(a) The department shall perform construction inspection services for projects on or interfacing with the state highway system authorized pursuant to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 6820) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. The department shall use department employees or consultants under contract with the department to perform the services described in this subdivision and subdivision (b), consistent with Article XXII of the California Constitution. Construction inspection services performed by the department for those projects include, but are not limited to, material source testing, certification testing, surveying, monitoring of environmental compliance, independent quality control testing and inspection, and quality assurance audits. The construction inspection duties and responsibilities of the department shall include a direct reporting relationship between the inspectors and senior department engineers responsible for all inspectors and construction inspection services. The senior department engineer responsible for construction inspection services shall be responsible for the acceptance or rejection of the work.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law, the department shall retain the authority to stop the contractor’s operation wholly or in part and take appropriate action when public safety is jeopardized on a project on or interfacing with the state highway system authorized pursuant to Chapter 6.5 (commencing with Section 6820) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Public Contract Code. The department shall ensure that public safety and convenience is maintained whenever work is performed under an encroachment permit within the state highway right-of-way, including, but not limited to, work performed that includes lane closures, signing, work performed at night, detours, dust control, temporary pavement quality, crash cushions, temporary railings, pavement transitions, falsework, shoring, and delineation. The department shall regularly inspect the job sites for safety compliance and any possible deficiencies. If any deficiency is observed, a written notice shall be sent by the department to the regional transportation agency’s designated resident engineer to correct the deficiency. Once the deficiency is corrected, a written notice describing the resolution of the deficiency shall be sent to the department and documented.

(c) The department shall use department employees or consultants under contract with the department to perform the services described in subdivisions (a) and (b), consistent with Article XXII of the California Constitution. Department employee and consultant resources necessary for the performance of those services, including personnel requirements, shall be included in the department’s capital outlay support program for workload purposes in the annual Budget Act.

(d) “Construction inspection services” shall not include surveying work performed as part of a design-build contract.

(e) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2034, and as of that date is repealed.

(f) If any provision or application of this section is held invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the department shall post on its internet website within 10 business days of the decision of invalidity that this section has been held invalid.

(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 212, Sec. 3. (AB 1499) Effective January 1, 2022. Repealed as of January 1, 2034, by its own provisions.)