Bill Text: CA SB455 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled

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Bill Title: High-speed rail.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Vetoed) 2010-09-30 - In Senate. To unfinished business. (Veto) [SB455 Detail]

Download: California-2009-SB455-Enrolled.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 455	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	PASSED THE SENATE  AUGUST 30, 2010
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2010
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 19, 2010
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 16, 2009

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Lowenthal

                        FEBRUARY 26, 2009

   An act to amend Section 185020 of the Public Utilities Code,
relating to high-speed rail.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 455, Lowenthal. High-speed rail.
   Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority with specified
powers and duties relative to development and implementation of a
high-speed train system. The authority is composed of 9 members,
including 5 members appointed by the Governor.
   This bill would provide that the members of the authority
appointed by the Governor are subject to appointment with the advice
and consent of the Senate.


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

  SECTION 1.  Section 185020 of the Public Utilities Code is amended
to read:
   185020.  (a) There is in state government a High-Speed Rail
Authority.
   (b) (1) The authority is composed of nine members as follows:
   (A) Five members appointed by the Governor, with the advice and
consent of the Senate.
   (B) Two members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.
   (C) Two members appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly.
   (2) For the purposes of making appointments to the authority, the
Governor, the Senate Committee on Rules, and the Speaker of the
Assembly shall take into consideration geographical diversity to
ensure that all regions of the state are adequately represented.
   (c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), and until their
successors are appointed, members of the authority shall hold office
for terms of four years. A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing
power making the original appointment, by appointing a member to
serve the remainder of the term.
   (d) (1) On and after January 1, 2001, the terms of all persons who
are then members of the authority shall expire, but those members
may continue to serve until they are reappointed or until their
successors are appointed. In order to provide for evenly staggered
terms, persons appointed or reappointed to the authority after
January 1, 2001, shall be appointed to initial terms to expire as
follows:
   (A) Of the five persons appointed by the Governor, one shall be
appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2002, one shall be
appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2003, one shall be
appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2004, and two shall
be appointed to terms which expire on December 31, 2005.
   (B) Of the two persons appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules,
one shall be appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2002,
and one shall be appointed to a term which expires on December 31,
2004.
   (C) Of the two persons appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly,
one shall be appointed to a term which expires on December 31, 2003,
and one shall be appointed to a term which expires on December 31,
2005.
   (2) Following expiration of each of the initial terms provided for
in this subdivision, the term shall expire every four years
thereafter on December 31.
   (e) Members of the authority are subject to the Political Reform
Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000)).
   (f) From among its members, the authority shall elect a
chairperson, who shall preside at all meetings of the authority, and
a vice chairperson to preside in the absence of the chairperson. The
chairperson shall serve a term of one year.
   (g) Five members of the authority constitute a quorum for taking
any action by the authority.