BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    �



                                                                  AB 481
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   May 15, 2013

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                  Mike Gatto, Chair

                   AB 481 (Lowenthal) - As Amended:  April 1, 2013 

          Policy Committee:                               
          TransportationVote:11-5
                        Accountability                          9-2

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          No     Reimbursable:               

           SUMMARY  

          This bill grants authority to the High Speed Rail Authority  
          (HSRA), in lieu of authority normally provided to the Department  
          of General Services, for the acquisition, sale, lease and  
          related property management functions with respect to high-speed  
          rail project property. This authority mirrors that provided to  
          Caltrans with respect to property for the state highway system.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Given the scope and size of the high-speed rail project,  
          consolidating all relevant property-related functions and  
          authority with the HSRA should result in administrative  
          efficiencies and thus reduce overall project costs.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  . AB 481 mirrors provisions of existing law, regulation,  
          and policy governing Caltrans' authority to manage its  
          properties and to sell its excess land. AB 481 will enable HSRA  
          to effectively manage property acquired for the high-speed rail  
          project by allowing it to negotiate with impacted landowners for  
          continued access, exchange property between adjoining landowners  
          to help mitigate impacts to existing uses, sell excess property  
          no longer required for the project, and lease property to  
          interested parties as a means of creating additional revenue  
          sources for the project. According to the author, AB 481 is  
          intended to allow HSRA to better plan for the project's short  
          and long-term needs by exclusively managing access to property  
          acquired for the high-speed rail project.








                                                                  AB 481
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           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081