,,ii  #aadth ,,congress  #ast ,session  
,s4 #bbeh  ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of     
,,the ,,united ,,states  ,november #i1  
#bjae ,mr4 ,hatch introduced the        
following bill2 which was read twice and
 referred to the ,committee on          
,environment and ,public ,works  ,a     
,,bill  ,to amend title #bc1 ,united    
,states ,code1 to reform the surface    
transportation project delivery program4
  #a4 ,short title  ,this ,act may be   
cited as the ,surface ,transportation   
,project ,delivery ,program ,improvement
 ,act4  #b4 ,surface transportation     
project delivery program improvement    
7a7 ,written agreement ,section #cbg7;c7
 of title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is
 amended-- 7#a7 in paragraph 7#c77;,a71 
by inserting 1 and is solely responsible
 and liable for carrying out those      
responsibilities after subsection 7a72  
and  7#b7 in paragraph 7#d71 by         
inserting reasonably before considers   
necessary4  7b7 ,effect of assumption of
 responsibility ,section #cbg7;e7 of    

title #bc1 ,united ,states ,code1 is    
amended--  7#a7 by inserting and without
 further approval of after in lieu of2  
and  7#b7 by inserting 7including the   
defense of any civil action under       
subsection 7d77 after assumed under     
subsection 7a77#b74  7c7 ,audits        
,section #cbg7;g7 of title #bc1 ,united 
,states ,code1 is amended-- 7#a7 in     
paragraph 7#a71 by striking shall       
conduct and all that follows through the
 end of subparagraph 7,b7 and inserting 
the following3 8shall--  7,a7 not later 
than #ahj days after the date of        
execution of an assignment agreement    
under this section1 meet with the ,state
 to review implementation of the        
assignment agreement and discuss plans  
for the first annual audit2  7,b7       
conduct annual audits during each of the
 first #d years of ,state participation2
 and  7,c7 ensure that the time period  
for completing an annual audit1 from    
initiation to completion 7including     
public comment and responses to those   

comments71 does not exceed #ahj days4  2
 and  7#b7 by adding at the end the     
following3  7#c7 ,audit team  7,a7 ,in  
general ,an audit conducted under       
paragraph 7#a7 shall be carried out by  
an audit team determined by the         
,secretary1 in consultation with the    
,state1 in accordance with subparagraph 
7,b74  7,b7 ,consultation ,consultation 
with the ,state under subparagraph 7,a7 
shall include a reasonable opportunity  
for the ,state to review and provide    
comments on the proposed members of the 
audit team4  7,c7 ,state designation    
7i7 ,in general ,on request by the      
,state1 the audit team shall include not
 less than #a member designated by the  
,state1 in consultation with the        
,secretary4  7ii7 ,criteria ,a member   
designated by the ,state under clause   
7i7 may be any person with relevant     
expertise and experience who is not an  
employee of the ,secretary or of the    
,state4  4  7d7 ,capacity building      
,section #cbg of title #bc1 ,united     

,states ,code1 is amended by adding at  
the end the following3  7k7 ,capacity   
building ,the ,secretary1 in cooperation
 with the ,american ,association of     
,state ,highway and ,transportation     
,officials1 shall carry out education1  
training1 peer exchange1 and other      
initiatives1 as appropriate--  7#a7 to  
assist ,states in developing the        
capacity to participate in the          
assignment program under this section2  
and  7#b7 to promote information sharing
 and collaboration among ,states that   
are participating in the program4  4