Opinion No. (2009)

EDMUND G. BROWN JR. Attorney General TAYLOR S. CAREY Deputy Attorney General THE HONORABLE QUENTIN L. KOPP, CHAIRMAN, CALIFORNIA HIGHSPEED RAIL AUTHORITY, has requested an opinion on the following question: Is the California High-Speed Rail Authority authorized to exercise the powers set forth in Public Utilities Code section 185036 ? CONCLUSION The California High-Speed Rail Authority is authorized to exercise the powers set forth in Public Utilities Code section 185036 . It received partial authority to exercise those powers through legislation, and full authority on November 4, 2008, through the passage of the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the 21st Century. *Page 2 ANALYSIS The California High-Speed Rail Authority (HSRA) was created by the California High-Speed Rail Act of 1996 for the purpose of developing a plan for the financing, construction, and operation of a statewide, intercity high-speed passenger rail system. 1 The HSRA was required to submit its business plan to the Legislature and the Governor for consideration and approval. 2 In June 2000, the HSRA adopted its final business plan, following which the Legislature appropriated funds to the…