California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly BillNo. 842


Introduced by Assembly Member Donnelly

February 21, 2013


An act to add Section 2704.76 to the Streets and Highways Code, relating to high-speed rail.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 842, as introduced, Donnelly. High-speed rail.

Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority with specified powers and duties relative to the development and implementation of a high-speed train system. 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 for high-speed train capital projects and other associated purposes. Existing law appropriates certain amounts of federal funds and state bond funds to the authority for purposes of funding the construction of the initial segment of the high-speed rail project.

This bill, notwithstanding any other law, would prohibit federal or state funds, including state bond funds, from being expended by the authority or any other state agency on the construction of the high-speed rail project, except as necessary to meet contractual commitments entered into before January 1, 2014. The bill would also make a statement of legislative intent.

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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SECTION 1.  

Section 2704.76 is added to the Streets and
2Highways Code
, to read:

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2704.76.  

Notwithstanding any other law, no federal or state
4funds, including bond funds made available pursuant to Chapter
520 (commencing with Section 2704) of Division 3, shall be
6expended by the High-Speed Rail Authority or any other state
7agency on the construction of the high-speed rail project described
8in that chapter, except as necessary to meet contractual
9commitments entered into before January 1, 2014. The Legislature
10finds and declares that this action is necessary because many
11highway and bridge improvement and repair projects are of higher
12priority than the high-speed rail project.



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