09/26/2008 GAAS:667:08 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Print Version |
Gov. Schwarzenegger Signs Legislation Continuing Investment in California’s Infrastructure, Economy
Furthering his commitment to invest in California's outdated infrastructure and stimulate the economy, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger announced today that he signed SB 1407, authored by Senate President pro Tem Don Perata (D-Oakland), that will provide $5 billion in lease-revenue bonds to finance new construction and renovation projects of court facilities throughout the state.
It is estimated by the Judicial Council that the bond money approved in this bill will generate tens of thousands of jobs statewide and billions of dollars in construction-related goods and services.
"Building California's infrastructure is one of my highest priorities," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "Improving our state's aging court facilities has been an integral part of my promise to Californians to rebuild our infrastructure and increase public safety. This bill not only delivers on that promise to finance desperately needed construction projects, but it will also help create thousands of jobs for California workers."
The state's court system, made up of 451 trial court facilities, eight appellate court facilities and one Supreme Court facility, is in critical need of new construction, renovation and repair. A significant number of these facilities do not meet current guidelines for efficient and safe court environments and, overall, the facilities are overcrowded with no capacity to handle growth in judicial workload. Because of the lack of courtroom space, 23 court facilities are in trailers, one quarter of courtrooms have no room for a jury, 41 percent have no way to bring in-custody defendants into courtrooms without using public hallways and 78 percent do not have adequate access for people with disabilities.
The Administrative Office of the Courts estimates that $9.6 billion is needed to bring California's court facilities up to safe and secure standards and to accommodate growth. SB 1407 is a responsible step forward in tackling the most needed projects and improving the safety and efficiency of our courts. It provides the capital to design, construct and rehabilitate our state's crumbling judicial facilities. The bonds issued under the legislation are supported by court users and do not impact the state's General Fund.
Governor Schwarzenegger has been committed to improving California's deteriorating infrastructure to accommodate our state's growing population - which is expected to almost double by 2050. In November 2006, California voters approved $42 billion in infrastructure bonds, championed by the Governor, to rebuild California's roads, schools, parks, levees and housing.
The Department of Finance estimates California's infrastructure gap will cost $500 billion over the next two decades. Working for solutions to address this gap, Governor Schwarzenegger has called for a dramatic boost in federal, private and state infrastructure investment. The Governor joined with Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg earlier this year to form a new bipartisan, multi-state coalition called, "Building America's Future," to rally support for federal infrastructure investment and put pressure on presidential candidates to increase federal support of infrastructure. He also welcomed 13 more governors from across the nation to the "Building America's Future" coalition as part of his trip to Washington, D.C. in February and called on the federal government to increase infrastructure investment.
