BILL ANALYSIS
AB 1830
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Date of Hearing: April 21, 2010
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Felipe Fuentes, Chair
AB 1830 (Galgiani) - As Amended: April 8, 2010
Policy Committee:
TransportationVote:12-2
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
No Reimbursable:
SUMMARY
This bill requires the California High-Speed Rail Authority to
make every effort to purchase high-speed train rolling stock and
related equipment manufactured in California, consistent with
federal law and any other applicable provision of state law.
FISCAL EFFECT
No direct fiscal effect. The bill does not exempt the authority
from following any provisions of applicable state or federal law
with respect to awarding purchase contracts.
COMMENTS
1)Purpose . The High-Speed Rail Bond Act, approved by the voters
in November 2008, provides $9.95 billion in general obligation
bond authority to fund the planning and construction of a
high-speed passenger train system and complementary
improvements to other specified rail systems in the state.
With the passage of the Bond Act plus California's award and
pending receipt of $2.25 billion in federal ARRA high-speed
rail funds, the authority will soon be tasked to approve major
purchases of train rolling stock and equipment. By requiring
the authority to make every effort to purchase train equipment
and rolling stock manufactured in California, this bill,
sponsored by the California Labor Federation, is intended to
spur companies to relocate to this state.
2)Related Legislation . AB 1747, also on today's committee
AB 1830
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agenda, authorizes the authority, when awarding major
contracts or purchasing high-speed trains and related
equipment, to consider, to the extent permitted by federal law
and all other applicable provisions of state law, the creation
of jobs in California.
3)Prior Legislation . Last year, the author's AB 733, which was
identical to AB 1830, was vetoed. The governor argued that
the bill "could result in unnecessary additional costs and
delays and may jeopardize the success of the project in
securing the billions of dollars that are needed to construct
this project."
Analysis Prepared by : Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081