08
SB417/AP
Senate
Bill 417
By:
Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Seay of the 34th, Williams of the 19th, Stoner of
the 6th and Pearson of the 51st
AS
PASSED
AN
ACT
To
amend Chapter 2 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating
to the Department of Transportation, so as to require the commissioner of
transportation to develop and publish benchmarks and issue reports on the
progress of construction projects; to require the commissioner to perform value
engineering studies; to provide for related matters; to provide an effective
date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.
BE
IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:
SECTION
1.
Chapter
2 of Title 32 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to the
Department of Transportation, is amended by adding a new Code section to read as
follows:
"32-2-41.1.
(a)
The commissioner shall develop and publish benchmarks, based upon the type and
scope of a construction project, that detail a realistic time frame for
completion of each stage of a construction project, including preliminary
engineering and design, environmental permitting and review, and right of way
acquisition.
(b)
The commissioner shall submit an annual report to the Governor, Lieutenant
Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairpersons of
the House and Senate Transportation Committees detailing the progress of every
construction project valued at $10 million or more against the benchmarks. This
report shall include an analysis explaining the discrepancies between the
benchmarks and actual performance on each project as well as an explanation for
delays. This report shall also be published on the website of the
department.
(c)
The department shall create and maintain on its website a detailed status report
on each project under planning or construction. This status report shall
include, but not be limited to, the name and contact information of the project
manager, if applicable.
(d)
Value engineering studies shall be performed on all projects whose costs exceed
$10 million, and the commissioner shall submit an annual report to the Governor,
Lieutenant Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
chairpersons of the House and Senate Transportation Committees detailing the
amount saved due to the value engineering studies. This report shall also be
published on the website of the department."
SECTION
2.
This
Act shall become effective on July 1, 2008.
SECTION
3.
All
laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.