BILL NUMBER: AB 292	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 25, 2011
	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 7, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Galgiani
    (   Coauthor:   Assembly Member  
Perea   ) 
   (   Coauthor:   Senator   Rubio
  ) 

                        FEBRUARY 8, 2011

   An act to add Section 185034.3 to the Public Utilities Code,
relating to high-speed rail.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 292, as amended, Galgiani. High-speed rail: agricultural lands.

   Existing law, the California High-Speed Rail Act, creates the
High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed rail
system in the state, with specified powers and duties. Existing law,
pursuant to the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act
for the 21st Century, approved by the voters as Proposition 1A at the
November 4, 2008, general election, provides for the issuance of
$9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for high-speed rail and
related purposes. Various federal laws provide funding for allocation
nationally to high-speed rail and other related projects.
   This bill would require the authority to appoint an agricultural
advisory committee with  an unspecified number of members
  9 members from a list of nominees r  
ecommended by   the Secretary of Food and Agriculture 
. The bill would require the authority to consult with the committee
and to reflect the committee's comments on authority policies and
related matters in any action item brought before the board of the
authority.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The agricultural industry is concerned that the High-Speed
Rail Authority is not preserving agricultural lands in its planning
activities.
   (b) Proposed plans for high-speed rail alignments divide parcels,
separating wells from growing fields, leaving some farmers without
access to water or otherwise adversely affecting irrigation systems.
   (c) Proposed plans cause some parcels to be orphaned, without
egress, and potentially unprofitable.
   (d) Loss of agricultural lands creates long-term loss of revenues
to farm families, farmworkers and their families, and related
agricultural business suppliers  , processors, and handlers 
.
   (e) California farmland is some of the most fertile farmland in
the world and is not a renewable resource.
   (f) Many potentially impacted lands are considered heritage lands,
having been  in   farmed and preserved by 
the same family for over 100 years.
   (g) California farmers and ranchers are major contributors to
local, state, and national economies, providing employment to many
and generating a domestic food supply. 
   (h) The High-Speed Rail Authority's stated policy on its impacts
to industries is to avoid, minimize, and mitigate those impacts.
 
   (h) 
    (i)  It is the intent of the Legislature that 
any   the authority's policies should be followed, and
that impacts should be avoided and minimized, and then any remaining
 impacts on agriculture and resulting problems from high-speed
rail construction  should  be fully mitigated. Mitigation
considerations should not be limited to conventional practices, but
should also include options used by other states and nations, or new
mitigation options not previously implemented.
  SEC. 2.  Section 185034.3 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to
read:
   185034.3.  (a) The authority shall appoint an agricultural
advisory committee  from a list of nominees recommended by the
Secretary of Food and Agriculture  . The purpose of the
committee is to advise the authority on the impact that authority
policies, plans, practices, and procedures will have on the
agricultural community. The authority shall consult with the
agricultural advisory committee prior to adopting any policy relevant
to agriculture, and reflect the comments of the advisory committee
in any action item to adopt a policy or other action that is brought
before the board of the authority. The authority shall provide
written responses to the committee's comments, which shall be
distributed both to the board and the committee.
   (b) The agricultural advisory committee shall consist of 
____   nine  members, representing specific areas
proposed to be affected by plans for high-speed rail. Each member
shall be active in a farming enterprise  or in an agricultural or
related trade organization,  and have technical expertise in
 o   ne or more  farm-related activities,
including, but not limited to, well drilling, irrigation systems,
animal husbandry, harvesting, processing, and agricultural
transportation.  The committee shall include representatives
of agricultural and related trade organizations. 
   (c) Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect any other
requirements that may be imposed by law for the authority to respond
to public comments submitted to the authority in writing or at
public hearings.