SB 1305, as amended, Morrell. San Bernardino County Transportation Authority.
Existing law authorizes a county board of supervisors to create or otherwise designate local agencies, including a transportation authority, which may impose a transportation sales tax subject to voter approval, a service authority for freeway emergencies, and a transportation congestion management agency, as specified.
The Joint Exercise of Powers Act authorizes the legislative or other governing bodies of 2 or more public agencies to jointly exercise, by agreement, any power common to the contracting parties, as specified.
The County Transportation Commissions Act provides for the creation of county transportation commissions in the Counties of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Ventura, with various powers and duties relative to transportation planning and funding, as specified.
This bill would create the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority as the successor to the powers, duties, revenues, debts, obligations, liabilities, immunities, and exemptions, expressed or implied, of the San Bernardino County Transportation Commission and the County of San Bernardino local transportation authority, service authority for freeway emergencies, and local congestion management agency, and of the San Bernardino Associated Governments joint powers authority when it was acting on behalf of, or in the capacity of, those entities.
By imposing new duties on local government associated with this consolidation, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
It is the intent of the Legislature that the San 
2Bernardino County Transportation Authority be a unified and 
3comprehensive institution that combines the transportation-related 
4functions and authorities of the San Bernardino County 
5Transportation Commission and the County of San Bernardino 
6local transportation authority, service authority for freeway 
7emergencies, and congestion management agency, which are 
8currently exercised by the San Bernardino Associated Governments 
9joint powers authority by statute or by designation of the San 
10Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. It is the intent of the 
11Legislature that this act vest responsibility and liability for 
12transportation-related functions in the County of San Bernardino 
13in a singlebegin delete entity,end deletebegin insert
		  entity toend insert promote administrative efficiency, 
14enhance public transparency, and ensure maximum accountability 
15to thebegin delete people, as provided for in this act.end deletebegin insert people.end insert
Section 130054 of the Public Utilities Code is amended 
2and renumbered to read:
The San Bernardino County Transportation 
4Commission shall be known as the authority.
Section 130102 of the Public Utilities Code is amended 
6to read:
A majority of the members of the commission shall 
8constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and all official 
9acts of the commission shall require the affirmative vote of a 
10majority of the members of the commission.
Section 130102.5 of the Public Utilities Code is 
12repealed.
Section 130108 of the Public Utilities Code is amended 
14to read:
(a) Each member of a commission may be 
16compensated at a rate not exceeding one hundred dollars ($100) 
17for any day attending to the business of the commission, but not 
18to exceed four hundred dollars ($400) in any month, and the 
19necessary traveling and personal expenses incurred in the 
20performance of his or her duties as authorized by the commission. 
21Members of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority 
22shall be compensated pursuant to this subdivision. Members of 
23the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority 
24shall be compensated pursuant to subdivision (b).
25(b) Each member of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan 
26Transportation Authority shall be compensated at a rate not 
27exceeding one hundred and fifty
				  dollars ($150) for any day 
28attending to the business of the authority, but not to exceed six 
29hundred dollars ($600) per month, and other expenses which are 
30directly related to the performance of duties as authorized by the 
31authority.
Section 130233 of the Public Utilities Code is amended 
33to read:
(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), if, after 
35rejecting bids received under Section 130232, the commission 
36determines and declares, by a two-thirds vote of all of its members, 
37that the supplies, equipment, or materials may be purchased at a 
38lower price in the open market, the commission may proceed to 
39purchase those supplies, equipment, or materials in the open market 
P4    1without further observance of the provisions in this article 
2regarding contracts, bids, advertisement, or notice.
3(b) begin deleteNotwithstanding subdivision (a), if, end deletebegin insertIf, end insertafter
				  rejecting bids 
4received under Section 130232, the San Bernardino County 
5Transportation Authority determines and declares, by a majority 
6vote of all of its members, that the supplies, equipment, or materials 
7may be purchased at a lower price in the open market, the authority 
8may proceed to purchase those supplies, equipment, or materials 
9in the open market without further observance of the provisions 
10in this article regarding contracts, bids, advertisement, or notice.
Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 130800) is added 
12to Division 12 of the Public Utilities Code, to read:
13
This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the 
18San Bernardino County Transportation Authority Consolidation 
19Act of 2017.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions 
21shall apply:
22(a) “Authority” means the San Bernardino County 
23Transportation Authority established pursuant to Section 130806.
24(b) “Local congestion management agency” means a County 
25of San Bernardino congestion management agency established 
26pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 65089 of the Government 
27Code.
28(c) “Local transportation authority” means a County of San 
29Bernardino transportation authority established pursuant to Section 
30180050.
31(d) “San Bernardino Associated Governments” means the joint 
32powers agency
					 established pursuant to the Joint Exercise of Powers 
33Act (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of 
34Title 1 of the Government Code).
35(e) “San Bernardino County Consolidated Agencies” means the 
36San Bernardino County Transportation Commission established 
37pursuant to Section 130050, the local transportation authority, 
38service authority for freeway emergencies, and local congestion 
39management agency in existence on December 31, 2016, and the 
P5    1San Bernardino Associated Governments when it was acting on 
2behalf of, or in the capacity of, those entities.
3(f) “Service authority for freeway emergencies” means a County 
4of San Bernardino service authority for freeway emergencies 
5established pursuant to Section 2551 of the Streets and Highways 
6Code.
There is hereby created the San Bernardino County 
8Transportation Authority. The authority shall be the successor to 
9the powers, duties, revenues, debts, obligations, liabilities, 
10immunities, and exemptions, expressed or implied, of the San 
11Bernardino County Consolidated Agencies.
(a) The authority may exercise all rights and powers, 
13expressed or implied, including, without limitation, the power to 
14issue bonds, and rely on any immunities or exemptions provided 
15by law to a county transportation commission, a local transportation 
16authority, a service authority for freeway emergencies, or a local 
17congestion management agency.
18(b) The authority’s powers include, but are not limited to, the 
19power to do all of the following:
20(1) To sue and to be sued.
21(2) To acquire any property by any means, and to hold, manage, 
22occupy, develop, jointly develop, dispose of, lease, convey, or 
23otherwise encumber
					 property.
24(3) To create a leasehold interest in property for the benefit of 
25the authority.
26(4) To acquire, by eminent domain, any property necessary to 
27carry out any of its powers or functions.
28(5) To merge or split parcels, adjust boundary lines, or take 
29similar actions as part of the acquisition of land or as needed in 
30order to carry out its functions.
31(6) To construct, acquire, develop, jointly develop, maintain, 
32operate, lease, and dispose of work, property, rights-of-way, and 
33facilities.
34(7) To appoint necessary employees, including counsel, and to 
35define their qualifications and duties.
36(8) To enter into and perform all necessary contracts.
37(9) To fix and collect fees for any services rendered by it.
38(10) To adopt a seal and alter it.
39(11) To adopt an annual budget and to fix the compensation of 
40its officers, board members, and employees.
P6    1(12) To establish and enforce rules and regulations for the 
2administration, operation, and maintenance of facilities and 
3services.
4(13) To enter into joint powers arrangements with other entities.
5(14) To provide insurance.
6(15) To issue bonds and incur other obligations.
7(16) To
					 advance funds from any sources towards a project in 
8anticipation of future funding sources or contributions from other 
9agencies in order to maximize the efficient delivery of projects 
10undertaken by the authority.
11(17) To loan moneys from any of the funds or accounts held by 
12the authority to any other fund or account held by the authority, if 
13all of the following occur:
14(A) The loan is authorized pursuant to a resolution of the 
15governing board of the authority.
16(B) The authority determines that the loan serves the purposes 
17of the authority.
18(C) All moneys loaned to the borrowing fund or account are 
19expended for any of the lawful purposes for which the borrowing 
20account was established.
21(18) To do any other things necessary or desirable to carry out 
22the purposes of a county transportation commission, a local 
23transportation authority, a service authority for freeway 
24emergencies, or a local congestion management agency.
The authority may bring an action to determine the 
26validity of its bonds, warrants, contracts, obligations, or evidences 
27of indebtedness issued on or after January 1, 2017, pursuant to 
28Chapter 9 (commencing with Section 860) of Title 10 of Part 2 of 
29the Code of Civil Procedure.
(a) The governing body of the authority shall consist 
31of the following members:
32(1) Five members of the San Bernardino County Board of 
33Supervisors.
34(2) One member from each County of San Bernardino 
35incorporated city, who shall be a mayor or a city council member.
36(3) One nonvoting member appointed by the Governor.
37(b) Each County of San Bernardino incorporated city may 
38appoint an alternate member to represent it at a meeting, but only 
39if the regular member cannot attend the meeting. The alternate 
40member shall either be a mayor or a city council
					 member.
(a) Any reference to the San Bernardino County 
2Transportation Commission or to a County of San Bernardino 
3transportation commission, local transportation authority, service 
4authority for freeway emergencies, or local congestion management 
5agency, shall be deemed to refer to the authority.
6(b) By operation of law, the authority shall act as and assume 
7the rights, obligations, assets, and liabilities of the San Bernardino 
8County Consolidated Agencies, as established by operation of law 
9or under any contract to which any of them is a party and that was 
10entered into before January 1, 2017. All real and personal property 
11owned by any of the San Bernardino County Consolidated 
12Agencies shall be transferred to the authority by operation of law.
13(c) The respective legally enforceable debts and liabilities of 
14the San Bernardino County Consolidated Agencies shall transfer 
15to the authority and exist as debts and liabilities of the authority 
16in the same manner as if the authority had itself incurred them.
17(d) The respective rights of creditors and all liens upon the 
18property of the San Bernardino County Consolidated Agencies 
19transferred to the authority, including, without limitation, any 
20pledge of revenues or other collateral securing the repayment of 
21bonds, as those terms are defined in Section 5450 of the 
22Government Code, and the other responsibilities of the San 
23Bernardino County Consolidated Agencies transferred to the 
24authority, shall be preserved unimpaired, and those bonds are the 
25valid obligations of the authority, in each case limited in lien or 
26pledge to the property affected by the liens or pledges immediately 
27prior
					 to the transfer of related responsibilities and obligations.
28(e) All powers, duties, debts, obligations, liabilities, or claims 
29arising out of or related to the powers, duties, debts, obligations, 
30and liabilities transferred to the authority under this chapter by 
31operation of law shall be transferred to the authority without further 
32recourse to the San Bernardino Associated Governments or its 
33member agencies, as applicable, and the authority may be 
34proceeded against or substituted in the place of any of the San 
35Bernardino County Consolidated Agencies if the action or 
36proceeding pertains to a transferred power, duty, revenue, debt, 
37obligation, liability, or claim.
38(f) In order to protect the holders of outstanding, unmatured 
39bonds and other evidences of indebtedness of the San Bernardino 
40County Consolidated Agencies pertaining to the responsibilities 
P8    1and obligations transferred to
					 the authority, the authority shall have 
2the power to take all actions and do all things necessary or required 
3for the protection of those holders and for compliance with the 
4terms of those bonds and other evidences of indebtedness. The 
5authority shall have the power to continue all services that the San 
6Bernardino County Consolidated Agencies, on the date of the 
7transfer, was furnishing and that pertained to the responsibilities 
8and obligations transferred to the authority.
Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 180000), Chapter 
105 (commencing with Section 180200), and Chapter 6 (commencing 
11with Section 180250) of Division 19 (commencing with Section 
12180000) shall be equally applicable to the authority as if set forth 
13herein and shall be in addition to the powers and functions of the 
14authority set forth in this division.
(a) After the creation of the authority and on the 
16effective date of a resolution of the Board of Retirement of the 
17San Bernardino County Employees’ Retirement Association 
18consenting to membership of the authority’s employees pursuant 
19to subdivision (b) of Section 31557 of the Government Code, all 
20then-current employees of the San Bernardino Associated 
21Governments shall be deemed to be employees of the authority 
22and all duties and obligations of the employment relationship shall 
23be assumed by the authority. The status of each employee deemed 
24to have become an employee of the authority by operation of this 
25section, with respect to membership in the retirement system, shall, 
26in all respects, be as if the employee had remained a member of 
27the retirement system without any break in service or change of
28
					 employer. The authority shall be deemed a “district” as defined 
29by the Countybegin delete Employees’end deletebegin insert Employeesend insert Retirement Law of 1937 
30(Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 
314 of Title 3 of the Governmentbegin delete Code),end deletebegin insert Code)end insert and shall in all 
32respects assume all of the rights, obligations, and status previously 
33occupied by the San Bernardino Associated Governments as a 
34participating district in the retirement system, including, but not 
35limited to, the payment of employer contributions, the payment of 
36unfunded actuarial liability, the withholding of employee 
37contributions, the reporting of compensation earnable and 
38pensionable
					 compensation, record retention and audit compliance, 
39the enrollment of eligible employees in membership, compliance 
40with restrictions on the employment of retired persons, and the 
P9    1pickup of employee contributions pursuant to Section 414(h)(2) 
2of the Internal Revenue Code (26 U.S.C. 414(h)(2)) and any 
3agreement or resolution implementing the same.
4(b) The termination of the San Bernardino Associated 
5Governments’ status as a participating district in the retirement 
6system shall not trigger withdrawal liability pursuant to Section 
731564.2 of the Government Code. The authority shall assume the 
8prior obligations of the San Bernardino Associated Governments 
9for the payment of unfunded actuarial liability, which shall continue 
10to be included in contribution rates calculated and approved 
11pursuant to the Countybegin delete Employees’end deletebegin insert
					 Employeesend insert Retirement Law 
12of 1937, including, but not limited to, Sections 31453, 31453.5, 
1331454, 31581, and 31585 of the Government Code, as if no change 
14in the participating employer had occurred.
15(c) The authority shall succeed to the rights, duties, and 
16obligations of the San Bernardino Associated Governments with 
17respect to its replacement benefits program pursuant to Chapter 
183.9 (commencing with Section 31899) of Part 3 of Division 4 of 
19Title 3 of the Government Code. The rights of each retirement 
20system member to participate in the replacement benefits program, 
21as those rights exist at the time of the transfer of rights, duties, and 
22obligations to the authority, whether the member is actively 
23employed, deferred, or retired, shall continue as if there had been 
24no change in the status of the employer. The transfer of rights, 
25duties, and responsibilities shall not be deemed the creation of a 
26new replacement benefit
					 program, and the continuation of 
27employees’ rights pursuant to the operation of this section shall 
28not be deemed the offering of a new plan to any employee, for 
29purposes of Section 7522.43 and subdivision (c) of Section 31899 
30of the Government Code.
The authority shall have the power to contract to 
32provide the services of its employees to San Bernardino Associated 
33Governments upon lawful terms and conditions agreed to by the 
34authority and San Bernardino Associated Governments.
Section 180260 of the Public Utilities Code is amended 
36to read:
(a) All accrued interest and premiums received on 
38the sale of the bonds shall be placed in the fund to be used for the 
39payment of the principal of, and interest on, the bonds, and the 
40remainder of the proceeds of the bonds shall be placed in the 
P10   1treasury of the authority and applied to secure the bonds or for the 
2purposes for which the debt was incurred. However, when the 
3purposes have been accomplished, any money remaining shall be 
4eitherbegin delete (a)end deletebegin insert (1)end insert transferred to the fund to be used for the payment of 
5principal of, and interest on, the bonds orbegin delete (b)end deletebegin insert
				  (2)end insert placed in a fund 
6to be used for the purchase of the outstanding bonds in the open 
7market at prices and in the manner, either at public or private sale 
8or otherwise, as determined by the authority. Bonds so purchased 
9shall be canceled immediately.
10(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), all proceeds of the San 
11Bernardino County Transportation Authority’s bonds shall be 
12applied to secure the bonds or for the purposes for which the debt 
13was incurred. However, when the purposes have been 
14accomplished, any moneys remaining shall be either transferred 
15to the fund used for the payment of principal of, and interest on, 
16the bonds, or placed in a fund to be used for the purchase of the 
17outstanding bonds in the open market at prices and in the manner, 
18either at public or private sale or otherwise, as determined by the 
19San Bernardino County Transportation Authority. Bonds so 
20purchased shall be canceled
				  immediately.
Division 20 (commencing with Section 190000) of 
22the Public Utilities Code is repealed.
Section 149.11 of the Streets and Highways Code is 
24amended to read:
(a) (1) Notwithstanding Sections 149 and 30800 of 
26this code, and Section 21655.5 of the Vehicle Code, the San 
27Bernardino County Transportation Authority, created pursuant to 
28Section 130806 of the Public Utilities Code, may conduct, 
29administer, and operate a value-pricing program in the Interstate 
3010 and Interstate 15 corridors in the County of San Bernardino. 
31The value-pricing program may include high-occupancy toll lanes 
32or other toll facilities. The San Bernardino County Transportation 
33Authority may also extend the program to include the approaching 
34and departing connectors on Interstate 10 extending into the County 
35of Los Angeles, as designated by an agreement with the Los 
36Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the 
37connection to the Interstate 15 express lanes project in the County 
38of
				  Riverside, as designated by an agreement with the Riverside 
39County Transportation Commission. The San Bernardino County 
40Transportation Authority may exercise its existing powers of 
P11   1eminent domain pursuant to Section 130220.5 of the Public Utilities 
2Code to acquire property necessary to carry out the purposes of 
3the value-pricing program.
4(2) The value-pricing program authorized pursuant to paragraph 
5(1) may only be implemented upon a determination that the 
6program and the resulting facilities will improve the performance 
7of the affected corridors. Improved performance may be 
8demonstrated by factors that include, but are not limited to, 
9increased passenger throughput or improved travel times. The San 
10Bernardino County Transportation Authority shall make the 
11determination required by this paragraph in a public meeting prior 
12to operation of the value-pricing program.
13(3) The San
				  Bernardino County Transportation Authority shall 
14have the authority to set, levy, and collect tolls, user fees, or other 
15similar charges payable for the use of the toll facilities in the 
16County of Sanbegin delete Bernardino,end deletebegin insert Bernardinoend insert and any other incidental 
17or related fees or charges, and to collect those revenues, in a 
18manner determined by the San Bernardino County Transportation 
19Authority, in amounts as required for the following expenditures 
20relative to the program and for the purposes of paragraph (4):
21(A) Development, including the costs of design, construction, 
22right-of-way acquisition, and utilities adjustment.
23(B) Operations and maintenance, including, but not limited to, 
24insurance,
				  collection, and enforcement of tolls, fees, and charges.
25(C) Repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
26(D) Indebtedness incurred and internal loans and advances, 
27including related financial costs.
28(E) Administration, which shall not exceed 3 percent of the 
29revenues of toll facilities and associated transportation facilities.
30(F) Reserves for the purposes described in subparagraphs (A) 
31to (E), inclusive.
32(4) All revenue generated pursuant to paragraph (3) in excess 
33of the expenditure needs of that paragraph shall be used exclusively 
34for the benefit of the transportation corridors included in the 
35value-pricing program created pursuant to this section. These 
36excess revenue expenditures
				  shall be described in an excess revenue 
37expenditure plan developed in consultation with the department 
38and adopted and periodically updated by the board of directors of 
39the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority and may 
P12   1include, but need not be limited to, the following eligible 
2expenditures:
3(A) Expenditures to enhance transit service designed to reduce 
4traffic congestion within the transportation corridors included in 
5the value-pricing program created pursuant to this section. Eligible 
6expenditures include, but are not limited to, transit operating 
7assistance, the acquisition of transit vehicles, and transit capital 
8improvements otherwise eligible to be funded under the state 
9transportation improvement program pursuant to Section 164.
10(B) Expenditures to make operational or capacity improvements 
11designed to reduce traffic congestion or improve the flow of traffic 
12in the
				  transportation corridors included in the value-pricing 
13program created pursuant to this section. Eligible expenditures 
14include, but are not limited to, any phase of project delivery to 
15make capital improvements to on ramps, off ramps, connector 
16roads, roadways, bridges, or other structures that are necessary for 
17or related to the tolled or nontolled transportation facilities in the 
18transportation corridors included in the value-pricing program 
19created pursuant to this section.
20(5) To the extent the San Bernardino County Transportation 
21Authority plans to extend the value-pricing program into the 
22Counties of Los Angeles or Riverside, it shall enter into an 
23agreement with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan 
24Transportation Authority or the Riverside County Transportation 
25Commission, as applicable, subject to approval of the board of 
26directors of the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority 
27and the board of directors of the affected entity. If
				  the value-pricing 
28program developed and operated by the San Bernardino County 
29Transportation Authority connects to, or is near, similar toll 
30facilities constructed and operated by the Los Angeles County 
31Metropolitan Transportation Authority or the Riverside County 
32Transportation Commission, the respective entities shall enter into 
33an agreement providing for the coordination of the toll facilities 
34operated by each entity.
35(b) (1) The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority 
36shall carry out the program in cooperation with the Department of 
37the California Highway Patrol pursuant to an agreement that 
38addresses all matters related to enforcement on state highway 
39system facilities in connection with the value-pricing program, 
40and with the department pursuant to an agreement that addresses 
P13   1all matters related to the design, construction, maintenance, and 
2operation of state highway system facilities in connection with the
3
				  value-pricing program, including, but not limited to, financing, 
4repair, rehabilitation, and reconstruction.
5(2) The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority shall 
6be responsible for reimbursing the department and the Department 
7of the California Highway Patrol for costs related to the toll facility 
8pursuant to an agreement between the San Bernardino County 
9Transportation Authority and the department and between the San 
10Bernardino County Transportation Authority and the Department 
11of the California Highway Patrol.
12(c) Single-occupant vehicles that are certified or authorized by 
13the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority for entry 
14into, and use of, the high-occupancy toll lanes implemented 
15pursuant to this section are exempt from Section 21655.5 of the 
16Vehicle Code, and the driver shall not be in violation of the Vehicle 
17Code because of that entry and use.
18(d) (1) The San Bernardino County Transportation Authority 
19may issue bonds at any time to finance any costs necessary to 
20implement the program established pursuant to this section and 
21any expenditures provided for in paragraphs (3) and (4) of 
22subdivision (a), payable from the revenues generated from the 
23program and any other sources of revenues available to the San 
24Bernardino County Transportation Authority that may be used for 
25these purposes, including, but not limited to, sales tax revenue, 
26development impact fees, or state and federal grants.
27(2) The maximum bonded indebtedness that may be outstanding 
28at any one time shall not exceed an amount that may be serviced 
29from the projected revenues available as described in paragraph 
30(1).
31(3) The bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates not
				  exceeding 
32the maximum allowable by law, payable at intervals determined 
33by the San Bernardino County Transportation Authority.
34(4) Any bond issued pursuant to this subdivision shall contain 
35on its face a statement to the following effect:
36“Neither the full faith and credit nor the taxing power of the 
37State of California is pledged to the payment of principal of, or 
38interest on, this bond.”
39(5) Bonds shall be issued pursuant to a resolution of the 
40governing board of the San Bernardino County Transportation 
P14   1Authority adopted by a majority vote of its governing board. The 
2resolution or bond authorizing instrument shall state all of the 
3following:
4(A) The purposes for which the proposed debt is to be incurred.
5(B) The estimated cost of accomplishing those purposes.
6(C) The amount of the principal of the indebtedness.
7(D) The maximum term of the bonds and the maximum interest 
8rate.
9(E) The denomination or denominations of the bonds, which 
10shall not be less than five thousand dollars ($5,000).
11(F) The form of the bonds.
12(e) Not later than three years after either the San Bernardino 
13County Transportation Commission or the San Bernardino County 
14Transportation Authority first collects revenues from the program 
15authorized by this section, the San Bernardino County 
16Transportation Authority shall submit a report to the Legislative 
17Analyst on its findings, conclusions, and recommendations
18
				  concerning the program. The report shall include an analysis of 
19the effect of the transportation facilities on the adjacent mixed-flow 
20lanes and any comments submitted by the department and the 
21Department of the California Highway Patrol regarding operation 
22of the transportation facilities.
23(f) This section shall not prevent the department or any local 
24agency from constructing improvements in the transportation 
25corridors that compete with the program, and the San Bernardino 
26County Transportation Authority shall not be entitled to 
27compensation for the adverse effects on toll revenue due to those 
28competing improvements.
29(g) If any provision of this section or the application thereof is 
30held invalid, that invalidity shall not affect other provisions or 
31applications of this section that can be given effect without the 
32invalid provision or application, and to this extent the provisions
33
				  are severable.
34(h) Nothing in this section shall authorize the conversion of any 
35existing nontoll or nonuser-fee lanes into tolled or user-fee lanes, 
36except that a high-occupancy vehicle lane may be converted into 
37a high-occupancy toll lane.
The provisions of this act are severable. If any 
39provision of this act or its application is held invalid, that invalidity 
P15   1shall not affect other provisions or applications that can be given 
2effect without the invalid provision or application.
If the Commission on State Mandates determines 
4that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement 
5to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made 
6pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 
74 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
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97