shall participate in a pilot program
over a five-year period under which two counties, one in northern
California and one in southern California,  shall 
 may  be selected  pursuant to subdivision (b)  to
operate, maintain, and make improvements to all state highways,
including freeways, in the affected county. The department, with
respect to those counties, shall, for the duration of the pilot
program, convey all of its authority and responsibility over state
highways in the county to the county or to a regional transportation
agency that has jurisdiction in the county.  The pilot
program shall commence no later than January 1, 2018. 
   (b) The commission shall administer and oversee the pilot program
and shall, from applications received, select the  county or
 counties that will participate in the  program.
  program no later than January 1, 2018.  The
commission shall exercise the same level of oversight over
expenditure of state highway resources in a participating county as
it exercises over the department with respect to state highways in
nonparticipating counties.  Participation of a county in the
pilot program is voluntary.  
   (c) If the commission is unable to select at least one county to
participate in the pilot program by January 1, 2018, because no
county has submitted an application to the commission, this section
shall become inoperative on January 15, 2018.  
   (c) 
    (d)  For the duration of the pilot program, moneys shall
be appropriated as a block grant in the annual Budget Act to a
participating county in an amount equivalent to federal and state
funds otherwise to be expended by the department on the state
highways in the county, including, among other things, funding for
operations, maintenance, capital outlay support, the State Highway
Operation and Protection Program, and the State Transportation
Improvement Program. The commission, in consultation with the
department, shall determine the applicable grant amounts for each
participating county and shall submit its recommendations to the
Governor and the Legislature. 
   (d) 
    (e)  Any cost savings realized by a participating
county, compared to comparable expenditures that otherwise would have
been undertaken by the department on state highways in the county in
the absence of the pilot program, may be used by the county for
other transportation priorities consistent with eligible expenditures
for the funding source involved, subject to approval by the
commission. 
   (e) 
    (f)  The participating counties shall report to the
Legislature upon the conclusion of the pilot program, in the manner
provided in Section 9795 of the Government Code.