High-Speed Rail Authority: eminent domain: right of first refusal.

Existing law creates the High-Speed Rail Authority with specified powers, including the power to acquire rights-of-way through purchase or eminent domain, and duties relating to the development and implementation of an intercity high-speed rail system. Existing law, pursuant to the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century, authorizes $9.95 billion in general obligation bonds for high-speed rail development and other related purposes. Under existing law, if the authority determines that real property or an interest therein acquired by the state for high-speed rail purposes is no longer necessary for those purposes, the authority is authorized to sell or exchange the real property or interest therein at fair market value as specified. This bill would require the authority, if selling the real property or interest therein, to send notification by certified mail to the last known owner of the real property or interest therein at his or her last known address, advising him or her that the real property or interest therein will be offered for sale. The bill would require the authority to wait at least 30 days after the notification has been sent to sell the real property or interest therein. This bill would declare that it is to take effect immediately as an urgency statute.