California 2017-2018 Regular Session

California Senate Bill SB1029 Compare Versions

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1-Senate Bill No. 1029 CHAPTER 934An act to amend Sections 93000, 93010, 93020, and 93021 of, to add and repeal Section 13978.9 of, to repeal Sections 93001, 93002, 93023, and 93024 of, and to repeal and add Sections 93003 and 93022 of, the Government Code, and to amend Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation, and making an appropriation therefor. [ Approved by Governor September 29, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State September 29, 2018. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1029, McGuire. North Coast Railroad Authority.(1) Existing law creates the North Coast Railroad Authority with various powers and duties relating to rail service in the north coast area of the state, including the authorization to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the operation and maintenance of railroads.This bill would require the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, to conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities, and to report on the assessment to the Legislature before July 1, 2020. The bill would authorize those agencies to request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the assessment. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor, and would authorize the Transportation Agency to separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District.This bill would repeal and revise various provisions relating to the authority. The bill would authorize the authority to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to, instead, the furtherance of certain purposes, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. The bill would require the authority to cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency, and to provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies.Existing law creates, within the Counties of Sonoma and Marin, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District with specified duties and powers. Existing law requires the district to work with specified authorities to achieve a safe, efficient, and compatible system of passenger and freight rail service, and authorizes the district, among other things, to provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail.This bill would authorize the district to also provide a rail transit system for the provision of freight service by rail.Existing law creates the Public Transportation Account as a trust fund. Existing law requires revenues in the account to be used solely for mass transportation and transportation planning purposes, as specified.This bill would appropriate $4,000,000 to the Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the district and the authority. The bill would allocate those moneys to the district for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service, and authorizes the transfer of those moneys to the district, as specified.(2) Because this bill would impose new requirements on local entities, it would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the North Coast Railroad Authoritys railroad tracks, rights-of-way, and other properties provide an opportunity to create a Great Redwood Trail for hiking, biking, and riding, that may be in the public and economic best interests of the north coast.SEC. 2. Section 13978.9 is added to the Government Code, to read:13978.9. (a) Upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, shall conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the North Coast Railroad Authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities. The Transportation Agency shall report to the Legislature before July 1, 2020, on its findings and recommendations from the assessment. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys debts, liabilities, contractual obligations, and litigation.(2) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys assets, including property, rights-of-way, easements, and equipment.(3) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys freight contractor lease, including the contractors assets and liabilities to the extent that information is available.(4) A preliminary assessment of the viability of constructing a trail on the entirety of, or a portion of, the property, rights-of-way, or easements owned by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and recommendations relating to the possible construction of a trail, including both of the following:(A) Options for railbanking and the governance structure or ownership structure for a new or successor entity that is necessary to railbank property, rights-of-way, and easements along the rail corridor.(B) A preliminary assessment of which portions of the terrain along the rail corridor may be suitable for a trail.(5) An assessment of the options for transferring the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and recommendations on the specific assets and liabilities that could be transferred, including rights or abilities to operate freight rail.(b) The Transportation Agency and the Natural Resources Agency may request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the duties described in this section. Any work done by the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within the agencies pursuant to such a request may be conducted using the power and authority of the requested department.(c) The Transportation Agency shall prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor and may separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. It is the intent of the Legislature that information and recommendations regarding the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District be provided as expeditiously as possible and not be delayed due to the potential complexity of assessing the northern portion of the rail corridor.(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this section is repealed on January 1, 2024.SEC. 3. Section 93000 of the Government Code is amended to read:93000. This title shall be known and may be cited as the North Coast Railroad Authority Closure and Transition to Trails Act.SEC. 4. Section 93001 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 5. Section 93002 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 6. Section 93003 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 7. Section 93003 is added to the Government Code, to read:93003. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to dissolve the authority, and to transfer its rights-of-way to other entities for the purpose of potentially developing a trail that could include railbanking and continuing freight where it was operational on January 1, 2018.SEC. 8. Section 93010 of the Government Code is amended to read:93010. (a) The authority is hereby created, having a service area comprised of the Counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity.(b) The County of Marin may elect to join the authority and, if that election is made, the authority is expanded to include that county.SEC. 9. Section 93020 of the Government Code is amended to read:93020. (a) The authority has all of the following powers:(1) To acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the furtherance of the purposes of this title, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. Any sale, easement, or lease entered into by the authority after August 1, 2018, shall be approved by the California Transportation Commission.(2) To operate railroads along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) To accept grants or loans from state or federal agencies.(4) To employ an executive officer, other staff, and consultants deemed appropriate for support of the activities of the authority, to further the purposes of this title.(b) The authority shall do all of the following:(1) In coordination with state agencies, immediately begin planning for the transfer of all of the authoritys assets and liabilities and for the dissolution of the authority.(2) Cooperate with its freight contractor to continue freight operations along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) Cooperate with, and provide information upon request to, the Transportation Agency, Natural Resources Agency, or other state or local agencies or contractors working at the direction of the Transportation Agency or Natural Resources Agency.(4) Cooperate fully with the assessment conducted pursuant to Section 13978.9.SEC. 10. Section 93021 of the Government Code is amended to read:93021. The authority may acquire, own, lease, and operate railroad lines and equipment, including, but not limited to, real and personal property, tracks, rights-of-way, equipment, and facilities, to further the purposes of this title.SEC. 11. Section 93022 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 12. Section 93022 is added to the Government Code, to read:93022. The authority shall cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Section 13978.9, and shall provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies, pursuant to Section 13978.9.SEC. 13. Section 93023 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 14. Section 93024 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 15. Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:105095. The district may provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail and provision of freight service by rail.SEC. 16. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.SEC. 17. The sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the State Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and the North Coast Railroad Authority. These moneys shall be allocated to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service. Following a signed baseline agreement between the State Transportation Agency and the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District that articulates deliverables, the anticipated expenditure schedule, and reporting requirements, the Secretary of Transportation may transfer these moneys to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District pursuant to the provisions of the baseline agreement. These moneys shall not be transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company unless the terms and conditions of the baseline agreement have been approved by both the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of Finance. If these moneys are not transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District within two years of the chaptering of this act, these moneys shall be returned to the Public Transportation Account.
1+Enrolled September 06, 2018 Passed IN Senate August 31, 2018 Passed IN Assembly August 30, 2018 Amended IN Assembly August 24, 2018 Amended IN Assembly August 20, 2018 Amended IN Assembly June 20, 2018 Amended IN Senate May 25, 2018 Amended IN Senate April 30, 2018 Amended IN Senate April 16, 2018 Amended IN Senate April 05, 2018 Amended IN Senate March 15, 2018 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1029Introduced by Senator McGuireFebruary 08, 2018An act to amend Sections 93000, 93010, 93020, and 93021 of, to add and repeal Section 13978.9 of, to repeal Sections 93001, 93002, 93023, and 93024 of, and to repeal and add Sections 93003 and 93022 of, the Government Code, and to amend Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation, and making an appropriation therefor.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1029, McGuire. North Coast Railroad Authority.(1) Existing law creates the North Coast Railroad Authority with various powers and duties relating to rail service in the north coast area of the state, including the authorization to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the operation and maintenance of railroads.This bill would require the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, to conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities, and to report on the assessment to the Legislature before July 1, 2020. The bill would authorize those agencies to request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the assessment. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor, and would authorize the Transportation Agency to separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District.This bill would repeal and revise various provisions relating to the authority. The bill would authorize the authority to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to, instead, the furtherance of certain purposes, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. The bill would require the authority to cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency, and to provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies.Existing law creates, within the Counties of Sonoma and Marin, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District with specified duties and powers. Existing law requires the district to work with specified authorities to achieve a safe, efficient, and compatible system of passenger and freight rail service, and authorizes the district, among other things, to provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail.This bill would authorize the district to also provide a rail transit system for the provision of freight service by rail.Existing law creates the Public Transportation Account as a trust fund. Existing law requires revenues in the account to be used solely for mass transportation and transportation planning purposes, as specified.This bill would appropriate $4,000,000 to the Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the district and the authority. The bill would allocate those moneys to the district for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service, and authorizes the transfer of those moneys to the district, as specified.(2) Because this bill would impose new requirements on local entities, it would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES Bill TextThe people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the North Coast Railroad Authoritys railroad tracks, rights-of-way, and other properties provide an opportunity to create a Great Redwood Trail for hiking, biking, and riding, that may be in the public and economic best interests of the north coast.SEC. 2. Section 13978.9 is added to the Government Code, to read:13978.9. (a) Upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, shall conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the North Coast Railroad Authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities. The Transportation Agency shall report to the Legislature before July 1, 2020, on its findings and recommendations from the assessment. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys debts, liabilities, contractual obligations, and litigation.(2) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys assets, including property, rights-of-way, easements, and equipment.(3) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys freight contractor lease, including the contractors assets and liabilities to the extent that information is available.(4) A preliminary assessment of the viability of constructing a trail on the entirety of, or a portion of, the property, rights-of-way, or easements owned by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and recommendations relating to the possible construction of a trail, including both of the following:(A) Options for railbanking and the governance structure or ownership structure for a new or successor entity that is necessary to railbank property, rights-of-way, and easements along the rail corridor.(B) A preliminary assessment of which portions of the terrain along the rail corridor may be suitable for a trail.(5) An assessment of the options for transferring the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and recommendations on the specific assets and liabilities that could be transferred, including rights or abilities to operate freight rail.(b) The Transportation Agency and the Natural Resources Agency may request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the duties described in this section. Any work done by the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within the agencies pursuant to such a request may be conducted using the power and authority of the requested department.(c) The Transportation Agency shall prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor and may separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. It is the intent of the Legislature that information and recommendations regarding the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District be provided as expeditiously as possible and not be delayed due to the potential complexity of assessing the northern portion of the rail corridor.(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this section is repealed on January 1, 2024.SEC. 3. Section 93000 of the Government Code is amended to read:93000. This title shall be known and may be cited as the North Coast Railroad Authority Closure and Transition to Trails Act.SEC. 4. Section 93001 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 5. Section 93002 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 6. Section 93003 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 7. Section 93003 is added to the Government Code, to read:93003. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to dissolve the authority, and to transfer its rights-of-way to other entities for the purpose of potentially developing a trail that could include railbanking and continuing freight where it was operational on January 1, 2018.SEC. 8. Section 93010 of the Government Code is amended to read:93010. (a) The authority is hereby created, having a service area comprised of the Counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity.(b) The County of Marin may elect to join the authority and, if that election is made, the authority is expanded to include that county.SEC. 9. Section 93020 of the Government Code is amended to read:93020. (a) The authority has all of the following powers:(1) To acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the furtherance of the purposes of this title, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. Any sale, easement, or lease entered into by the authority after August 1, 2018, shall be approved by the California Transportation Commission.(2) To operate railroads along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) To accept grants or loans from state or federal agencies.(4) To employ an executive officer, other staff, and consultants deemed appropriate for support of the activities of the authority, to further the purposes of this title.(b) The authority shall do all of the following:(1) In coordination with state agencies, immediately begin planning for the transfer of all of the authoritys assets and liabilities and for the dissolution of the authority.(2) Cooperate with its freight contractor to continue freight operations along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) Cooperate with, and provide information upon request to, the Transportation Agency, Natural Resources Agency, or other state or local agencies or contractors working at the direction of the Transportation Agency or Natural Resources Agency.(4) Cooperate fully with the assessment conducted pursuant to Section 13978.9.SEC. 10. Section 93021 of the Government Code is amended to read:93021. The authority may acquire, own, lease, and operate railroad lines and equipment, including, but not limited to, real and personal property, tracks, rights-of-way, equipment, and facilities, to further the purposes of this title.SEC. 11. Section 93022 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 12. Section 93022 is added to the Government Code, to read:93022. The authority shall cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Section 13978.9, and shall provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies, pursuant to Section 13978.9.SEC. 13. Section 93023 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 14. Section 93024 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 15. Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:105095. The district may provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail and provision of freight service by rail.SEC. 16. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.SEC. 17. The sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the State Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and the North Coast Railroad Authority. These moneys shall be allocated to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service. Following a signed baseline agreement between the State Transportation Agency and the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District that articulates deliverables, the anticipated expenditure schedule, and reporting requirements, the Secretary of Transportation may transfer these moneys to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District pursuant to the provisions of the baseline agreement. These moneys shall not be transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company unless the terms and conditions of the baseline agreement have been approved by both the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of Finance. If these moneys are not transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District within two years of the chaptering of this act, these moneys shall be returned to the Public Transportation Account.
22
3- Senate Bill No. 1029 CHAPTER 934An act to amend Sections 93000, 93010, 93020, and 93021 of, to add and repeal Section 13978.9 of, to repeal Sections 93001, 93002, 93023, and 93024 of, and to repeal and add Sections 93003 and 93022 of, the Government Code, and to amend Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation, and making an appropriation therefor. [ Approved by Governor September 29, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State September 29, 2018. ] LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1029, McGuire. North Coast Railroad Authority.(1) Existing law creates the North Coast Railroad Authority with various powers and duties relating to rail service in the north coast area of the state, including the authorization to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the operation and maintenance of railroads.This bill would require the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, to conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities, and to report on the assessment to the Legislature before July 1, 2020. The bill would authorize those agencies to request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the assessment. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor, and would authorize the Transportation Agency to separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District.This bill would repeal and revise various provisions relating to the authority. The bill would authorize the authority to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to, instead, the furtherance of certain purposes, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. The bill would require the authority to cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency, and to provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies.Existing law creates, within the Counties of Sonoma and Marin, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District with specified duties and powers. Existing law requires the district to work with specified authorities to achieve a safe, efficient, and compatible system of passenger and freight rail service, and authorizes the district, among other things, to provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail.This bill would authorize the district to also provide a rail transit system for the provision of freight service by rail.Existing law creates the Public Transportation Account as a trust fund. Existing law requires revenues in the account to be used solely for mass transportation and transportation planning purposes, as specified.This bill would appropriate $4,000,000 to the Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the district and the authority. The bill would allocate those moneys to the district for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service, and authorizes the transfer of those moneys to the district, as specified.(2) Because this bill would impose new requirements on local entities, it would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
3+ Enrolled September 06, 2018 Passed IN Senate August 31, 2018 Passed IN Assembly August 30, 2018 Amended IN Assembly August 24, 2018 Amended IN Assembly August 20, 2018 Amended IN Assembly June 20, 2018 Amended IN Senate May 25, 2018 Amended IN Senate April 30, 2018 Amended IN Senate April 16, 2018 Amended IN Senate April 05, 2018 Amended IN Senate March 15, 2018 CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION Senate Bill No. 1029Introduced by Senator McGuireFebruary 08, 2018An act to amend Sections 93000, 93010, 93020, and 93021 of, to add and repeal Section 13978.9 of, to repeal Sections 93001, 93002, 93023, and 93024 of, and to repeal and add Sections 93003 and 93022 of, the Government Code, and to amend Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation, and making an appropriation therefor.LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGESTSB 1029, McGuire. North Coast Railroad Authority.(1) Existing law creates the North Coast Railroad Authority with various powers and duties relating to rail service in the north coast area of the state, including the authorization to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the operation and maintenance of railroads.This bill would require the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, to conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities, and to report on the assessment to the Legislature before July 1, 2020. The bill would authorize those agencies to request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the assessment. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor, and would authorize the Transportation Agency to separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District.This bill would repeal and revise various provisions relating to the authority. The bill would authorize the authority to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to, instead, the furtherance of certain purposes, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. The bill would require the authority to cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency, and to provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies.Existing law creates, within the Counties of Sonoma and Marin, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District with specified duties and powers. Existing law requires the district to work with specified authorities to achieve a safe, efficient, and compatible system of passenger and freight rail service, and authorizes the district, among other things, to provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail.This bill would authorize the district to also provide a rail transit system for the provision of freight service by rail.Existing law creates the Public Transportation Account as a trust fund. Existing law requires revenues in the account to be used solely for mass transportation and transportation planning purposes, as specified.This bill would appropriate $4,000,000 to the Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the district and the authority. The bill would allocate those moneys to the district for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service, and authorizes the transfer of those moneys to the district, as specified.(2) Because this bill would impose new requirements on local entities, it would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.Digest Key Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: YES Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES
4+
5+ Enrolled September 06, 2018 Passed IN Senate August 31, 2018 Passed IN Assembly August 30, 2018 Amended IN Assembly August 24, 2018 Amended IN Assembly August 20, 2018 Amended IN Assembly June 20, 2018 Amended IN Senate May 25, 2018 Amended IN Senate April 30, 2018 Amended IN Senate April 16, 2018 Amended IN Senate April 05, 2018 Amended IN Senate March 15, 2018
6+
7+Enrolled September 06, 2018
8+Passed IN Senate August 31, 2018
9+Passed IN Assembly August 30, 2018
10+Amended IN Assembly August 24, 2018
11+Amended IN Assembly August 20, 2018
12+Amended IN Assembly June 20, 2018
13+Amended IN Senate May 25, 2018
14+Amended IN Senate April 30, 2018
15+Amended IN Senate April 16, 2018
16+Amended IN Senate April 05, 2018
17+Amended IN Senate March 15, 2018
18+
19+ CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE 20172018 REGULAR SESSION
420
521 Senate Bill No. 1029
6-CHAPTER 934
22+
23+Introduced by Senator McGuireFebruary 08, 2018
24+
25+Introduced by Senator McGuire
26+February 08, 2018
727
828 An act to amend Sections 93000, 93010, 93020, and 93021 of, to add and repeal Section 13978.9 of, to repeal Sections 93001, 93002, 93023, and 93024 of, and to repeal and add Sections 93003 and 93022 of, the Government Code, and to amend Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation, and making an appropriation therefor.
9-
10- [ Approved by Governor September 29, 2018. Filed with Secretary of State September 29, 2018. ]
1129
1230 LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
1331
1432 ## LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
1533
1634 SB 1029, McGuire. North Coast Railroad Authority.
1735
1836 (1) Existing law creates the North Coast Railroad Authority with various powers and duties relating to rail service in the north coast area of the state, including the authorization to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the operation and maintenance of railroads.This bill would require the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, to conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities, and to report on the assessment to the Legislature before July 1, 2020. The bill would authorize those agencies to request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the assessment. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor, and would authorize the Transportation Agency to separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District.This bill would repeal and revise various provisions relating to the authority. The bill would authorize the authority to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to, instead, the furtherance of certain purposes, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. The bill would require the authority to cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency, and to provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies.Existing law creates, within the Counties of Sonoma and Marin, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District with specified duties and powers. Existing law requires the district to work with specified authorities to achieve a safe, efficient, and compatible system of passenger and freight rail service, and authorizes the district, among other things, to provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail.This bill would authorize the district to also provide a rail transit system for the provision of freight service by rail.Existing law creates the Public Transportation Account as a trust fund. Existing law requires revenues in the account to be used solely for mass transportation and transportation planning purposes, as specified.This bill would appropriate $4,000,000 to the Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the district and the authority. The bill would allocate those moneys to the district for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service, and authorizes the transfer of those moneys to the district, as specified.(2) Because this bill would impose new requirements on local entities, it would impose a state-mandated local program.The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
1937
2038 (1) Existing law creates the North Coast Railroad Authority with various powers and duties relating to rail service in the north coast area of the state, including the authorization to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the operation and maintenance of railroads.
2139
2240 This bill would require the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, to conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities, and to report on the assessment to the Legislature before July 1, 2020. The bill would authorize those agencies to request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the assessment. The bill would require the Transportation Agency to prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor, and would authorize the Transportation Agency to separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District.
2341
2442 This bill would repeal and revise various provisions relating to the authority. The bill would authorize the authority to acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to, instead, the furtherance of certain purposes, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. The bill would require the authority to cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency, and to provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies.
2543
2644 Existing law creates, within the Counties of Sonoma and Marin, the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District with specified duties and powers. Existing law requires the district to work with specified authorities to achieve a safe, efficient, and compatible system of passenger and freight rail service, and authorizes the district, among other things, to provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail.
2745
2846 This bill would authorize the district to also provide a rail transit system for the provision of freight service by rail.
2947
3048 Existing law creates the Public Transportation Account as a trust fund. Existing law requires revenues in the account to be used solely for mass transportation and transportation planning purposes, as specified.
3149
3250 This bill would appropriate $4,000,000 to the Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the district and the authority. The bill would allocate those moneys to the district for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service, and authorizes the transfer of those moneys to the district, as specified.
3351
3452 (2) Because this bill would impose new requirements on local entities, it would impose a state-mandated local program.
3553
3654 The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
3755
3856 This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.
3957
4058 ## Digest Key
4159
4260 ## Bill Text
4361
4462 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the North Coast Railroad Authoritys railroad tracks, rights-of-way, and other properties provide an opportunity to create a Great Redwood Trail for hiking, biking, and riding, that may be in the public and economic best interests of the north coast.SEC. 2. Section 13978.9 is added to the Government Code, to read:13978.9. (a) Upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, shall conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the North Coast Railroad Authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities. The Transportation Agency shall report to the Legislature before July 1, 2020, on its findings and recommendations from the assessment. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys debts, liabilities, contractual obligations, and litigation.(2) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys assets, including property, rights-of-way, easements, and equipment.(3) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys freight contractor lease, including the contractors assets and liabilities to the extent that information is available.(4) A preliminary assessment of the viability of constructing a trail on the entirety of, or a portion of, the property, rights-of-way, or easements owned by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and recommendations relating to the possible construction of a trail, including both of the following:(A) Options for railbanking and the governance structure or ownership structure for a new or successor entity that is necessary to railbank property, rights-of-way, and easements along the rail corridor.(B) A preliminary assessment of which portions of the terrain along the rail corridor may be suitable for a trail.(5) An assessment of the options for transferring the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and recommendations on the specific assets and liabilities that could be transferred, including rights or abilities to operate freight rail.(b) The Transportation Agency and the Natural Resources Agency may request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the duties described in this section. Any work done by the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within the agencies pursuant to such a request may be conducted using the power and authority of the requested department.(c) The Transportation Agency shall prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor and may separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. It is the intent of the Legislature that information and recommendations regarding the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District be provided as expeditiously as possible and not be delayed due to the potential complexity of assessing the northern portion of the rail corridor.(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this section is repealed on January 1, 2024.SEC. 3. Section 93000 of the Government Code is amended to read:93000. This title shall be known and may be cited as the North Coast Railroad Authority Closure and Transition to Trails Act.SEC. 4. Section 93001 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 5. Section 93002 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 6. Section 93003 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 7. Section 93003 is added to the Government Code, to read:93003. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to dissolve the authority, and to transfer its rights-of-way to other entities for the purpose of potentially developing a trail that could include railbanking and continuing freight where it was operational on January 1, 2018.SEC. 8. Section 93010 of the Government Code is amended to read:93010. (a) The authority is hereby created, having a service area comprised of the Counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity.(b) The County of Marin may elect to join the authority and, if that election is made, the authority is expanded to include that county.SEC. 9. Section 93020 of the Government Code is amended to read:93020. (a) The authority has all of the following powers:(1) To acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the furtherance of the purposes of this title, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. Any sale, easement, or lease entered into by the authority after August 1, 2018, shall be approved by the California Transportation Commission.(2) To operate railroads along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) To accept grants or loans from state or federal agencies.(4) To employ an executive officer, other staff, and consultants deemed appropriate for support of the activities of the authority, to further the purposes of this title.(b) The authority shall do all of the following:(1) In coordination with state agencies, immediately begin planning for the transfer of all of the authoritys assets and liabilities and for the dissolution of the authority.(2) Cooperate with its freight contractor to continue freight operations along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) Cooperate with, and provide information upon request to, the Transportation Agency, Natural Resources Agency, or other state or local agencies or contractors working at the direction of the Transportation Agency or Natural Resources Agency.(4) Cooperate fully with the assessment conducted pursuant to Section 13978.9.SEC. 10. Section 93021 of the Government Code is amended to read:93021. The authority may acquire, own, lease, and operate railroad lines and equipment, including, but not limited to, real and personal property, tracks, rights-of-way, equipment, and facilities, to further the purposes of this title.SEC. 11. Section 93022 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 12. Section 93022 is added to the Government Code, to read:93022. The authority shall cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Section 13978.9, and shall provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies, pursuant to Section 13978.9.SEC. 13. Section 93023 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 14. Section 93024 of the Government Code is repealed.SEC. 15. Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:105095. The district may provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail and provision of freight service by rail.SEC. 16. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.SEC. 17. The sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the State Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and the North Coast Railroad Authority. These moneys shall be allocated to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service. Following a signed baseline agreement between the State Transportation Agency and the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District that articulates deliverables, the anticipated expenditure schedule, and reporting requirements, the Secretary of Transportation may transfer these moneys to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District pursuant to the provisions of the baseline agreement. These moneys shall not be transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company unless the terms and conditions of the baseline agreement have been approved by both the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of Finance. If these moneys are not transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District within two years of the chaptering of this act, these moneys shall be returned to the Public Transportation Account.
4563
4664 The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4765
4866 ## The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
4967
5068 SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the North Coast Railroad Authoritys railroad tracks, rights-of-way, and other properties provide an opportunity to create a Great Redwood Trail for hiking, biking, and riding, that may be in the public and economic best interests of the north coast.
5169
5270 SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the North Coast Railroad Authoritys railroad tracks, rights-of-way, and other properties provide an opportunity to create a Great Redwood Trail for hiking, biking, and riding, that may be in the public and economic best interests of the north coast.
5371
5472 SECTION 1. The Legislature finds and declares that the North Coast Railroad Authoritys railroad tracks, rights-of-way, and other properties provide an opportunity to create a Great Redwood Trail for hiking, biking, and riding, that may be in the public and economic best interests of the north coast.
5573
5674 ### SECTION 1.
5775
5876 SEC. 2. Section 13978.9 is added to the Government Code, to read:13978.9. (a) Upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, shall conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the North Coast Railroad Authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities. The Transportation Agency shall report to the Legislature before July 1, 2020, on its findings and recommendations from the assessment. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys debts, liabilities, contractual obligations, and litigation.(2) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys assets, including property, rights-of-way, easements, and equipment.(3) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys freight contractor lease, including the contractors assets and liabilities to the extent that information is available.(4) A preliminary assessment of the viability of constructing a trail on the entirety of, or a portion of, the property, rights-of-way, or easements owned by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and recommendations relating to the possible construction of a trail, including both of the following:(A) Options for railbanking and the governance structure or ownership structure for a new or successor entity that is necessary to railbank property, rights-of-way, and easements along the rail corridor.(B) A preliminary assessment of which portions of the terrain along the rail corridor may be suitable for a trail.(5) An assessment of the options for transferring the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and recommendations on the specific assets and liabilities that could be transferred, including rights or abilities to operate freight rail.(b) The Transportation Agency and the Natural Resources Agency may request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the duties described in this section. Any work done by the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within the agencies pursuant to such a request may be conducted using the power and authority of the requested department.(c) The Transportation Agency shall prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor and may separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. It is the intent of the Legislature that information and recommendations regarding the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District be provided as expeditiously as possible and not be delayed due to the potential complexity of assessing the northern portion of the rail corridor.(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this section is repealed on January 1, 2024.
5977
6078 SEC. 2. Section 13978.9 is added to the Government Code, to read:
6179
6280 ### SEC. 2.
6381
6482 13978.9. (a) Upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, shall conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the North Coast Railroad Authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities. The Transportation Agency shall report to the Legislature before July 1, 2020, on its findings and recommendations from the assessment. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys debts, liabilities, contractual obligations, and litigation.(2) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys assets, including property, rights-of-way, easements, and equipment.(3) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys freight contractor lease, including the contractors assets and liabilities to the extent that information is available.(4) A preliminary assessment of the viability of constructing a trail on the entirety of, or a portion of, the property, rights-of-way, or easements owned by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and recommendations relating to the possible construction of a trail, including both of the following:(A) Options for railbanking and the governance structure or ownership structure for a new or successor entity that is necessary to railbank property, rights-of-way, and easements along the rail corridor.(B) A preliminary assessment of which portions of the terrain along the rail corridor may be suitable for a trail.(5) An assessment of the options for transferring the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and recommendations on the specific assets and liabilities that could be transferred, including rights or abilities to operate freight rail.(b) The Transportation Agency and the Natural Resources Agency may request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the duties described in this section. Any work done by the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within the agencies pursuant to such a request may be conducted using the power and authority of the requested department.(c) The Transportation Agency shall prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor and may separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. It is the intent of the Legislature that information and recommendations regarding the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District be provided as expeditiously as possible and not be delayed due to the potential complexity of assessing the northern portion of the rail corridor.(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this section is repealed on January 1, 2024.
6583
6684 13978.9. (a) Upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, shall conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the North Coast Railroad Authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities. The Transportation Agency shall report to the Legislature before July 1, 2020, on its findings and recommendations from the assessment. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys debts, liabilities, contractual obligations, and litigation.(2) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys assets, including property, rights-of-way, easements, and equipment.(3) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys freight contractor lease, including the contractors assets and liabilities to the extent that information is available.(4) A preliminary assessment of the viability of constructing a trail on the entirety of, or a portion of, the property, rights-of-way, or easements owned by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and recommendations relating to the possible construction of a trail, including both of the following:(A) Options for railbanking and the governance structure or ownership structure for a new or successor entity that is necessary to railbank property, rights-of-way, and easements along the rail corridor.(B) A preliminary assessment of which portions of the terrain along the rail corridor may be suitable for a trail.(5) An assessment of the options for transferring the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and recommendations on the specific assets and liabilities that could be transferred, including rights or abilities to operate freight rail.(b) The Transportation Agency and the Natural Resources Agency may request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the duties described in this section. Any work done by the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within the agencies pursuant to such a request may be conducted using the power and authority of the requested department.(c) The Transportation Agency shall prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor and may separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. It is the intent of the Legislature that information and recommendations regarding the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District be provided as expeditiously as possible and not be delayed due to the potential complexity of assessing the northern portion of the rail corridor.(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this section is repealed on January 1, 2024.
6785
6886 13978.9. (a) Upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, shall conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the North Coast Railroad Authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities. The Transportation Agency shall report to the Legislature before July 1, 2020, on its findings and recommendations from the assessment. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:(1) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys debts, liabilities, contractual obligations, and litigation.(2) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys assets, including property, rights-of-way, easements, and equipment.(3) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys freight contractor lease, including the contractors assets and liabilities to the extent that information is available.(4) A preliminary assessment of the viability of constructing a trail on the entirety of, or a portion of, the property, rights-of-way, or easements owned by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and recommendations relating to the possible construction of a trail, including both of the following:(A) Options for railbanking and the governance structure or ownership structure for a new or successor entity that is necessary to railbank property, rights-of-way, and easements along the rail corridor.(B) A preliminary assessment of which portions of the terrain along the rail corridor may be suitable for a trail.(5) An assessment of the options for transferring the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and recommendations on the specific assets and liabilities that could be transferred, including rights or abilities to operate freight rail.(b) The Transportation Agency and the Natural Resources Agency may request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the duties described in this section. Any work done by the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within the agencies pursuant to such a request may be conducted using the power and authority of the requested department.(c) The Transportation Agency shall prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor and may separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. It is the intent of the Legislature that information and recommendations regarding the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District be provided as expeditiously as possible and not be delayed due to the potential complexity of assessing the northern portion of the rail corridor.(d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.(2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this section is repealed on January 1, 2024.
6987
7088
7189
7290 13978.9. (a) Upon the appropriation of moneys by the Legislature for these purposes, the Transportation Agency, in consultation with the Natural Resources Agency, shall conduct an assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authority to provide information necessary to determine the most appropriate way to dissolve the North Coast Railroad Authority and dispense with its assets and liabilities. The Transportation Agency shall report to the Legislature before July 1, 2020, on its findings and recommendations from the assessment. The report shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
7391
7492 (1) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys debts, liabilities, contractual obligations, and litigation.
7593
7694 (2) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys assets, including property, rights-of-way, easements, and equipment.
7795
7896 (3) An assessment of the North Coast Railroad Authoritys freight contractor lease, including the contractors assets and liabilities to the extent that information is available.
7997
8098 (4) A preliminary assessment of the viability of constructing a trail on the entirety of, or a portion of, the property, rights-of-way, or easements owned by the North Coast Railroad Authority, and recommendations relating to the possible construction of a trail, including both of the following:
8199
82100 (A) Options for railbanking and the governance structure or ownership structure for a new or successor entity that is necessary to railbank property, rights-of-way, and easements along the rail corridor.
83101
84102 (B) A preliminary assessment of which portions of the terrain along the rail corridor may be suitable for a trail.
85103
86104 (5) An assessment of the options for transferring the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and recommendations on the specific assets and liabilities that could be transferred, including rights or abilities to operate freight rail.
87105
88106 (b) The Transportation Agency and the Natural Resources Agency may request the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within their agencies, or contract with other entities, to perform the work the agencies deem necessary to carry out the duties described in this section. Any work done by the Department of General Services, the Department of Finance, or any department within the agencies pursuant to such a request may be conducted using the power and authority of the requested department.
89107
90108 (c) The Transportation Agency shall prioritize the assessment of the southern portion of the rail corridor and may separately report information related to the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District. It is the intent of the Legislature that information and recommendations regarding the potential transfer of the southern portion of the rail corridor to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District be provided as expeditiously as possible and not be delayed due to the potential complexity of assessing the northern portion of the rail corridor.
91109
92110 (d) (1) A report to be submitted pursuant to this section shall be submitted in compliance with Section 9795.
93111
94112 (2) Pursuant to Section 10231.5, this section is repealed on January 1, 2024.
95113
96114 SEC. 3. Section 93000 of the Government Code is amended to read:93000. This title shall be known and may be cited as the North Coast Railroad Authority Closure and Transition to Trails Act.
97115
98116 SEC. 3. Section 93000 of the Government Code is amended to read:
99117
100118 ### SEC. 3.
101119
102120 93000. This title shall be known and may be cited as the North Coast Railroad Authority Closure and Transition to Trails Act.
103121
104122 93000. This title shall be known and may be cited as the North Coast Railroad Authority Closure and Transition to Trails Act.
105123
106124 93000. This title shall be known and may be cited as the North Coast Railroad Authority Closure and Transition to Trails Act.
107125
108126
109127
110128 93000. This title shall be known and may be cited as the North Coast Railroad Authority Closure and Transition to Trails Act.
111129
112130 SEC. 4. Section 93001 of the Government Code is repealed.
113131
114132 SEC. 4. Section 93001 of the Government Code is repealed.
115133
116134 ### SEC. 4.
117135
118136
119137
120138 SEC. 5. Section 93002 of the Government Code is repealed.
121139
122140 SEC. 5. Section 93002 of the Government Code is repealed.
123141
124142 ### SEC. 5.
125143
126144
127145
128146 SEC. 6. Section 93003 of the Government Code is repealed.
129147
130148 SEC. 6. Section 93003 of the Government Code is repealed.
131149
132150 ### SEC. 6.
133151
134152
135153
136154 SEC. 7. Section 93003 is added to the Government Code, to read:93003. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to dissolve the authority, and to transfer its rights-of-way to other entities for the purpose of potentially developing a trail that could include railbanking and continuing freight where it was operational on January 1, 2018.
137155
138156 SEC. 7. Section 93003 is added to the Government Code, to read:
139157
140158 ### SEC. 7.
141159
142160 93003. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to dissolve the authority, and to transfer its rights-of-way to other entities for the purpose of potentially developing a trail that could include railbanking and continuing freight where it was operational on January 1, 2018.
143161
144162 93003. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to dissolve the authority, and to transfer its rights-of-way to other entities for the purpose of potentially developing a trail that could include railbanking and continuing freight where it was operational on January 1, 2018.
145163
146164 93003. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to dissolve the authority, and to transfer its rights-of-way to other entities for the purpose of potentially developing a trail that could include railbanking and continuing freight where it was operational on January 1, 2018.
147165
148166
149167
150168 93003. The Legislature finds and declares that it is in the public interest to dissolve the authority, and to transfer its rights-of-way to other entities for the purpose of potentially developing a trail that could include railbanking and continuing freight where it was operational on January 1, 2018.
151169
152170 SEC. 8. Section 93010 of the Government Code is amended to read:93010. (a) The authority is hereby created, having a service area comprised of the Counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity.(b) The County of Marin may elect to join the authority and, if that election is made, the authority is expanded to include that county.
153171
154172 SEC. 8. Section 93010 of the Government Code is amended to read:
155173
156174 ### SEC. 8.
157175
158176 93010. (a) The authority is hereby created, having a service area comprised of the Counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity.(b) The County of Marin may elect to join the authority and, if that election is made, the authority is expanded to include that county.
159177
160178 93010. (a) The authority is hereby created, having a service area comprised of the Counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity.(b) The County of Marin may elect to join the authority and, if that election is made, the authority is expanded to include that county.
161179
162180 93010. (a) The authority is hereby created, having a service area comprised of the Counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity.(b) The County of Marin may elect to join the authority and, if that election is made, the authority is expanded to include that county.
163181
164182
165183
166184 93010. (a) The authority is hereby created, having a service area comprised of the Counties of Humboldt, Mendocino, Sonoma, and Trinity.
167185
168186 (b) The County of Marin may elect to join the authority and, if that election is made, the authority is expanded to include that county.
169187
170188 SEC. 9. Section 93020 of the Government Code is amended to read:93020. (a) The authority has all of the following powers:(1) To acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the furtherance of the purposes of this title, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. Any sale, easement, or lease entered into by the authority after August 1, 2018, shall be approved by the California Transportation Commission.(2) To operate railroads along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) To accept grants or loans from state or federal agencies.(4) To employ an executive officer, other staff, and consultants deemed appropriate for support of the activities of the authority, to further the purposes of this title.(b) The authority shall do all of the following:(1) In coordination with state agencies, immediately begin planning for the transfer of all of the authoritys assets and liabilities and for the dissolution of the authority.(2) Cooperate with its freight contractor to continue freight operations along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) Cooperate with, and provide information upon request to, the Transportation Agency, Natural Resources Agency, or other state or local agencies or contractors working at the direction of the Transportation Agency or Natural Resources Agency.(4) Cooperate fully with the assessment conducted pursuant to Section 13978.9.
171189
172190 SEC. 9. Section 93020 of the Government Code is amended to read:
173191
174192 ### SEC. 9.
175193
176194 93020. (a) The authority has all of the following powers:(1) To acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the furtherance of the purposes of this title, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. Any sale, easement, or lease entered into by the authority after August 1, 2018, shall be approved by the California Transportation Commission.(2) To operate railroads along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) To accept grants or loans from state or federal agencies.(4) To employ an executive officer, other staff, and consultants deemed appropriate for support of the activities of the authority, to further the purposes of this title.(b) The authority shall do all of the following:(1) In coordination with state agencies, immediately begin planning for the transfer of all of the authoritys assets and liabilities and for the dissolution of the authority.(2) Cooperate with its freight contractor to continue freight operations along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) Cooperate with, and provide information upon request to, the Transportation Agency, Natural Resources Agency, or other state or local agencies or contractors working at the direction of the Transportation Agency or Natural Resources Agency.(4) Cooperate fully with the assessment conducted pursuant to Section 13978.9.
177195
178196 93020. (a) The authority has all of the following powers:(1) To acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the furtherance of the purposes of this title, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. Any sale, easement, or lease entered into by the authority after August 1, 2018, shall be approved by the California Transportation Commission.(2) To operate railroads along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) To accept grants or loans from state or federal agencies.(4) To employ an executive officer, other staff, and consultants deemed appropriate for support of the activities of the authority, to further the purposes of this title.(b) The authority shall do all of the following:(1) In coordination with state agencies, immediately begin planning for the transfer of all of the authoritys assets and liabilities and for the dissolution of the authority.(2) Cooperate with its freight contractor to continue freight operations along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) Cooperate with, and provide information upon request to, the Transportation Agency, Natural Resources Agency, or other state or local agencies or contractors working at the direction of the Transportation Agency or Natural Resources Agency.(4) Cooperate fully with the assessment conducted pursuant to Section 13978.9.
179197
180198 93020. (a) The authority has all of the following powers:(1) To acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the furtherance of the purposes of this title, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. Any sale, easement, or lease entered into by the authority after August 1, 2018, shall be approved by the California Transportation Commission.(2) To operate railroads along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) To accept grants or loans from state or federal agencies.(4) To employ an executive officer, other staff, and consultants deemed appropriate for support of the activities of the authority, to further the purposes of this title.(b) The authority shall do all of the following:(1) In coordination with state agencies, immediately begin planning for the transfer of all of the authoritys assets and liabilities and for the dissolution of the authority.(2) Cooperate with its freight contractor to continue freight operations along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.(3) Cooperate with, and provide information upon request to, the Transportation Agency, Natural Resources Agency, or other state or local agencies or contractors working at the direction of the Transportation Agency or Natural Resources Agency.(4) Cooperate fully with the assessment conducted pursuant to Section 13978.9.
181199
182200
183201
184202 93020. (a) The authority has all of the following powers:
185203
186204 (1) To acquire, own, operate, and lease real and personal property reasonably related to the furtherance of the purposes of this title, the planned transfer of all of its assets, and its dissolution. Any sale, easement, or lease entered into by the authority after August 1, 2018, shall be approved by the California Transportation Commission.
187205
188206 (2) To operate railroads along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.
189207
190208 (3) To accept grants or loans from state or federal agencies.
191209
192210 (4) To employ an executive officer, other staff, and consultants deemed appropriate for support of the activities of the authority, to further the purposes of this title.
193211
194212 (b) The authority shall do all of the following:
195213
196214 (1) In coordination with state agencies, immediately begin planning for the transfer of all of the authoritys assets and liabilities and for the dissolution of the authority.
197215
198216 (2) Cooperate with its freight contractor to continue freight operations along the rights-of-way where they were in operation on January 1, 2018.
199217
200218 (3) Cooperate with, and provide information upon request to, the Transportation Agency, Natural Resources Agency, or other state or local agencies or contractors working at the direction of the Transportation Agency or Natural Resources Agency.
201219
202220 (4) Cooperate fully with the assessment conducted pursuant to Section 13978.9.
203221
204222 SEC. 10. Section 93021 of the Government Code is amended to read:93021. The authority may acquire, own, lease, and operate railroad lines and equipment, including, but not limited to, real and personal property, tracks, rights-of-way, equipment, and facilities, to further the purposes of this title.
205223
206224 SEC. 10. Section 93021 of the Government Code is amended to read:
207225
208226 ### SEC. 10.
209227
210228 93021. The authority may acquire, own, lease, and operate railroad lines and equipment, including, but not limited to, real and personal property, tracks, rights-of-way, equipment, and facilities, to further the purposes of this title.
211229
212230 93021. The authority may acquire, own, lease, and operate railroad lines and equipment, including, but not limited to, real and personal property, tracks, rights-of-way, equipment, and facilities, to further the purposes of this title.
213231
214232 93021. The authority may acquire, own, lease, and operate railroad lines and equipment, including, but not limited to, real and personal property, tracks, rights-of-way, equipment, and facilities, to further the purposes of this title.
215233
216234
217235
218236 93021. The authority may acquire, own, lease, and operate railroad lines and equipment, including, but not limited to, real and personal property, tracks, rights-of-way, equipment, and facilities, to further the purposes of this title.
219237
220238 SEC. 11. Section 93022 of the Government Code is repealed.
221239
222240 SEC. 11. Section 93022 of the Government Code is repealed.
223241
224242 ### SEC. 11.
225243
226244
227245
228246 SEC. 12. Section 93022 is added to the Government Code, to read:93022. The authority shall cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Section 13978.9, and shall provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies, pursuant to Section 13978.9.
229247
230248 SEC. 12. Section 93022 is added to the Government Code, to read:
231249
232250 ### SEC. 12.
233251
234252 93022. The authority shall cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Section 13978.9, and shall provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies, pursuant to Section 13978.9.
235253
236254 93022. The authority shall cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Section 13978.9, and shall provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies, pursuant to Section 13978.9.
237255
238256 93022. The authority shall cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Section 13978.9, and shall provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies, pursuant to Section 13978.9.
239257
240258
241259
242260 93022. The authority shall cooperate with the assessment conducted by the Transportation Agency and Natural Resources Agency pursuant to Section 13978.9, and shall provide access to all authority records, files, documents, accounts, reports, correspondence, and financial affairs to the agencies, and any entity conducting the assessment for the agencies, pursuant to Section 13978.9.
243261
244262 SEC. 13. Section 93023 of the Government Code is repealed.
245263
246264 SEC. 13. Section 93023 of the Government Code is repealed.
247265
248266 ### SEC. 13.
249267
250268
251269
252270 SEC. 14. Section 93024 of the Government Code is repealed.
253271
254272 SEC. 14. Section 93024 of the Government Code is repealed.
255273
256274 ### SEC. 14.
257275
258276
259277
260278 SEC. 15. Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:105095. The district may provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail and provision of freight service by rail.
261279
262280 SEC. 15. Section 105095 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:
263281
264282 ### SEC. 15.
265283
266284 105095. The district may provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail and provision of freight service by rail.
267285
268286 105095. The district may provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail and provision of freight service by rail.
269287
270288 105095. The district may provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail and provision of freight service by rail.
271289
272290
273291
274292 105095. The district may provide a rail transit system for the transportation of passengers and their incidental baggage by rail and provision of freight service by rail.
275293
276294 SEC. 16. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
277295
278296 SEC. 16. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
279297
280298 SEC. 16. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.
281299
282300 ### SEC. 16.
283301
284302 SEC. 17. The sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the State Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and the North Coast Railroad Authority. These moneys shall be allocated to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service. Following a signed baseline agreement between the State Transportation Agency and the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District that articulates deliverables, the anticipated expenditure schedule, and reporting requirements, the Secretary of Transportation may transfer these moneys to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District pursuant to the provisions of the baseline agreement. These moneys shall not be transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company unless the terms and conditions of the baseline agreement have been approved by both the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of Finance. If these moneys are not transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District within two years of the chaptering of this act, these moneys shall be returned to the Public Transportation Account.
285303
286304 SEC. 17. The sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the State Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and the North Coast Railroad Authority. These moneys shall be allocated to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service. Following a signed baseline agreement between the State Transportation Agency and the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District that articulates deliverables, the anticipated expenditure schedule, and reporting requirements, the Secretary of Transportation may transfer these moneys to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District pursuant to the provisions of the baseline agreement. These moneys shall not be transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company unless the terms and conditions of the baseline agreement have been approved by both the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of Finance. If these moneys are not transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District within two years of the chaptering of this act, these moneys shall be returned to the Public Transportation Account.
287305
288306 SEC. 17. The sum of four million dollars ($4,000,000) is hereby appropriated to the State Transportation Agency from the Public Transportation Account for rail improvements on the corridor owned by the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District and the North Coast Railroad Authority. These moneys shall be allocated to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company to ensure efficient provision of goods movement requirements in the corridor in the context of growing passenger service. Following a signed baseline agreement between the State Transportation Agency and the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District that articulates deliverables, the anticipated expenditure schedule, and reporting requirements, the Secretary of Transportation may transfer these moneys to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District pursuant to the provisions of the baseline agreement. These moneys shall not be transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District for the acquisition of freight rights and equipment from the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company unless the terms and conditions of the baseline agreement have been approved by both the Secretary of Transportation and the Director of Finance. If these moneys are not transferred to the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit District within two years of the chaptering of this act, these moneys shall be returned to the Public Transportation Account.
289307
290308 ### SEC. 17.