Bill Text: CA AB1070 | 2025-2026 | Regular Session | Introduced

California Assembly Bill 1070

Introduced

Bill Title: Transit districts: governing boards: compensation: nonvoting members.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2025-02-21 - From printer. May be heard in committee March 23. [AB1070 Detail]

Download: California-2025-AB1070-Introduced.html

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2025–2026 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1070

Introduced by Assembly Member Ward

February 20, 2025

An act to amend Section 99156 of, and to add Section 99156.5 to, the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1070, as introduced, Ward. Transit districts: governing boards: compensation: nonvoting members.

Existing law provides for the formation of various transit districts and specifies the duties and powers of their governing boards. Existing law authorizes a transit district to compensate a member of the governing board for attending a board meeting and for engaging in other district business, as provided.

This bill would prohibit a transit district from compensating a member of the governing board unless the member demonstrates personal use of the transit system, as specified. The bill would require the governing board of a transit district to include 2 nonvoting members and 4 alternate nonvoting members, as specified. The bill would authorize the chair of the governing board of a transit district to exclude these nonvoting members from meetings discussing negotiations with labor organizations. By expanding the duties of transit districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.

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 the statutory provisions noted above.

Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YES

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 99156 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

99156.

(a) Notwithstanding any other ~~provision of~~ law, a transit district may provide compensation to a member of the governing board of the district only for attendance at a meeting of the board or for each day the member is engaged in other district business within or without the district. A member who engages in district business other than attendance at board meetings shall first obtain authorization of the board for reimbursement of travel expenses or other compensation before engaging in that business and shall submit a report thereof to the board for all expenditures.

(b) A transit district shall not provide compensation to a member of the governing board of the district unless the member demonstrates, through evidence or attestation recorded by the clerk of the board, personal use of the transit system for at least one hour or for four trips during the month for which the member seeks compensation.

SEC. 2.

Section 99156.5 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:

99156.5.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a transit district shall include two nonvoting members and four alternate nonvoting members, as follows:

(1) The first nonvoting member shall be a user of mass transit services provided by the transit district and shall be recommended for appointment by a transit advisory council representing transit users. There shall be two nonvoting alternates to the first nonvoting member as follows:

(A) The first nonvoting alternate to the nonvoting member described in paragraph (1) shall be a user of mass transit services provided by the transit district and shall be recommended for appointment by a commuter council associated with a major transit service in the state.

(B) The second nonvoting alternate to the nonvoting member described in paragraph (1) shall be a user of mass transit services provided by the transit district and shall be recommended for appointment by a commuter council associated with a transit service, other than the transit service described in subparagraph (A), that is under the transit district’s jurisdiction.

(2) The second nonvoting member shall be recommended for appointment by the labor organization representing the majority of the employees of a major transit system in the state. There shall be two nonvoting alternates to the second nonvoting member as follows:

(A) The first nonvoting alternate to the nonvoting member described in paragraph (2) shall be recommended for appointment by the labor organization representing the majority of employees of a major transit system in the state.

(B) The second nonvoting alternate to the nonvoting member described in paragraph (2) shall be recommended for appointment by the labor organization representing the majority of employees of a major transit system in the state.

(C) The nonvoting members described in this paragraph shall be recommended for appointment by labor organizations representing employees of different transit systems.

(b) The chair of the governing board of a transit district may exclude the nonvoting members and alternate nonvoting members from any portion of a meeting of the governing board or a committee that discusses negotiations with labor organizations.

SEC. 3.

If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of the Government Code.