Florida Senate - 2017 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for SB 1672
Ì233372!Î233372
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
04/18/2017 .
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The Committee on Community Affairs (Brandes and Lee) recommended
the following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Paragraph (i) of subsection (6) of section
6 339.175, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
7 339.175 Metropolitan planning organization.—
8 (6) POWERS, DUTIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES.—The powers,
9 privileges, and authority of an M.P.O. are those specified in
10 this section or incorporated in an interlocal agreement
11 authorized under s. 163.01. Each M.P.O. shall perform all acts
12 required by federal or state laws or rules, now and subsequently
13 applicable, which are necessary to qualify for federal aid. It
14 is the intent of this section that each M.P.O. shall be involved
15 in the planning and programming of transportation facilities,
16 including, but not limited to, airports, intercity and high
17 speed rail lines, seaports, and intermodal facilities, to the
18 extent permitted by state or federal law.
19 (i) The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation
20 Authority Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating
21 Committee is created within the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit
22 Transportation Authority, composed of the M.P.O.’s serving
23 Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk,
24 and Sarasota Counties. The authority shall provide
25 administrative support and direction to the committee. The
26 committee must, at a minimum:
27 1. Coordinate transportation projects deemed to be
28 regionally significant by the committee.
29 2. Review the impact of regionally significant land use
30 decisions on the region.
31 3. Review all proposed regionally significant
32 transportation projects in the respective transportation
33 improvement programs which affect more than one of the M.P.O.’s
34 represented on the committee.
35 4. Institute a conflict resolution process to address any
36 conflict that may arise in the planning and programming of such
37 regionally significant projects.
38 Section 2. Section 343.90, Florida Statutes, is amended to
39 read:
40 343.90 Short title.—This part may be cited as the “Tampa
41 Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority Act.”
42 Section 3. Paragraphs (a) and (e) of subsection (1) of
43 section 343.91, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
44 343.91 Definitions.—
45 (1) As used in this part, the term:
46 (a) “Authority” means the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit
47 Transportation Authority, the body politic and corporate and
48 agency of the state created by this part, covering the seven
49 county area comprised of Citrus, Hernando, Hillsborough,
50 Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas, Manatee, and Sarasota Counties and
51 any other contiguous county that is party to an agreement of
52 participation.
53 (e)1. “Commuter rail” means a complete system of tracks,
54 guideways, stations, and rolling stock necessary to effectuate
55 medium-distance to long-distance passenger rail service to,
56 from, or within the municipalities within the authority’s
57 designated seven-county region.
58 2. “Heavy rail transit” means a complete rail system
59 operating on an electric railway with the capacity for a heavy
60 volume of traffic, characterized by high-speed and rapid
61 acceleration passenger rail cars operating singly or in multicar
62 trains on fixed rails in separate rights-of-way from which all
63 other vehicular and pedestrian traffic are excluded. “Heavy rail
64 transit” includes metro, subway, elevated, rapid transit, and
65 rapid rail systems.
66 3. “Light rail transit” means a complete system of tracks,
67 overhead catenaries, stations, and platforms with lightweight
68 passenger rail cars operating singly or in short, multicar
69 trains on fixed rails in rights-of-way that are not separated
70 from other traffic for much of the way.
71 Section 4. Section 343.92, Florida Statutes, is amended to
72 read:
73 343.92 Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation
74 Authority.—
75 (1) There is created and established a body politic and
76 corporate, an agency of the state, to be known as the Tampa Bay
77 Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority.
78 (2) The governing board of the authority shall consist of
79 13 15 voting members appointed no later than 45 days after the
80 creation of the authority.
81 (a) The secretary of the department shall appoint two
82 advisors to the board who must be the district secretary for
83 each of the department districts within the designated seven
84 county area of the authority.
85 (b) The 13 15 voting members of the board shall be as
86 follows:
87 1. The county commissions of Citrus, Hernando,
88 Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas, Manatee, and
89 Sarasota Counties shall each appoint one county commissioner
90 elected official to the board. Members appointed under this
91 subparagraph shall serve 2-year terms with not more than three
92 consecutive terms being served by any person. If a member under
93 this subparagraph leaves elected office, a vacancy exists on the
94 board to be filled as provided in this subparagraph within 90
95 days subparagraph.
96 2. The Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority
97 (TBARTA) Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating
98 Committee shall appoint one member to the board who must be a
99 chair of one of the six metropolitan planning organizations in
100 the region. The member appointed under this subparagraph shall
101 serve a 2-year term with not more than three consecutive terms
102 being served by any person.
103 2.3.a. Two members of the board shall be the mayor, or the
104 mayor’s designee, of the largest municipality within the service
105 area of each of the following independent transit agencies or
106 their legislatively created successor agencies: Pinellas
107 Suncoast Transit Authority and Hillsborough Area Regional
108 Transit Authority. The largest municipality is that municipality
109 with the largest population as determined by the most recent
110 United States Decennial Census.
111 b. Should a mayor choose not to serve, his or her designee
112 must be an elected official selected by the mayor from that
113 largest municipality’s city council or city commission. A mayor
114 or his or her designee shall serve a 2-year term with not more
115 than three consecutive terms being served by any person.
116 c. A designee’s term ends if the mayor leaves office for
117 any reason. If a designee leaves elected office on the city
118 council or commission, a vacancy exists on the board to be
119 filled by the mayor of that municipality as provided in sub
120 subparagraph a.
121 3. The following independent transit agencies or their
122 legislatively created successor agencies shall each appoint from
123 the membership of their governing bodies one member to the
124 board: Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority and Hillsborough Area
125 Regional Transit Authority. Each member appointed under this
126 subparagraph shall serve a 2-year term with not more than three
127 consecutive terms being served by any person. If a member no
128 longer meets the transit authority’s criteria for appointment, a
129 vacancy exists on the board, which must be filled as provided in
130 this subparagraph within 90 days.
131 d. A mayor who has served three consecutive terms on the
132 board must designate an elected official from that largest
133 municipality’s city council or city commission to serve on the
134 board for at least one term.
135 4.a. One membership on the board shall rotate every 2 years
136 between the mayor, or his or her designee, of the largest
137 municipality within Manatee County and the mayor, or his or her
138 designee, of the largest municipality within Sarasota County.
139 The mayor, or his or her designee, from the largest municipality
140 within Manatee County shall serve the first 2-year term. The
141 largest municipality is that municipality with the largest
142 population as determined by the most recent United States
143 Decennial Census.
144 b. Should a mayor choose not to serve, his or her designee
145 must be an elected official selected by the mayor from that
146 municipality’s city council or city commission.
147 4.5. The Governor shall appoint to the board four members
148 from the regional four business community representatives, each
149 of whom must reside in one of the seven counties governed by the
150 authority and, none of whom may not be an elected official
151 officials, and at least one but not more than two of whom shall
152 represent counties within the federally designated Tampa Bay
153 Transportation Management Area. Of the members initially
154 appointed under this subparagraph, one shall serve a 1-year
155 term, two shall serve 2-year terms, and one shall serve a term
156 as the initial chair as provided in subsection (5). Thereafter,
157 a member Members appointed under this subparagraph by the
158 Governor shall serve a 2-year term 3-year terms with not more
159 than three two consecutive terms being served by any person.
160 (c) Appointments may be staggered to avoid mass turnover at
161 the end of any 2-year or 4-year period. A vacancy during a term
162 shall be filled by the respective appointing authority within 90
163 days in the same manner as the original appointment and only for
164 the remainder of the unexpired term.
165 (3) The members of the board shall serve without
166 compensation but shall be entitled to receive from the authority
167 reimbursement for travel expenses and per diem actually incurred
168 in connection with the business of the authority as provided in
169 s. 112.061.
170 (4) Members of the board shall comply with the applicable
171 financial disclosure requirements of ss. 112.3145, 112.3148, and
172 112.3149.
173 (5) The Governor shall appoint one of the four members
174 appointed under subparagraph (2)(b)4. as the initial chair from
175 among the full membership of the board immediately upon their
176 appointment. In no case may those appointments be made any later
177 than 45 days following the creation of the authority. The
178 initial chair shall serve will hold this position for a minimum
179 term of 2 years. The board shall elect a vice chair and
180 secretary-treasurer from among its members who shall serve a
181 minimum term of 1 year and shall establish the duties and powers
182 of those positions during its inaugural meeting. During its
183 inaugural meeting, the board shall will also establish its rules
184 of conduct and meeting procedures.
185 (6) At the end of the initial chair’s term, the board shall
186 elect a chair from among the its members. The chair shall hold
187 office at the will of the board. In that election, the board
188 shall also elect a vice chair and secretary-treasurer.
189 (7) The first meeting of the authority shall be held no
190 later than 60 days after the creation of the authority.
191 (8) Seven Eight members of the board shall constitute a
192 quorum, and the vote of seven eight members is necessary for any
193 action to be taken by the authority. The authority may meet upon
194 the constitution of a quorum. A vacancy does not impair the
195 right of a quorum of the board to exercise all rights and the
196 ability to perform all duties of the authority.
197 (9) Beginning July 1, 2017, the board must evaluate the
198 abolishment, continuance, modification, or establishment of may
199 establish committees for the following committees areas:
200 (a) Planning committee.
201 (b) Policy committee.
202 (c) Finance committee.
203 (d) Citizens advisory committee.
204 (e) Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority Metropolitan
205 Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating Committee.
206 (f) Transit management committee.
207 (g) Technical advisory committee.
208
209 The board must submit its recommendations for abolishment,
210 continuance, modification, or establishment of the committees to
211 the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of
212 Representatives before the beginning of the 2018 Regular
213 Session.
214 (10) The authority may employ an executive director, an
215 executive secretary, its own legal counsel and legal staff,
216 technical experts, engineers, and such employees, permanent or
217 temporary, as it may require. The authority shall determine the
218 qualifications and fix the compensation of such persons, firms,
219 or corporations and may employ a fiscal agent or agents;
220 however, the authority shall solicit sealed proposals from at
221 least three persons, firms, or corporations for the performance
222 of any services as fiscal agents. The authority may, except for
223 duties specified in chapter 120, delegate its power to one or
224 more of its agents or employees to carry out the purposes of
225 this part, subject always to the supervision and control of the
226 authority.
227 (11)(a) The authority shall establish a Transit Management
228 Committee comprised of the executive directors or general
229 managers, or their designees, of each of the existing transit
230 providers and bay area commuter services.
231 (b) The authority shall establish a Citizens Advisory
232 Committee comprised of appointed citizen committee members from
233 each county and transit provider in the region, not to exceed 16
234 members.
235 (c) The authority may establish technical advisory
236 committees to provide guidance and advice on regional
237 transportation issues. The authority shall establish the size,
238 composition, and focus of any technical advisory committee
239 created.
240 (11)(d) Persons appointed to a committee shall serve
241 without compensation but may be entitled to per diem or travel
242 expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
243 Section 5. Subsection (1), paragraph (a) of subsection (2),
244 subsection (3), subsection (4), and paragraph (g) of subsection
245 (5) of section 343.922, Florida Statutes, are amended, and
246 subsections (9) and (10) are added to that section, to read:
247 343.922 Powers and duties.—
248 (1) The express purposes of the authority are to:
249 (a) Plan, implement, and operate improve mobility
250 improvements and expansions of expand multimodal transportation
251 options for passengers and freight throughout the designated
252 seven-county Tampa Bay region.
253 (b) Produce a regional transit development plan,
254 integrating the transit development plans of participant
255 counties, to include a prioritization of regionally significant
256 transit projects and facilities.
257 1. The authority shall provide to the President of the
258 Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, on or
259 before the beginning of the 2018 Regular Session, a plan to
260 produce the regional transit development plan.
261 2. The regional transit development plan prepared by the
262 authority must adhere to guidance and regulations set forth by
263 the department or any successor agency, including, but not
264 limited to:
265 a. Public involvement;
266 b. Collection and analysis of socioeconomic data;
267 c. Performance evaluation of existing services;
268 d. Service design and ridership forecasting; and
269 e. Financial planning.
270 (c) Serve, with the consent of the Governor or his or her
271 designee, as the recipient of federal funds supporting an
272 intercounty project or a regionally significant transit project
273 that exists in a single county within the designated region.
274 (2)(a) The authority has the right to plan, develop,
275 finance, construct, own, purchase, operate, maintain, relocate,
276 equip, repair, and manage those public transportation projects,
277 such as express bus services; bus rapid transit services; light
278 rail, commuter rail, heavy rail, or other transit services;
279 ferry services; transit stations; park-and-ride lots; transit
280 oriented development nodes; or feeder roads, reliever roads,
281 connector roads, bypasses, or appurtenant facilities, that are
282 intended to address critical transportation needs or concerns in
283 the Tampa Bay region as identified by the authority by July 1,
284 2009. These projects may also include all necessary approaches,
285 roads, bridges, and avenues of access that are desirable and
286 proper with the concurrence of the department, as applicable, if
287 the project is to be part of the State Highway System.
288 (3)(a) No later than July 1, 2009, The authority shall
289 develop and adopt a regional transit development transportation
290 master plan that provides a vision for a regionally integrated
291 multimodal transportation system. The goals and objectives of
292 the master plan are to identify areas of the Tampa Bay region
293 where multimodal mobility, traffic safety, freight mobility, and
294 efficient emergency evacuation alternatives need to be improved;
295 identify areas of the region where multimodal transportation
296 systems would be most beneficial to enhance mobility and
297 economic development; develop methods of building partnerships
298 with local governments, existing transit providers, expressway
299 authorities, seaports, airports, and other local, state, and
300 federal entities; develop methods of building partnerships with
301 CSX Corporation and CSX Transportation, Inc., to craft mutually
302 beneficial solutions to achieve the authority’s objectives, and
303 with other private sector business community entities that may
304 further the authority’s mission, and engage the public in
305 support of regional multimodal transportation improvements. The
306 master plan shall identify and may prioritize projects that will
307 accomplish these goals and objectives, including, without
308 limitation, the creation of express bus and bus rapid transit
309 services, light rail, commuter rail, and heavy rail transit
310 services, ferry services, freight services, and any other
311 multimodal transportation system projects that address critical
312 transportation needs or concerns, pursuant to subsection (2);
313 and identify the costs of the proposed projects and revenue
314 sources that could be used to pay those costs. In developing the
315 master plan, the authority shall review and coordinate with the
316 future land use, capital improvements, and traffic circulation
317 elements of its member local governments’ comprehensive plans
318 and the plans, programs, and schedules of other units of
319 government having transit or transportation authority within
320 whose jurisdictions the projects or improvements will be located
321 to define and resolve potential inconsistencies between such
322 plans and the authority’s developing master plan. By July 1,
323 2008, the authority, working with its member local governments,
324 shall adopt a mandatory conflict resolution process that
325 addresses consistency conflicts between the authority’s regional
326 transportation master plan and local government comprehensive
327 plans.
328 (b) The authority shall consult with the department to
329 further the goals and objectives of the Strategic Regional
330 Transit Needs Assessment completed by the department.
331 (c) Before the adoption of the regional transit development
332 master plan, the authority shall hold at least one public
333 meeting in each of the seven counties within the designated
334 region. At least one public hearing must be held before the
335 authority’s board.
336 (d) After its adoption, the regional transit development
337 master plan shall be updated every 5 years before July 1.
338 (e) The authority shall present the original regional
339 transit development master plan and updates to the governing
340 bodies of the counties within the designated seven-county
341 region, to the TBARTA Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs
342 Coordinating Committee, and to the legislative delegation
343 members representing those counties within 90 days after
344 adoption.
345 (f) The authority shall coordinate plans and projects with
346 the TBARTA Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs
347 Coordinating Committee, to the extent practicable, and
348 participate in the regional M.P.O. planning process to ensure
349 regional comprehension of the authority’s mission, goals, and
350 objectives.
351 (g) The authority shall provide administrative support and
352 direction to the TBARTA Metropolitan Planning Organization
353 Chairs Coordinating Committee as provided in s. 339.175(6)(i).
354 (4) The authority may undertake projects or other
355 improvements in the regional transit development master plan in
356 phases as particular projects or segments become feasible, as
357 determined by the authority. The authority shall coordinate
358 project planning, development, and implementation with the
359 applicable local governments. The authority’s projects that are
360 transportation oriented must be consistent to the maximum extent
361 feasible with the adopted local government comprehensive plans
362 at the time such projects are funded for construction. Authority
363 projects that are not transportation oriented and meet the
364 definition of development pursuant to s. 380.04 must be
365 consistent with the local comprehensive plans. In carrying out
366 its purposes and powers, the authority may request funding and
367 technical assistance from the department and appropriate federal
368 and local agencies, including, but not limited to, state
369 infrastructure bank loans.
370 (5) The authority is granted and may exercise all powers
371 necessary, appurtenant, convenient, or incidental to the
372 carrying out of the aforesaid purposes, including, but not
373 limited to, the following rights and powers:
374 (g) To borrow money and to make and issue negotiable notes,
375 bonds, refunding bonds, and other evidences of indebtedness or
376 obligations, either in temporary or definitive form, hereinafter
377 in this chapter sometimes called “revenue bonds” of the
378 authority, for the purpose of financing all or part of the
379 mobility improvements within the Tampa Bay region, as well as
380 the appurtenant facilities, including all approaches, streets,
381 roads, bridges, and avenues of access authorized by this part,
382 the bonds to mature not exceeding 40 years after the date of the
383 issuance thereof, and to secure the payment of such bonds or any
384 part thereof by a pledge of any or all of its revenues, rates,
385 fees, rentals, or other charges.
386 (9)(a) An action by the authority regarding the funding of
387 commuter rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail transit, as
388 defined in s. 343.91, or any combination thereof, requires
389 approval by a majority vote of each M.P.O. serving the county or
390 counties where such rail transit investment will be made, and
391 the approval of the Legislature by an act of general law.
392 (b) The authority may not engage in any advocacy regarding
393 a referendum, ordinance, legislation, or proposal under
394 consideration by any governmental entity or the Legislature
395 which seeks to approve the funding of commuter rail, heavy rail
396 transit, or light rail transit, as defined in s. 343.91, or any
397 combination thereof.
398 (10) The authority must conduct a feasibility study,
399 through an independent third party, for any project of commuter
400 rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail transit, as defined in
401 s. 343.91, or any combination thereof, before proceeding with
402 the development of the project and before any related contract
403 is issued. The feasibility study shall be submitted, upon
404 completion, to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the
405 Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the board of county
406 commissioners of Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and
407 Pinellas Counties.
408 Section 6. Subsection (1) of section 343.94, Florida
409 Statutes, is amended to read:
410 343.94 Bond financing authority.—
411 (1) Pursuant to s. 11(f), Art. VII of the State
412 Constitution, the Legislature approves bond financing by the
413 Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority for
414 construction of or improvements to commuter rail systems,
415 transit systems, ferry systems, highways, bridges, toll
416 collection facilities, interchanges to the system, and any other
417 transportation facility appurtenant, necessary, or incidental to
418 the system. Subject to terms and conditions of applicable
419 revenue bond resolutions and covenants, such costs may be
420 financed in whole or in part by revenue bonds issued pursuant to
421 paragraph (2)(a) or paragraph (2)(b), whether currently issued
422 or issued in the future or by a combination of such bonds.
423 Section 7. Section 343.947, Florida Statutes, is amended to
424 read:
425 343.947 Department may be appointed agent of authority for
426 construction.—The department may be appointed by the authority
427 as its agent for the purpose of constructing and completing
428 transportation projects, and improvements and extensions
429 thereto, in the authority’s regional transit development master
430 plan. In such event, the authority shall provide the department
431 with complete copies of all documents, agreements, resolutions,
432 contracts, and instruments relating thereto; shall request the
433 department to do such construction work, including the planning,
434 surveying, and actual construction of the completion,
435 extensions, and improvements to the system; and shall transfer
436 to the credit of an account of the department in the treasury of
437 the state the necessary funds therefor. The department shall
438 proceed with such construction and use the funds for such
439 purpose in the same manner that it is now authorized to use the
440 funds otherwise provided by law for its use in construction of
441 commuter rail systems, transit systems, ferry systems, roads,
442 bridges, and related transportation facilities.
443 Section 8. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 343.95,
444 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
445 343.95 Acquisition of lands and property.—
446 (1) For the purposes of this part, the authority may
447 acquire private or public property and property rights,
448 including rights of access, air, view, and light, by gift,
449 devise, purchase, or condemnation by eminent domain proceedings,
450 as the authority may deem necessary for any purpose of this
451 part, including, but not limited to, any lands reasonably
452 necessary for securing applicable permits, areas necessary for
453 management of access, borrow pits, drainage ditches, water
454 retention areas, rest areas, replacement access for landowners
455 whose access is impaired due to the construction of a facility,
456 and replacement rights-of-way for relocated rail and utility
457 facilities; for existing, proposed, or anticipated
458 transportation facilities within the seven-county Tampa Bay
459 region designated identified by the authority; or for the
460 purposes of screening, relocation, removal, or disposal of
461 junkyards and scrap metal processing facilities. The authority
462 may condemn any material and property necessary for such
463 purposes.
464 (3) When the authority acquires property for a
465 transportation facility within the designated seven-county Tampa
466 Bay region, the authority is not subject to any liability
467 imposed by chapter 376 or chapter 403 for preexisting soil or
468 groundwater contamination due solely to its ownership. This
469 subsection does not affect the rights or liabilities of any past
470 or future owners of the acquired property, nor does it affect
471 the liability of any governmental entity for the results of its
472 actions which create or exacerbate a pollution source. The
473 authority and the Department of Environmental Protection may
474 enter into interagency agreements for the performance, funding,
475 and reimbursement of the investigative and remedial acts
476 necessary for property acquired by the authority.
477 Section 9. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 343.975,
478 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
479 343.975 Complete and additional statutory authority.—
480 (1) The powers conferred by this part are supplemental to
481 the existing powers of the board and the department. This part
482 does not repeal any of the provisions of any other law, general,
483 special, or local, but supplements such other laws in the
484 exercise of the powers provided in this part and provides a
485 complete method for the exercise of the powers granted in this
486 part. The projects planned and constructed by the Tampa Bay Area
487 Regional Transit Transportation Authority shall comply with all
488 applicable federal, state, and local laws. The extension and
489 improvement of the system, and the issuance of bonds hereunder
490 to finance all or part of the cost thereof, may be accomplished
491 upon compliance with the provisions of this part without regard
492 to or necessity for compliance with the provisions, limitations,
493 or restrictions contained in any other general, special, or
494 local law, including, but not limited to, s. 215.821. An
495 approval of any bonds issued under this part by the qualified
496 electors or qualified electors who are freeholders in the state
497 or in any other political subdivision of the state is not
498 required for the issuance of such bonds pursuant to this part.
499 (3) This part does not preclude the department from
500 acquiring, holding, constructing, improving, maintaining,
501 operating, or owning tolled or nontolled facilities funded and
502 constructed from nonauthority sources that are part of the State
503 Highway System within the geographical boundaries of the Tampa
504 Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority.
505 Section 10. Section 343.976, Florida Statutes, is amended
506 to read:
507 343.976 Effect on local government action.—This act does
508 not prohibit any local government that is a member of the Tampa
509 Bay Area Regional Transit Transportation Authority from
510 participating in or creating any other transit authority,
511 regional transportation authority, or expressway authority.
512 Section 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 2017.
513
514 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
515 And the title is amended as follows:
516 Delete everything before the enacting clause
517 and insert:
518 A bill to be entitled
519 An act relating to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit
520 Authority; amending s. 339.175, F.S.; creating the
521 Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority Metropolitan
522 Planning Organization Chairs Coordinating Committee to
523 replace the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation
524 Authority Metropolitan Planning Organization Chairs
525 Coordinating Committee; providing that the Tampa Bay
526 Area Regional Transit Authority Metropolitan Planning
527 Organization Chairs Coordinating Committee is created
528 within the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority;
529 amending s. 343.90, F.S.; revising the short title to
530 “Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority Act”;
531 amending s. 343.91, F.S.; revising the definition of
532 the term “authority” to mean the Tampa Bay Area
533 Regional Transit Authority and to include only
534 Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas
535 Counties and any other contiguous county that is party
536 to an agreement of participation; revising the
537 definition of the term “commuter rail”; amending s.
538 343.92, F.S.; creating the Tampa Bay Area Regional
539 Transit Authority to replace the Tampa Bay Area
540 Regional Transportation Authority; decreasing voting
541 membership on the governing board of the authority;
542 requiring the members to be appointed within a
543 specified period; revising appointment and term
544 requirements of such membership; revising requirements
545 for filling vacancies on the board; requiring the
546 Governor to appoint an initial chair of the board from
547 one of the four members appointed by the Governor;
548 providing that seven members of the board constitute a
549 quorum; providing that the vote of seven members is
550 necessary for any action to be taken by the authority;
551 requiring the board to evaluate the abolishment,
552 continuance, modification, or establishment of
553 specified committees, beginning on a specified date;
554 requiring the board to submit its recommendations for
555 abolishment, continuance, modification, or
556 establishment of the committees to the Legislature
557 before a specified time; deleting requirements related
558 to the establishment of a Transit Management
559 Committee, a Citizens Advisory Committee, and
560 technical advisory committees; conforming provisions
561 to changes made by the act; amending s. 343.922, F.S.;
562 revising the express purposes of the authority to
563 include planning, implementing, and operating mobility
564 improvements and expansions of certain multimodal
565 transportation options, producing a certain regional
566 transit development plan, and serving as the recipient
567 of certain federal funds under certain circumstances;
568 directing the authority to provide to the Legislature
569 a plan to produce the regional transit development
570 plan by a specified date; providing requirements for
571 the regional transit development plan; requiring the
572 authority to develop and adopt a regional transit
573 development plan, rather than a transportation master
574 plan; deleting obsolete provisions; conforming
575 provisions to changes made by the act; providing that
576 an action by the authority regarding the funding of
577 commuter rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail
578 transit, or any combination thereof, requires approval
579 by a majority vote of each M.P.O. serving the county
580 or counties where such rail transit investment will be
581 made, and the approval of the Legislature by an act of
582 general law; prohibiting the authority from engaging
583 in certain advocacy that seeks to approve the funding
584 of commuter rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail
585 transit, or any combination thereof; requiring the
586 authority to conduct a feasibility study, through an
587 independent third party, for any project of commuter
588 rail, heavy rail transit, or light rail transit, or
589 any combination thereof, before proceeding with the
590 development of the project and before any related
591 contracts are issued; requiring the feasibility study
592 to be submitted to the Governor, the Legislature, and
593 the board of county commissioners of specified
594 counties; amending ss. 343.94, 343.947, 343.95,
595 343.975, and 343.976, F.S.; conforming provisions to
596 changes made by the act; providing an effective date.