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	<ns0:Description>
		<ns0:Id>20250AB__107098AMD</ns0:Id>
		<ns0:VersionNum>98</ns0:VersionNum>
		<ns0:History>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>INTRODUCED</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-02-20</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
			<ns0:Action>
				<ns0:ActionText>AMENDED_ASSEMBLY</ns0:ActionText>
				<ns0:ActionDate>2025-04-03</ns0:ActionDate>
			</ns0:Action>
		</ns0:History>
		<ns0:LegislativeInfo>
			<ns0:SessionYear>2025</ns0:SessionYear>
			<ns0:SessionNum>0</ns0:SessionNum>
			<ns0:MeasureType>AB</ns0:MeasureType>
			<ns0:MeasureNum>1070</ns0:MeasureNum>
			<ns0:MeasureState>AMD</ns0:MeasureState>
		</ns0:LegislativeInfo>
		<ns0:AuthorText authorType="LEAD_AUTHOR">Introduced by Assembly Member Ward</ns0:AuthorText>
		<ns0:Authors>
			<ns0:Legislator>
				<ns0:Contribution>LEAD_AUTHOR</ns0:Contribution>
				<ns0:House>ASSEMBLY</ns0:House>
				<ns0:Name>Ward</ns0:Name>
			</ns0:Legislator>
		</ns0:Authors>
		<ns0:Title> An act to amend Section 99156 of, and to add Section 99156.5 to, the Public Utilities Code, relating to transportation. </ns0:Title>
		<ns0:RelatingClause>transportation</ns0:RelatingClause>
		<ns0:GeneralSubject>
			<ns0:Subject>Transit districts: governing boards: compensation: nonvoting members.</ns0:Subject>
		</ns0:GeneralSubject>
		<ns0:DigestText>
			<html:p>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.</html:p>
			<html:p>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 require nonvoting members and alternate nonvoting members to have certain rights and protections, including the right to attend
			 and participate in all public meetings of the governing board, except as specified. The bill would require the chair of the governing board of a transit district to exclude these nonvoting members from meetings
			 discussing, among other things, negotiations with labor organizations. By expanding the duties of transit districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.</html:p>
			<html:p>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.</html:p>
			<html:p>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.</html:p>
		</ns0:DigestText>
		<ns0:DigestKey>
			<ns0:VoteRequired>MAJORITY</ns0:VoteRequired>
			<ns0:Appropriation>NO</ns0:Appropriation>
			<ns0:FiscalCommittee>YES</ns0:FiscalCommittee>
			<ns0:LocalProgram>YES</ns0:LocalProgram>
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			<ns0:ImmediateEffect>NO</ns0:ImmediateEffect>
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				<ns0:Urgency>NO</ns0:Urgency>
				<ns0:TaxLevy>NO</ns0:TaxLevy>
				<ns0:Election>NO</ns0:Election>
				<ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>NO</ns0:UsualCurrentExpenses>
				<ns0:BudgetBill>NO</ns0:BudgetBill>
				<ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>NO</ns0:Prop25TrailerBill>
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	</ns0:Description>
	<ns0:Bill id="bill">
		<ns0:Preamble>The people of the State of California do enact as follows:</ns0:Preamble>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_5D2E03E6-734B-434E-B045-159726619F1B">
			<ns0:Num>SECTION 1.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:ActionLine action="IS_AMENDED" ns3:href="urn:caml:codes:PUC:caml#xpointer(%2Fcaml%3ALawDoc%2Fcaml%3ACode%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'DIVISION'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'10.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'PART'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'11.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawHeading%5B%40type%3D'CHAPTER'%20and%20caml%3ANum%3D'3.'%5D%2Fcaml%3ALawSection%5Bcaml%3ANum%3D'99156.'%5D)" ns3:label="fractionType: LAW_SECTION" ns3:type="locator">
				Section 99156 of the 
				<ns0:DocName>Public Utilities Code</ns0:DocName>
				 is amended to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_D0635272-8EBA-412D-B219-05B2BEB3BAC7">
					<ns0:Num>99156.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_C2CCFEDC-9036-472B-8032-E41A9DC22954">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Notwithstanding any other 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.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								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.
							</html:p>
						</ns0:Content>
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				</ns0:LawSection>
			</ns0:Fragment>
		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_BD37AE48-E19D-4022-88B5-469089D0CE19">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 2.</ns0:Num>
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				Section 99156.5 is added to the 
				<ns0:DocName>Public Utilities Code</ns0:DocName>
				, to read:
			</ns0:ActionLine>
			<ns0:Fragment>
				<ns0:LawSection id="id_6B7C6F84-A9C8-4750-968F-66C5A8BE1DCC">
					<ns0:Num>99156.5.</ns0:Num>
					<ns0:LawSectionVersion id="id_AE426E72-558F-4D84-8CAA-B64C2FB8EF6F">
						<ns0:Content>
							<html:p>
								(a)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Notwithstanding any other law, the governing board of a transit district shall include two nonvoting members and four alternate nonvoting members, as follows:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								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:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(A)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								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.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(B)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								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.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The second nonvoting member shall be recommended for appointment by the labor organization
						that represents a plurality of represented employees within the transit district. There shall be two nonvoting alternates to the second nonvoting member as follows:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(A)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The first nonvoting alternate to the nonvoting member described in paragraph (2) shall be recommended for appointment by the labor organization that represents a plurality of represented employees within the transit district.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(B)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The second nonvoting alternate to the nonvoting member described in paragraph (2) shall be recommended for appointment by the labor organization that represents a plurality of represented employees within the transit district.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(b)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Nonvoting members and alternate nonvoting members shall be appointed according to the following procedures:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The chair of the governing board shall appoint the nonvoting members and alternate nonvoting members from the recommendations provided by the respective organizations within 31 days of receiving the recommendations.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								If the chair does not receive recommendations within 31 days of a request or vacancy, the governing board may appoint qualified individuals to these positions by majority vote.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(3)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								If the chair determines that a recommended individual does not meet the qualifications specified in this section, the chair shall request a
						new recommendation from the respective organization.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(4)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Appointments shall be made at a regular meeting of the governing board and shall be recorded in the minutes of that meeting.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(c)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The nonvoting members and alternate nonvoting members shall have the following rights and protections:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The right to attend and participate in all public meetings of the governing board except as provided in subdivision (d).
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The right to receive all meeting materials provided to voting members of the governing board.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(3)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The right to place items on the agenda related to transit service and labor matters, subject to the same procedures applicable to voting members.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(4)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Protection from retaliation for their participation and statements made during board meetings.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(d)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								(1)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								The chair of the governing board of a transit district
						shall exclude
						a
						nonvoting member and any corresponding alternate nonvoting member from any portion of a meeting of the governing board or a committee if the portion of the meeting discusses any of the following:
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(A)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Negotiations with labor organizations.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(B)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Personnel matters specifically related to individual employees.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(C)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								Confidential legal matters where attorney-client privilege applies.
							</html:p>
							<html:p>
								(2)
								<html:span class="EnSpace"/>
								When a nonvoting member is excluded from a meeting pursuant to this subdivision, any corresponding alternate nonvoting member shall also be excluded.
							</html:p>
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		</ns0:BillSection>
		<ns0:BillSection id="id_C4382677-FEE0-4258-816E-5D3AE1A4A352">
			<ns0:Num>SEC. 3.</ns0:Num>
			<ns0:Content>
				<html:p>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.</html:p>
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