High-speed rail: legislative oversight.

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 requires the authority, on or before March 1, 2017, and every 2 years thereafter, to provide a project update report, approved by the Secretary of Transportation as consistent with specified criteria, to the budget committees and the appropriate policy committees of both houses of the Legislature, on the development and implementation of intercity high-speed train service, as provided. This bill would create the Joint Legislative High-Speed Rail Oversight Committee consisting of 3 Members of the Senate and 3 Members of the Assembly to provide ongoing and independent oversight of the high-speed rail project by performing specified duties, and would require the committee to make recommendations to the appropriate standing policy and budget committees of both houses of the Legislature to guide decisions concerning the state's programs, policies, and investments related to high-speed rail. The bill would require the authority to provide the committee with certain documents and information within prescribed timelines, and would require the authority to permit the chairperson of the committee, or the chairperson's designee, to attend meetings of any internal governance committees related to project oversight, as provided.