BILL ANALYSIS
SB 455
Page 1
SENATE THIRD READING
SB 455 (Alan Lowenthal)
As Amended August 19, 2010
Majority vote
SENATE VOTE :32-5
TRANSPORTATION 10-4 APPROPRIATIONS 11-5
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|Ayes:|Eng, Blumenfield, |Ayes:|De Leon, Ammiano, Charles |
| |Buchanan, Conway, | |Calderon, Coto, Davis, |
| |Brownley, Galgiani, | |Fuentes, Hall, |
| |Bonnie Lowenthal, John A. | |John A. Perez, Skinner, |
| |Perez, Solorio, Torlakson | |Solorio, Torlakson |
| | | | |
|-----+--------------------------+-----+----------------------------|
|Nays:|Jeffries, Garrick, |Nays:|Nielsen, Duvall, Harkey, |
| |Miller, Niello | |Miller, |
| | | |Audra Strickland |
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SUMMARY : Requires the Senate confirmation of the five members
of the High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) board who are appointed
by the Governor.
EXISTING LAW :
1)Enacts the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act
for the 21st Century (High-Speed Rail Bond Act). The
High-Speed Rail Bond Act, approved as Proposition 1A 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.
Authorizes the Legislature to establish conditions and
criteria on funds appropriated for planning and capital costs.
Requires HSRA, prior to expending bond funding for the
construction and acquisition of equipment and property, to
submit concurrently to DOF and the Joint Legislative Budget
Committee, a detailed funding plan for each corridor or usable
segment.
2)Establishes HSRA and charges it with the planning, designing,
constructing, operating, and maintaining a state-of-the-art
SB 455
Page 2
high-speed train system for California. The HSRA consists of
a nine-member board (five appointed by the Governor, two
appointed by the Senate Rules Committee, and two by the
Speaker of the Assembly). The appointments are not subject to
Senate confirmation.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : Following the passage of the High-Speed Rail Bond
Act, HSRA will be transitioning from a small study and planning
organization to a multi-billion dollar engineering and
construction entity.
Further, now that the HSRA is actually implementing a high-speed
rail program and has received $2.25 billion in federal stimulus
funds for the project and is expecting to receive additional
federal funding, it is appropriate to require future members to
the HSRA board that are appointed by the Governor to be subject
to Senate Rules Committee confirmation. The members of the
California Transportation Commission and many other commissions
and boards in state government are subject to confirmation.
There is no reason not to add this measure of accountability to
HSRA.
This bill does not require the existing members to vacate their
current appointments. The bill is prospective and relates to
only new, and not current, gubernatorial appointees.
Analysis Prepared by : Ed Imai / TRANS. / (916) 319-2093
FN: 0006317