93301. The Legislature finds and declares all of the following:
(a) It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this title, to provide an alternative for ensuring railroad service if the Surface Transportation Board authorizes the abandonment or discontinuance of service on, or in the event of bankruptcy or sale of, short-line railroads in the Counties of Kern, Kings, Tulare, Fresno, and Merced.
(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to provide a means to consider and, if justified, to pursue economic development opportunities and projects related to rail service along railroad lines in participating counties.
(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that enactment of this title not provide a justification for the Surface Transportation Board to grant a petition for abandonment or discontinuance of service on the affected short lines.
(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that the authority be expanded to include the Counties of Madera, Stanislaus, and San Joaquin if those counties request to be included at a future date.
(Added by Stats. 2011, Ch. 234, Sec. 1. (SB 325) Effective January 1, 2012.)