Bill Text: CA SB425 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered

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Bill Title: Public works: the Public Works Peer Review Act of 2013.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2013-09-06 - Chaptered by Secretary of State. Chapter 252, Statutes of 2013. [SB425 Detail]

Download: California-2013-SB425-Chaptered.html

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BILL NUMBER: SB 425	CHAPTERED
	BILL TEXT

	CHAPTER  252
	FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE  SEPTEMBER 9, 2013
	APPROVED BY GOVERNOR  SEPTEMBER 6, 2013
	PASSED THE SENATE  MAY 24, 2013
	PASSED THE ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 26, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 7, 2013
	AMENDED IN SENATE  APRIL 18, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Senator DeSaulnier
   (Coauthors: Senators Gaines and Liu)

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2013

   An act to add Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 8847) to
Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, relating to public
works.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 425, DeSaulnier. Public works: the Public Works Peer Review Act
of 2013.
   Existing law defines a public work as construction, alteration,
demolition, installation, or repair work done under contract and paid
for in whole or in part out of public funds; work done for
irrigation, utility, reclamation, and improvement districts, and
other districts of this type; street, sewer, or other improvement
work done under the direction and supervision or by the authority of
any officer or public body of the state; or of any political
subdivision or district thereof, and public transportation
demonstration projects, as specified.
   This bill would allow a public agency, principally tasked with
administering, planning, developing, and operating a public works
project, to establish a specified peer review group, as defined, and
would require the administering agency, if a peer review group is
established, to draft a charter, published on the agency's Internet
Web site, related to the duties of the peer review group.


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

  SECTION 1.  Chapter 11 (commencing with Section 8847) is added to
Division 1 of Title 2 of the Government Code, to read:
      CHAPTER 11.  THE PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT PEER REVIEW ACT OF 2013


   8847.  This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the Public
Works Project Peer Review Act of 2013.
   8847.1.  For purposes of this chapter, the following terms have
the following meanings, unless expressly stated otherwise:
   (a) "Administering agency" means a public agency principally
tasked with administering, planning, developing, and operating a
public works project.
   (b) "Peer review group" means a group of persons qualified by
training and experience in particular scientific or technical fields
related to the public works project under review, who give expert
advice on the scientific and technical aspects of the public works
project.
   8848.  (a) An administering agency may establish a peer review
group.
   (b) If an administering agency establishes a peer review group,
the administering agency shall do all of the following:
   (1) Before establishing a peer review group, develop a transparent
process for selecting members of the group.
   (2) Draft a charter. The charter also shall be posted on the
administering agency's Internet Web site as a public document and
shall contain all of the following information:
   (A) The group's official name or designation.
   (B) The group's objective and the scope of its activities.
   (C) A statement of the expertise and balance of interests required
of the group membership to perform its charge.
   (D) The name of the administering agency and official to whom the
group reports.
   (E) A description of the duties for which the group is
responsible.
   (F) The estimated number and frequency of group meetings.
   (G) The estimated annual operating costs for the group.
   (H) A statement that authorizes a peer reviewer to conduct his or
her duties under the charter impartially, without restriction or
limitation, and in a manner the peer reviewer believes is necessary
to appropriately review a proposed project.
   (I) A statement that declares whether the members of the peer
review group have signed a conflict of interest disclosure form that
would identify real or perceived conflicts between a peer reviewer
and the specified public works project.