The High-speed Rail Authority - - CA Public Utilities

Section § 185020

The High-Speed Rail Authority is part of the Transportation Agency in California and consists of 11 members. Five are appointed by the Governor, two by the Senate Committee on Rules, and two by the Speaker of the Assembly. Additionally, one member each from the Senate and Assembly serve as non-voting (ex officio) members. The selection of members should ensure geographic diversity across the state.

Members typically serve four-year terms, but the initial appointments after January 1, 2001, were staggered to ensure terms are evenly distributed over time. Any vacant position is filled by the original appointing authority. All members must comply with the Political Reform Act of 1974.

The authority will elect a chairperson and a vice chairperson from its voting members for one-year terms to lead meetings. A quorum for any action requires at least five voting members present.

(a) There is in the Transportation Agency a High-Speed Rail Authority.

(b)

(1) The authority is composed of 11 members as follows:

(A) Five members appointed by the Governor.

(B) Two members appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules.

(D) One Member of the Senate appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules and one Member of the Assembly appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly shall be ex officio members without vote and shall participate in the activities of the authority to the extent that participation is not incompatible with their positions as Members of the Legislature.

(2) For the purposes of making appointments to the authority pursuant to subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C) of paragraph (1), the Governor, the Senate Committee on Rules, and the Speaker of the Assembly shall take into consideration geographical diversity to ensure that all regions of the state are adequately represented.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), and until their successors are appointed, members of the authority, other than members appointed pursuant to subparagraphs (C) and (D) of paragraph (1) of subdivision (b), shall hold office for terms of four years. A vacancy shall be filled by the appointing power making the original appointment, by appointing a member to serve the remainder of the term or, in the case of a member appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, at the pleasure of the Speaker of the Assembly.

(d)

(1) In order to provide for evenly staggered terms, persons appointed or reappointed to the authority by the Governor and the Senate Committee on Rules after January 1, 2001, shall be appointed to initial terms to expire as follows:

(A) Of the five persons appointed by the Governor, one shall be appointed to a term that expires on December 31, 2002, one shall be appointed to a term that expires on December 31, 2003, one shall be appointed to a term that expires on December 31, 2004, and two shall be appointed to terms that expire on December 31, 2005.

(B) Of the two persons appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules, one shall be appointed to a term that expires on December 31, 2002, and one shall be appointed to a term that expires on December 31, 2004.

(2) Following expiration of each of the initial terms provided for in this subdivision, the term shall expire every four years thereafter on December 31.

(e) Members of the authority are subject to the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Title 9 (commencing with Section 81000) of the Government Code).

(f) From among its voting members, the authority shall elect a chairperson, who shall preside at all meetings of the authority, and a vice chairperson to preside in the absence of the chairperson. The chairperson shall serve a term of one year.

(g) Five voting members of the authority constitute a quorum for taking any action by the authority.

High-Speed Rail Authority Transportation Agency Governor appointments Senate Committee on Rules Speaker of the Assembly geographical diversity four-year terms ex officio members Political Reform Act quorum chairperson vice chairperson term staggering California Legislature voting members

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 43, Sec. 5. (AB 1831) Effective June 27, 2018.)

Section § 185022

This law states that each voting member of the authority is paid $100 for each day they work on the authority's business, with a cap of $500 per month. Additionally, these members are reimbursed for any travel expenses they incur while doing this work.

(a) Each voting member of the authority shall receive compensation of one hundred dollars ($100) for each day that the member is attending to the business of the authority, but shall not receive more than five hundred dollars ($500) in any calendar month.

(b) Voting members of the authority shall be reimbursed for their actual travel expenses incurred in attending to the business of the authority.

voting member compensation authority business expenses daily compensation limit monthly payment cap reimbursement travel expenses member travel costs public authority members compensation structure authority financial policy expense reimbursement guidelines

(Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 117, Sec. 2. (AB 1813) Effective January 1, 2017.)

Section § 185024

This law allows the authority overseeing the high-speed train project to appoint an executive director and additional staff members who are exempt from civil service. These include a chief program manager, up to three regional directors, a chief financial officer, and a director of risk management and project controls. The executive director serves at the pleasure of the authority, and other key positions are appointed by the Governor upon the executive director's recommendation.

The authority is responsible for setting the compensation for these roles, which must be reasonable and necessary to attract skilled individuals. A salary survey conducted by independent advisors will help determine fair compensation, comparing it to similar positions in other transportation agencies and labor pools. Salaries must not exceed the highest comparable rates. Finally, the executive director can appoint additional staff as necessary.

(a) The authority shall appoint an executive director, exempt from civil service, who shall serve at the pleasure of the authority, to administer the affairs of the authority as directed by the authority.

(b) For purposes of managing and administering the ongoing work of the authority in implementing the high-speed train project, the Governor, upon the recommendation of the executive director, may appoint up to six additional individuals, exempt from civil service, who shall serve at the pleasure of the executive director. Pursuant to this subdivision, the Governor may appoint persons only for the following positions:

(1) Chief program manager.

(2) Up to three regional directors.

(3) Chief financial officer.

(4) Director of risk management and project controls.

(c) The compensation of the executive director and the additional persons authorized by subdivision (b) shall be established by the authority, and approved by the Department of Human Resources, in an amount that is reasonably necessary, in the discretion of the authority, to attract and hold a person of superior qualifications. The authority shall cause to be conducted, through the use of independent outside advisers, a salary survey to determine the compensation for the positions under this subdivision. The Department of Human Resources may, in its discretion, accept a previously completed salary survey that meets the requirements of this subdivision, and shall review the methodology used in the survey. The salary survey shall consider both of the following:

(1) Other state, regional, and local transportation agencies that are most comparable to the authority and its responsibilities.

(2) Other relevant labor pools.

The compensation set by the authority shall not exceed the highest comparable compensation for a position of that type, as determined by the salary survey. Based on the salary survey, these positions shall be paid a salary established by the authority and approved by the Department of Human Resources.

(d) The executive director may, as authorized by the authority, appoint necessary staff to carry out the provisions of this part.

high-speed train project executive director exempt from civil service Governor appointments chief program manager regional directors chief financial officer director of risk management salary survey compensation approval Department of Human Resources independent salary survey transportation agencies labor pools staff appointments

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 665, Sec. 188. (SB 1308) Effective January 1, 2013.)