Bill Text: CA AB2847 | 2015-2016 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: High-Speed Rail Authority: reports.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2016-09-28 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2847 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB2847-Amended.html
Bill Title: High-Speed Rail Authority: reports.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Vetoed) 2016-09-28 - Vetoed by Governor. [AB2847 Detail]
Download: California-2015-AB2847-Amended.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2847 AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 4, 2016 INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Patterson FEBRUARY 19, 2016 An act to add Section155.7185033.6 to theStreets and Highways Code,Public Utilities Code, relating tostate highways.high-speed rail. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2847, as amended, Patterson.State highways: transfer to local agencies: pilot program.High-Speed Rail Authority: reports. 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 requires the authority, on a biennial basis, to prepare a business plan containing specified elements and also requires the preparation of various other reports. This bill, in each of these reports, would require the authority, by segment, to provide an explanation of adjusted costs and schedules in each situation in which the authority has approved a change in the scope or sequencing of the high-speed rail project since the issuance of the previous report, as specified. The bill would also require the authority to identify all estimated financing and administrative costs associated with construction of the high-speed rail system in the biennial business plan.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 3 counties, one in northern California, one in southern California, and one in the central valley, are 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 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 counties that will participate in the program. 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.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 185033.6 is added to the Public Utilities Code , to read: 185033.6. (a) The authority, in each report prepared pursuant to Sections 185033 and 185033.5, and in each other report required by the Legislature pursuant to the annual Budget Act or in association with appropriations provided to the authority, shall provide an explanation of adjusted costs and schedules in each situation in which the authority has approved a change in the scope or sequencing of the high-speed rail project since the issuance of the previous report prepared in response to the applicable reporting requirement. With respect to any segment of the high-speed rail project that the authority is proposing to deliver as the current highest priority, the explanation shall clearly detail the estimated costs for each segment in a manner that allows the current estimated costs for the segment to be directly compared to the cost estimates previously provided by the authority in the immediately-prior report for the same segment. (b) The authority, in the business plan prepared pursuant to Section 185033, shall identify all estimated financing and administrative costs associated with construction of the planned high-speed rail system as contemplated by the authority at the time that the business plan is prepared.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 three counties, one in northern California, one in southern California, and one in the central valley, shall be selected 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 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 counties that will participate in the program. 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. (c) 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) 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) 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.