AB 1608: Office of the Inspector General, High-Speed Rail.

Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority to develop and implement a high-speed rail system in the state. Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority Office of the Inspector General and authorizes the High-Speed Rail Authority Inspector General to initiate an audit or review regarding oversight related to delivery of the high-speed rail project undertaken by the authority and the selection and oversight of contractors related to that project. Existing law authorizes the Inspector General to select, appoint, and employ officers and employees necessary to carry out the functions of the office, as specified.

This bill would rename the office as the Office of the Inspector General, High-Speed Rail and revise the title of the Inspector General as the Inspector General of the High-Speed Rail.

This bill would authorize the Inspector General to adopt and make use of the classifications, associated salary ranges, and other forms of compensation established or otherwise used by other state agencies identified by the Inspector General as performing comparable oversight work, as specified.

This bill would authorize the Inspector General to contract for goods and services that the Inspector General deems necessary for the furtherance of the purposes of the office. For a contract up to $1,000,000 in value, the bill would exempt the Inspector General from all contract requirements of the Public Contract Code Code, and from all information technology project requirements of the Government Code, that require oversight, review, or approval by the Department of General Services or any other state agency.