CONSENT  

Bill No: SB 147

Author: Beall (D)

Introduced: 1/18/19

Vote: 21

SENATE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE: 12-0, 3/26/19

AYES: Beall, Bates, Dodd, Galgiani, McGuire, Morrell, Roth, Rubio, Skinner, Stone, Umberg, Wieckowski

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SUBJECT: High-Speed Rail Authority

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill provides clarification to the High-Speed Rail Authority’s (HSRA) public outreach requirements.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the HSRA and directs it to develop and implement a high speed rail system in the state.
2. Provides that the HSRA carry out a number of functions including, but not limited to, keeping the public informed of its activities.

This bill makes clarifications to existing law allowing HSRA to use community outreach events, public information workshops and newsletters posted on its Web site to keep the public informed of its activities.

Background

The HSRA was established by legislation in 1996 (SB 1420, Kopp, Chapter 796) to direct the development of intercity high-speed rail service. In 2008, California voters approved Proposition 1A, which authorized $9 billion in general obligation bonds for the high-speed rail project. HSRA is now a major department overseeing the construction of this megaproject, with 119 miles currently under construction or project development. While HSRA has grown and evolved, the statutes have not been updated to reflect its current operations. This bill will provide clear direction to HSRA to ensure that the public stays adequately informed about its activities.

HSRA’s Public Outreach Efforts. HSRA currently uses a variety of methods to notify the public of its project development and construction activities. Several of these methods include open house meetings, construction updates through e-mail blasts, and providing project update presentations to community and service groups. For example, on February 28, 2019, the HSRA held an open house at a local elementary school in the City of Hanford that provided updates on Construction Package 2-3. Additionally, past newsletters and press releases can be viewed on the HSRA Web site. As a result, the clarifications provided in this bill will bring existing law into alignment with HSRA’s current public outreach activities.

Comments

Purpose. The author states that “this bill simply updates existing statute to reflect HSRA’s current outreach practices.  Presently, HSRA carries out a number of public outreach efforts throughout the Central Valley such as coordinating community outreach events, presenting at community service group meetings, and facilitating town hall meetings. However, existing law merely states that HSRA is to notify the public about its activities but does not specify how to carry out public outreach. As a result, HSRA could easily do the very minimum, a notice on its internet website for example, and meet statutory requirements.  As opponents assert that HSRA needs to be more transparent, this bill provides the necessary clarification to ensure transparency remains at the forefront and HSRA is sufficiently reaching out to the public as the project moves forward.”

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

SUPPORT: (Verified 3/27/19)

None received

OPPOSITION: (Verified 3/27/19)

None received

Prepared by: Manny Leon / TRANS. / (916) 651-4121

3/27/19 13:24:29

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Senator Jim Beall, Chair

2019 - 2020 Regular

Bill No: SB 147 Hearing Date: 3/26/19

SUBJECT: High-Speed Rail Authority

DIGEST: This bill provides clarification to the High-Speed Rail Authority’s (HSRA) public outreach requirements.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Establishes the HSRA and directs it to develop and implement a high speed rail system in the state.
2. Provides that the HSRA carry out a number of functions including, but not limited to, keeping the public informed of its activities.

This bill makes clarifications to existing law allowing HSRA to use community outreach events, public information workshops and newsletters posted on its website to keep the public informed of its activities.

COMMENTS:

1. Purpose. The author states that “this bill simply updates existing statute to reflect HSRA’s current outreach practices.  Presently, HSRA carries out a number of public outreach efforts throughout the Central Valley such as coordinating community outreach events, presenting at community service group meetings, and facilitating town hall meetings. However, existing law merely states that HSRA is to notify the public about its activities but does not specify how to carry out public outreach. As a result, HSRA could easily do the very minimum, a notice on its internet website for example, and meet statutory requirements.  As opponents assert that HSRA needs to be more transparent, this bill provides the necessary clarification to ensure transparency remains at the forefront and HSRA is sufficiently reaching out to the public as the project moves forward.”
2. Background. The HSRA was established by legislation in 1996 (SB 1420, Kopp, Chapter 796) to direct the development of intercity high-speed rail service. In 2008, California voters approved Proposition 1A, which authorized $9 billion in general obligation bonds for the high-speed rail project. HSRA is now a major department overseeing the construction of this megaproject, with 119 miles currently under construction or project development. While HSRA has grown and evolved, the statutes have not been updated to reflect its current operations. This bill will provide clear direction to HSRA to ensure that the public stays adequately informed about its activities.
3. HSRA’s Public Outreach Efforts. HSRA currently uses a variety of methods to notify the public of its project development and construction activities. Several of these methods include open house meetings, construction updates through e-mail blasts, and providing project update presentations to community and service groups. For example, on February 28th, 2019 the HSRA held an open house at a local elementary school in the City of Hanford that provided updates on Construction Package 2-3. Additionally, past newsletters and press releases can be viewed on the HSRA website. As a result, the clarifications provided in this bill will bring existing law into alignment with HSRA’s current public outreach activities.

Related Legislation:

SB 1172 (Beall, 2018) — SB 147 is identical to the introduced version of SB 1172. That bill was later amended to address the HSRA’s right-of-way acquisition process.

SB 1420 (Kopp, Chapter 796, Statutes of 1996) — Established the High Speed Rail Authority and directed it to develop and implement a high speed train system in the state

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: No Local: No

POSITIONS: (Communicated to the committee before noon on Wednesday,

March 20, 2019.)

SUPPORT:

None received.

OPPOSITION:

None received.

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