(a) If authorized by the secretary, the department may, through an interagency transfer agreement, transfer to a joint powers board, and the board may assume, all responsibility for administering intercity passenger rail service in the corridor, including associated feeder bus service. Upon the date specified in the agreement, the board shall succeed to the department’s powers and duties relative to that service, except that the department shall retain responsibility for developing budget requests for the service, consistent with the annual business plan as approved by the secretary for the service, through the state budget process, which shall be developed in consultation with the board, and for coordinating service in the corridor with other intercity passenger rail services in the state.

(b) An interagency transfer agreement may be executed on or after June 30, 2014, but not later than June 30, 2015, subject to negotiation and approval by the state and the board. The interagency transfer agreement between the department and the board shall cover the initial three-year period after the transfer, but may be extended thereafter by mutual agreement. If an interagency agreement is not entered into on or before June 30, 2015, the secretary shall provide a report to the Governor and the Legislature on or before June 30, 2016, explaining why an acceptable agreement has not been developed, with specific recommendations for developing an acceptable interagency agreement.

(c) The secretary shall require the board to demonstrate the ability to meet the performance standards established by the secretary pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 14031.8.

(Amended by Stats. 2012, Ch. 802, Sec. 4. (SB 1225) Effective January 1, 2013.)