BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1889
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Date of Hearing: April 27, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT
Susan Talamantes Eggman, Chair
AB 1889
(Mullin) - As Amended March 17, 2016
SUBJECT: Peninsula Rail Transit District.
SUMMARY: Deletes obsolete provisions of law creating the
Peninsula Rail Transit District.
EXISTING LAW re-designates the Peninsula Corridor Study Joint
Powers Board as the Peninsula Rail Transit District (District),
specifies the composition of the District's governing board, and
vests the District with specified powers and duties necessary
for the operation of rail passenger and freight services between
San Francisco and Alma and points in between, as well as the
authority to provide commuter rail service between San Jose and
Gilroy, as specified.
FISCAL EFFECT: None
COMMENTS:
1)Bill Summary. This bill deletes obsolete provisions of law
creating the District. This bill is sponsored by the author.
AB 1889
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2)Author's Statement. According to the author, "AB 1889 repeals
obsolete provisions in the Public Utility Code enabling
creation of a Peninsula Rail District to operate commuter rail
service on the San Francisco Peninsula?Such a district was
never formed. Rather, the Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers
Board was formed under the Joint Powers Agency law in the
Government Code to manage the service now known as Caltrain.
"The fact that there is an unused and unnecessary body of law
referring to a different agency as operator of rail service on
the Peninsula causes confusion to those who administer various
grants, provide services to, and oversee the Peninsula
Corridor Joint Powers Board."
3)Background. Caltrain provides commuter rail service along the
San Francisco Peninsula, through the South Bay to San Jose and
Gilroy. Beginning in 1980, Caltrans provided passenger
service in the corridor, sharing operating subsidies with San
Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. The state
assumed sole responsibility for station acquisitions and other
capital improvements until the service resulted in formation
of the Peninsula Corridor Study Joint Powers Board in 1987.
In 1988, the Legislature enacted statutes re-designating the
Peninsula Corridor Study Joint Powers Board as the District.
However, the District was never formed. Instead, in 1992, the
Peninsula Corridor Study Joint Powers Board became the
Peninsula Corridor Joint Powers Board and assumed operating
responsibilities for Caltrain.
AB 1889
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4)Arguments in Support. Caltrain, in support, writes, "While
existing state law created and named the Peninsula Rail
Transit District as a follow-up agency to the Peninsula
Corridor Joint Study Board, the Rail Transit District was
never formed and has never operated Caltrain. Instead, the
San Mateo County Transit District, Santa Clara Valley
Transportation Authority, and City and County of San Francisco
formed a Joint Powers Agency as authorized under Article 1
(commencing with Section 6500) of Chapter 5 of Division 7 of
Title 1 of the Government Code. The Joint Powers Board
assumed responsibility from the State for operating rail
service on the Peninsula 1992.
"AB 1889 is a technical bill that will eliminate any possible
confusion between this unused reference in state law regarding
the Peninsula Rail Transit District and the actual Joint
Powers Agency that was subsequently formed to operate Caltrain
in 1992."
5)Arguments in Opposition. None on file.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
AB 1889
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Support
Caltrain
Opposition
None on file
Analysis Prepared by:Angela Mapp / L. GOV. / (916) 319-3958