BILL NUMBER: AB 2121 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 28, 2010
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Harkey
Members Harkey and Galgiani
FEBRUARY 18, 2010
An act to add Chapter 20.1 (commencing with Section
2704.30) to Division 3 of the Streets and Highways Code, relating to
high-speed rail. An act to add Sections 185033.2 and
185033.4 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to high-speed rail.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2121, as amended, Harkey. High-speed rail.
Existing law, the California High-Speed Rail Act, creates the
High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed rail
system in the state, with specified powers and duties. 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, general election, provides for the issuance of
$9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for high-speed rail and
related purposes. Article XVI of the California Constitution
authorizes the Legislature, at any time after the approval of a
general obligation bond act by the people, to reduce the amount of
the indebtedness authorized by the act to an amount not less than the
amount contracted at the time of the reduction or to repeal the act
if no debt has been contracted.
This bill would require the authority to annually adopt a 6-year
high-speed train program, as specified, for submission to the
Legislature and the Governor. The bill would also require the
authority to annually prepare and submit to the Legislature and the
Governor a report including, among other things, a description of the
progress made on the program and a detailed financing plan to pay
for construction of the high-speed train network.
This bill would reduce the amount of general obligation debt
authorized pursuant to the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train
Bond Act for the 21st Century to the amount contracted as of January
1, 2011.
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 185033.2 is added to the
Public Utilities Code , to read:
185033.2. (a) The authority shall adopt and submit to the
Legislature and the Governor, not later than October 1 of each year,
a high-speed train program. The program shall cover a period of six
fiscal years, beginning July 1 of the year following the year it is
adopted, and shall be a statement of intent by the department to
request funding in the annual Budget Act for the following six years.
(b) The high-speed train program shall include a listing of all
capital improvement projects that are expected to require
appropriation in the annual Budget Act, including state, federal,
local, and private funds, during the following six fiscal years.
(c) For each segment, the program shall specify the expenditure
amount and the expenditure year for each of the following project
components:
(1) Completion of all permits and environmental studies.
(2) Preparation of plans, specifications, and estimates.
(3) The acquisition of rights-of-way, including, but not limited
to, support activities.
(4) Construction and construction management and engineering,
including surveys and inspection.
(d) A report to the Legislature pursuant to this section shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(e) This section shall become inoperative on October 1, 2015,
pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
SEC. 2. Section 185033.4 is added to the
Public Utilities Code , to read:
185033.4. (a) The authority shall prepare and submit to the
Legislature and the Governor an annual report, not later than
December 1 of each year. The report shall include all of the
following:
(1) A description of the progress made on the high-speed train
program adopted by the authority.
(2) A detailed financing plan, including any necessary taxes,
fees, or bonds to pay for the construction of the high-speed train
network.
(3) A proposed high-speed train financial plan, including
necessary taxes, bonds, or both, or other indebtedness.
(b) A report to the Legislature pursuant to this section shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
(c) This section shall become inoperative on December 1, 2015,
pursuant to Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.
SECTION 1. Chapter 20.1 (commencing with
Section 2704.30) is added to Division 3 of the Streets and Highways
Code, to read:
CHAPTER 20.1. IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SAFE, RELIABLE HIGH-SPEED
PASSENGER TRAIN BOND ACT FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
2704.30. Pursuant to Section 1 of Article XVI of the California
Constitution, the amount of indebtedness authorized by Chapter 20
(commencing with Section 2704) is hereby reduced to the amount
contracted as of January 1, 2011, notwithstanding anything in that
chapter to the contrary.