Bill Text: CA AB1958 | 2023-2024 | Regular Session | Amended

California Assembly Bill 1958

CA State Legislature page for AB1958

Bill Title: Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority: board of directors.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-06-25 - In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author. [AB1958 Detail]

Download: California-2023-AB1958-Amended.html

Amended IN Senate June 17, 2024

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2023–2024 REGULAR SESSION

Assembly Bill

No. 1958

Introduced by Assembly Member Berman

January 29, 2024

An act to amend ~~Section~~ Sections 100060 and 100060.2 of the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AB 1958, as amended, Berman. Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority: board of directors.

Existing law creates the Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) with various powers and duties relative to transportation projects and services and the operation of public transit in the County of Santa Clara. Existing law vests the government of the VTA in a 12-member board of directors, appointed by the County of Santa Clara and the cities within the county, as specified. Existing law requires, to the extent possible, the county and cities to appoint individuals to the board of directors who have expertise, experience, or knowledge relative to transportation issues. Existing law establishes a term length of 2 years for a member of the board of directors.

This bill would require, to the extent possible, the county and cities to appoint individuals to the board of directors who have expertise, experience, or knowledge relative to transit or transportation ~~or project management~~ issues. The bill would require, to the extent consistent with applicable privacy protections, the county and cities to make public the reasons for an appointment, as specified. The bill instead would establish a term length of 4 years for a member of the board of directors.

By requiring the county and cities to make public the reasons for an appointment, this bill would create 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: NOYES Local Program: NOYES

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

SECTION 1.

Section 100060 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

100060.

(a) The government of the VTA shall be vested in a board of directors which shall consist of 12 members, as follows:

(1) Two representatives of the county and one alternate who shall be members of the board of supervisors of the county, appointed by the board of supervisors.

(2) Five representatives of the City of San Jose and one alternate who shall be city council members or the mayor of the City of San Jose, appointed by the city council.

(3) Five city council members or mayors selected from among the city councils and mayors of all of the cities in the county, other than the City of San Jose, as provided by agreements among those cities. The agreements may provide for the appointment of alternates, who shall be city council members or mayors, for those city representatives.

(b) An alternate may vote in the place of a director represented by that alternate if the director is absent.

(c) (1) To the extent possible, ~~the appointing powers~~ an appointing power shall appoint individuals who have expertise, experience, or knowledge relative to transit or transportation ~~or project management~~ issues.

(2) To the extent consistent with applicable privacy protections, an appointing power shall make public the reasons for an appointment, including, but not limited to, a description of the appointee’s relevant expertise, experience, and knowledge related to transit and transportation issues.

SEC. 2.

Section 100060.2 of the Public Utilities Code is amended to read:

100060.2.

Except as otherwise provided, the term of office for each director shall be ~~two~~ four years and until the appointment and qualification of ~~his or her~~ the director’s successor. A successor shall be appointed not later than 30 days immediately upon the expiration of a director’s term. A vacancy exists whenever a director ceases to hold office on the city council or board of supervisors from which ~~he or she~~ the director was appointed. Any vacancy shall, within 60 days of its occurrence, be filled for the balance of the term by the body that made the original appointment.

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.