AB 1608: Office of the Inspector General, High-Speed Rail.

The bill aims to improve oversight of the high-speed rail project in California. The Office of the Inspector General will be renamed to better reflect its role and responsibilities. The inspector general will have the authority to contract for goods and services and adopt compensation systems similar to those used by other state agencies. The inspector general will be required to publish reports on the internet website, notify the governor and the high-speed rail authority, and submit copies to the legislature. Confidential reports may be held back from public disclosure if they reveal weaknesses that could pose a risk to the project or state operations. The bill also requires the inspector general to preserve records for three years and allows for confidential information to be shared without waiving confidentiality. Additionally, the bill requires the inspector general to report annua…