BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 486
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Date of Hearing: August 14, 2013
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON ACCOUNTABILITY AND ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW
Jim Frazier, Chair
SB 486 (DeSaulnier) - As Amended: July 3, 2013
SENATE VOTE : 39-0
SUBJECT : Office of Strategic Assessment and Accountability
SUMMARY : Creates the Office of Strategic Assessment and
Accountability (OSAA) within the California State Transportation
Agency (CalSTA) to oversee the California Department of
Transportation (Caltrans). Specifically, this bill :
1) Charges OSAA with ensuring ongoing performance
measurement, transparency, and public accountability of
Caltrans.
2) Requires OSAA to work with Caltrans to identify
performance measurement benchmarks.
3) Requires OSAA to report publically and to the California
Transportation Commission (Commission) about Caltrans'
performance.
EXISTING LAW creates CalSTA within state government. CalSTA,
which was established under the Governor's Reorganization Plan
No. 2 of 2012, oversees Caltrans and other transportation
agencies and is charged with developing and coordinating the
policies and programs of the state's transportation entities to
achieve the state's mobility, safety and air quality objectives
of its transportation system.
FISCAL EFFECT : The current version of this bill has not yet
been analyzed by a fiscal committee.
COMMENTS : This bill would create OSAA within CalSTA to oversee
Caltrans. Specifically, OSAA would focus on evaluating specific
performance measurement benchmarks that CalSTA identifies in
consultation with the Director of Caltrans. These measures
would relate to enhancement of public safety; system
preservation and rehabilitation; and efficiency and
cost-effectiveness of project delivery. The proposed program is
SB 486
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modeled after a similar program in Washington State's Department
of Transportation.
OSAA would be required to report at least quarterly about
Caltrans' performance in meeting the benchmarks. OSAA would
post this information on its website and report the first
results to the California Transportation Commission on or before
July 1, 2014, and quarterly thereafter.
According to the author, the bill is needed in light of recent
Caltrans' scandals, to "instill some discipline and improve
Caltrans' management of the state transportation system and
funding." On March 28, 2013, the California State Auditor
released an investigative report on Caltrans. The report found
that Caltrans workers falsified test data on transportation
projects, claimed hundreds of hours of overtime that they had
not worked, and engaged in an "inexcusable neglect of duty,"
according to the report.
Caltrans has a Division of Audits and Investigations (A&I),
which currently conducts internal and external audits and
investigations. The Deputy Director of A&I is a member of
Caltrans' executive management team and reports directly to both
the Chief Deputy Director for administrative matters and the
Director of Caltrans on major audit issues. This bill would
establish a separate oversight function of Caltrans that is
outside of the department.
DOUBLE REFERRAL : This bill is double referred to the Assembly
Committee on Transportation and is set to be heard by that
committee on August 12, 2013.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Nevada Cement Association
Automobile Club of Southern California
Transportation California
United Contractors
Three individuals
Opposition
None on file
SB 486
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Analysis Prepared by : Scott Herbstman / A. & A.R. / (916)
319-3600