Cal. Gov. Code § 14070.6

The department and any entity that assumes administrative responsibility for passenger rail services through an interagency transfer agreement, may, through a competitive solicitation process, contract with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) or with organizations not precluded by state or federal law to provide passenger rail services, and may contract with rail corporations and other rail operators for the use of tracks and other facilities and for the provision of passenger services on terms and conditions as the parties may agree. The department is deemed to be a third-party beneficiary of the contract, and the contract shall not contain any provision or condition that would negatively impact on or conflict with any other contracts the department has regarding intercity rail services. Any entity that succeeds the department as sponsor of state-supported passenger rail services through an interagency transfer agreement, is deemed an agency of the state for all purposes related to passenger rail services, including Section 1614 of Title 49 of the United States Code.