Bill Text: CA SB1260 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: High-speed rail: independent review: High-Speed Rail Authority Inspector General.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-04-24 - April 23 set for first hearing. Failed passage in committee. (Ayes 5. Noes 8.) [SB1260 Detail]
Download: California-2023-SB1260-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Senate
April 10, 2024 |
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Amended
IN
Senate
March 19, 2024 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION
Senate Bill
No. 1260
| Introduced by Senator Niello |
February 15, 2024 |
An act to add Section 2704.79 to the Streets and Highways Code, 187039 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to high-speed rail.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 1260, as amended, Niello.
High-speed rail: third-party analysis. independent review: High-Speed Rail Authority Inspector General.
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, general election, provides for the issuance of $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for high-speed rail and related purposes. The California High-Speed Rail Act creates the High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed train system in the state, with specified powers and duties. Existing law requires the authority, no later than 90 days before the submittal to the Legislature and the Governor of the initial request for appropriation of proceeds of specified bonds authorized for any eligible capital costs on each corridor, or usable segment of a corridor, to approve and submit to the Director of Finance, a specified independent peer review group, and the transportation policy committees and fiscal committees of the
Legislature, a detailed funding plan for that corridor or a usable segment of that corridor, as provided. defines Phase 1 of the high-speed train system as the corridor of the high-speed train system between San Francisco Transbay Terminal and Los Angeles Union Station and Anaheim, and requires the authority to include information on Phase 1 as part of a biennial business plan, as provided.
Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority Office of the Inspector General and prohibits the office from being a subdivision of any other governmental entity. Existing law authorizes the High-Speed Rail Authority Inspector General to initiate audits and reviews related to the delivery of the high-speed rail project and the selection and oversight of contractors, as provided.
Existing law imposes other duties and responsibilities on the inspector general relating to the oversight of the High-Speed Rail Authority.
This bill would require the High-Speed Rail Authority, or its successor, to approve and submit an independent third-party analysis, as contracted by the California State Auditor, of the high-speed train system to the Director of Finance, the independent peer review group, and the policy committees with jurisdiction over transportation matters and the fiscal committees of both houses of the Legislature. The bill would require the third-party analysis to include a determination of the economic and financial justification for the high-speed train system.
inspector general to conduct an independent review of the economic and financial justification for the high-speed rail project, including a review and assessment of a specified benefit-cost analysis submitted by the High-Speed Rail Authority to the United States Department of Transportation. The bill would also require the inspector general to conduct an independent review of the ability of the high-speed rail project to operate without subsidy before the Legislature recommits to the full Phase 1 system. The bill would require the inspector general to consult with industry experts for these reviews, as provided.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: NOBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 187039 is added to the Public Utilities Code, immediately following Section 187038, to read:187039.
(a) The Inspector General shall conduct an independent review of the economic and financial justification for the project, including reviewing and assessing the benefit-cost analysis submitted by the High-Speed Rail Authority to the United States Department of Transportation in April 2023 to support the grant application for the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Passenger Rail Grant (FSP) Program.(b) Before the Legislature recommits to the full Phase 1 system, as that term is described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 2704.04 of the Streets and Highways Code, the Inspector General shall conduct an independent review of the ability of the project to operate without subsidy, as required by the Safe, Reliable High-Speed
Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century (Chapter 20 (commencing with Section 2704) of Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code).
(c) The Inspector General shall consult with industry experts, which may include the Institute for Transportation Studies at the University of California, for the reviews described in subdivisions (a) and (b).
Notwithstanding any other law, the High-Speed Rail Authority created pursuant to Section 185020 of the Public Utilities Code, or its successor, shall have approved and submitted to the Director of Finance, the independent peer review group established pursuant to Section 185035 of the Public Utilities Code, and the policy committees with jurisdiction over transportation matters and the fiscal committees of both houses of the Legislature, an independent third-party analysis, as contracted by the California State Auditor, of the high-speed train system. The analysis shall include a determination of the economic and financial justification for the high-speed train system.
