AB 1779 - Intercity Passenger Rail Act of 2012

• Authorizes the Department of Transportation to enter into interagency transfer agreements with joint powers boards to assume administrative responsibility for intercity rail corridors between June 30, 2014, and June 30, 2015, with initial 3-year terms and provisions for mutual extensions.

• Requires state funding for intercity rail service to remain at least equal to the level of service in place at the time of transfer agreement for the first three years, and prohibits termination of feeder bus services except for cost-effectiveness reasons.

• Creates the San Joaquin Joint Powers Authority with a governing board of not more than 11 members representing regional transportation agencies along the Los Angeles-Bakersfield-Fresno-Stockton-Sacramento-Oakland corridor, organized when at least 6 of 11 agencies appoint members by December 31, 2013.

• Requires contractors operating intercity rail services under transfer agreements to agree that labor relations shall be governed by the federal Railway Labor Act.

• Mandates local resources may only offset state funding reductions if dedicated by vote of the providing local agency with joint powers board concurrence; requires the Secretary of Business, Transportation and Housing to establish uniform performance standards by June 30, 2014.