Bill Text: GA SB283 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced

Georgia Senate Bill 283 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Public Transit, Georgia Dept. of; create; provide for board and commissioner; duties

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-04-12 - Senate Read and Referred [SB283 Detail]

Download: Georgia-2011-SB283-Introduced.html

11 LC 34 3907

Senate Bill 283

By: Senators Mullis of the 53rd, Gooch of the 51st, Stoner of the 6th, Miller of the 49th and Seay of the 34th

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT

To amend Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, so as to create the Georgia Department of Public Transit; to provide for a board and a commissioner of public transit; to provide for duties of the department; to provide for maximum use of available resources to enhance public transit in this state; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Title 50 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to state government, is amended by adding a new chapter to read as follows:

"CHAPTER 38

50-38-1.

The State of Georgia, particularly the metropolitan Atlanta region, faces a number of critical issues relating to its transportation system and ever-increasing traffic congestion. In light of the dwindling resources available to help solve these problems, it is imperative that all available current resources be used to maximum efficiency in order to alleviate the gridlock in and around the metropolitan Atlanta region and other areas of the state. There exists a need for a single state-wide agency to consolidate our current public transit system and provide leadership to regional public transit systems in Georgia.

50-38-2.

(a) There is hereby created the Georgia Department of Public Transit which shall be governed by the Board of Public Transit consisting of:

(1) The commissioner of transportation;

(2) The planning director of the Department of Transportation;

(3) The executive director of the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority;

(4) The general manager of the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority;

(5) The chairperson of the Atlanta Regional Commission;

(6) The director of the State Properties Commission;

(7) Appointees as follows, each of whom shall serve no more than three two-year terms and shall be selected and qualified by July 1 of each odd-numbered year, except as indicated otherwise:

(A) An appointee of the mayor of the most populous city in the state;

(B) An appointee of the chairperson of the county commission with the most population living in unincorporated areas;

(D) An appointee of the counties in the state, as selected by a majority vote of the county commission chairpersons;

(E) An appointee of the chairperson of the Senate Transportation Committee;

(F) An appointee of the chairperson of the House Committee on Transportation; and

(G) The chairperson of the board, to be appointed by the Governor, who shall be selected and qualified within 60 days of the Governor taking the oath of office, and who shall serve no more than two four-year terms.

(b) The Governor shall appoint a commissioner of public transit who shall oversee the activities of the department under the direction of the board. The commissioner shall hire and direct the necessary staff to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the department, including a director of public transit.

50-38-3.

(a) The primary duty of the department shall be to develop and implement a business plan for combining all regional public transit entities in this state into a streamlined and integrated state-wide public transit system. This business plan shall include a viable plan for financing such a system using all available federal, state, and local funds, including a portion of the existing motor fuel tax, if feasible. The department shall be the sole recipient of all state funds and federal funds directed to Georgia for public transit system purposes.

(b) The plan developed under subsection (a) of this Code section shall incorporate all types of public transit, including, but not limited to, light and heavy rail and buses. The final plan shall be constrained to what is demonstrated to be economically feasible and financially sustainable at the time of implementation. The commissioner of public transit shall direct the preparation and support the introduction of any necessary legislative component to allow for implementation of the plan."

SECTION 2.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2012.

SECTION 3.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.