AB 24

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Existing law designates the Metropolitan Transportation Commission as the regional transportation planning agency for the San Francisco Bay area, with various powers and duties with respect to transportation planning and programming, as specified, in the 9-county San Francisco Bay area region. Existing law creates the Bay Area Toll Authority, governed by the same board as the commission, but created as a separate entity, with specified powers and duties relative to the administration of certain toll revenues from state-owned toll bridges within the geographic jurisdiction of the commission. Under existing law, the commission is comprised of 21 appointed members, as specified. This bill, effective January 1, 2017, would redesignate the Metropolitan Transportation Commission as the Bay Area Transportation Commission. The bill would require commissioners to be elected by districts comprised of approximately 750,000 residents. The bill would require each district to elect one commissioner, except that a district with a toll bridge, as defined, within the boundaries of the district would elect 2 commissioners. The bill would require commissioner elections to occur in 2016, with new commissioners to take office on January 1, 2017. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature for district boundaries to be drawn by a citizens' redistricting commission and campaigns for commissioners to be publicly financed. This bill, effective January 1, 2017, would delete the Bay Area Toll Authority's status as a separate entity from the Metropolitan Transportation Commission and merge the authority into the Bay Area Transportation Commission. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions.