Recommendations made by the California Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO) in a March report on the High-Speed Rail Authority’s $64 billion business plan could be implemented by the Legislature if the Governor ultimately signs a bill approved unanimously on Tuesday in the Assembly Transportation Committee.

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AB 2847, authored by Valley Republican Jim Patterson, seeks to implement two LAO recommendations that would strengthen the public and Legislature’s oversight on the High-Speed Rail Authority.

Patterson’s bill would require the Rail Authority to provide more detailed information about the cost, scope and schedule of each project segment to make it easier to track changes in the project. It would also require business plans to include financing costs associated with the planned system and construction of the various segments.

“The Rail Authority is tasked with the largest infrastructure project in modern times and is on track to spend billions upon billions of public resources,” Patterson said. “Time and again we have demanded more scrutiny and oversight and I think the fact that this bill was approved on consent in the Transportation Committee means we are closer than ever to getting it.”

AB 2847 now will move to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further discussion.