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(d) Notwithstanding Section 13887, in order to achieve independence and objectivity pursuant to this section, the Independent Office of Audits and Investigation shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) The Inspector General shall report all audit and confidential investigation findings and recommendations made under his or her jurisdiction to the Secretary of Transportation and the director and chief deputy director of the department on an ongoing and current basis.
(2) The Inspector General shall report at least annually, or upon request, to the Governor, the Legislature, and the California Transportation Commission with a summary of his or her investigation and audit findings and recommendations. The summary shall be posted on the office’s Internet Web site and shall otherwise be made available to the public upon its release to the Governor, commission, and Legislature. The summary shall include, but need not be limited to, significant problems discovered by the Inspector General and whether the Inspector General’s recommendations relative to audits and investigations have been implemented by the affected units and programs of the department or affected external entities. The report shall be submitted to the Legislature in compliance with Section 9795. 14461. The Inspector General shall review policies, practices, and procedures and conduct audits and investigations of activities involving state transportation funds administered by the department in consultation with all affected units and programs of the department and external entities.
SEC. 6. Section 14526.5 of the Government Code is amended to read:
14526.5. (a) Based on the asset management plan prepared and approved pursuant to Section 14526.4, the department shall prepare a state highway operation and protection program for the expenditure of transportation funds for major capital improvements that are necessary to preserve and protect the state highway system. Projects included in the program shall be limited to improvements relative to the maintenance, safety, operation, and rehabilitation of state highways and bridges that do not add a new traffic lane to the system.
(b) The program shall include projects that are expected to be advertised prior to July 1 of the year following submission of the program, but which have not yet been funded. The program shall include those projects for which construction is to begin within four fiscal years, starting July 1 of the year following the year the program is submitted.
(c) (1) The department, at a minimum, shall specify, for each project in the state highway operation and protection program, the capital and support budget, as applicable, for each of the following project phases:
(A) Project approval and environmental documents, support only.
(B) Plans, specifications, and estimates, support only.
(C) Rights-of-way.
(D) Construction.
(2) The department shall specify, for each project in the state highway operation and protection program, a projected delivery date for each of the following components:
(A) Project approval and environmental document completion.
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