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Second Substitute H.B. 371

Senator Sheldon L. Killpack proposes the following substitute bill:


             1     
TRANSPORTATION GOVERNANCE

             2     
2009 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Wayne A. Harper

             5     
Senate Sponsor: Sheldon L. Killpack

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies the Transportation Code by amending provisions relating to
             10      transportation governance.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    provides definitions;
             14          .    reduces the number of members on a public transit district board of trustees if more
             15      than 200,000 people reside within the boundaries of the public transit district;
             16          .    extends the terms of certain public transit district board members from two to four
             17      years;
             18          .    provides restrictions on appointment and officer selections for locally elected public
             19      officials serving on a public transit district board of trustees;
             20          .    provides transition provisions for existing public transit district board members
             21      whose positions are eliminated by reducing the number of members on certain
             22      public transit district boards of trustees;
             23          .    authorizes a public transit district to require certain persons to obtain a criminal
             24      background check;
             25          .    provides that information obtained by a public transit district from a criminal


             26      background check may only be used for certain purposes;
             27          .    provides that a person is ineligible for certain employment with a public transit
             28      district if the person has been convicted of certain offenses;
             29          .    requires the Department of Transportation to annually report to an appropriate
             30      legislative committee as designated by Legislative Management Committee the
             31      transfers that need to be made between all transportation-related funds to maintain
             32      the highway funding program as prioritized by the Transportation Commission;
             33          .    provides that Transportation Commissioners shall be selected on a nonpartisan
             34      basis;
             35          .    provides that for Transportation Commission appointments made on or after July 1,
             36      2009, the selection of commissioners shall be:
             37              .    four commissioners with one of the commissioners selected from each of the
             38      regions established by the Department of Transportation; and
             39              .    three commissioners selected from the state at large;
             40          .    provides that the Transportation Commission shall annually report to a committee
             41      designated by the Legislative Management Committee a prioritized list of the new
             42      transportation capacity projects in the state transportation system and the funding
             43      levels available for those projects and the unfunded highway construction and
             44      maintenance needs within the state;
             45          .    provides that the committee designated by the Legislative Management Committee
             46      shall review the list reported by the Transportation Commission and make a
             47      recommendation to the Legislature on the amount of additional funding to allocate
             48      transportation and the source of revenue for the additional funding allocation;
             49          .    provides that the Department of Transportation may not delay a new transportation
             50      capacity project that was funded by the Legislature in an appropriations act to a
             51      different fiscal year than programmed by the Transportation Commission due to an
             52      unavoidable shortfall in revenues unless the project delays are prioritized and
             53      approved by the Transportation Commission;
             54          .    provides that the Transportation Commission shall prioritize and approve any new
             55      transportation capacity project delays for projects that were funded by the
             56      Legislature in an appropriations act due to an unavoidable shortfall in revenues;


             57          .    provides that the Department of Transportation may not delay a Critical Highway
             58      Needs Fund project that was funded by the Legislature in an appropriations act to a
             59      different fiscal year than programed by the Transportation Commission or that
             60      general obligation proceeds have been issued for in the current fiscal year due to an
             61      unavoidable shortfall in revenues unless the project delays are prioritized and
             62      approved by the Transportation Commission;
             63          .    provides that the Transportation Commission shall prioritize and approve any
             64      Critical Highway Needs Fund project delays due to an unavoidable shortfall in
             65      revenues for a project:
             66              .    that was funded by the Legislature in an appropriations act; or
             67              .    that general obligation bond proceeds were issued for in the current fiscal year;
             68      and
             69          .    makes technical changes.
             70      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             71          None
             72      Other Special Clauses:
             73          This bill provides an effective date.
             74      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             75      AMENDS:
             76          17B-2a-802, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 329
             77          17B-2a-803, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 329
             78          17B-2a-807, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 39
             79          72-1-201, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapter 382
             80          72-1-301, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2002, Chapter 176
             81          72-1-303, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 39 and 382
             82          72-1-305, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2005, Chapter 245
             83          72-2-125, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2008, Chapters 124, 384, and 389
             84      ENACTS:
             85          17B-2a-807.5, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             86          17B-2a-825, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             87     


             88      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             89          Section 1. Section 17B-2a-802 is amended to read:
             90           17B-2a-802. Definitions.
             91          As used in this part:
             92          (1) "Appointing entity" means the person, county, unincorporated area of a county, or
             93      municipality appointing a member to a public transit district board of trustees.
             94          [(1)] (2) "Department" means the Department of Transportation created in Section
             95      72-1-201 .
             96          (3) (a) "Locally elected public official" means a person who holds an elected position
             97      with a county or municipality.
             98          (b) "Locally elected public official" does not include a person who holds an elected
             99      position if the elected position is not with a county or municipality.
             100          [(2)] (4) "Multicounty district" means a public transit district located in more than one
             101      county.
             102          [(3)] (5) "Operator" means a public entity or other person engaged in the transportation
             103      of passengers for hire.
             104          [(4)] (6) "Public transit" means the transportation of passengers only and their
             105      incidental baggage by means other than:
             106          (a) chartered bus;
             107          (b) sightseeing bus;
             108          (c) taxi; or
             109          (d) other vehicle not on an individual passenger fare paying basis.
             110          [(5)] (7) "Transit facility" means a transit vehicle, transit station, depot, passenger
             111      loading or unloading zone, parking lot, or other facility:
             112          (a) leased by or operated by or on behalf of a public transit district; and
             113          (b) related to the public transit services provided by the district, including:
             114          (i) railway or other right-of-way;
             115          (ii) railway line; and
             116          (iii) a reasonable area immediately adjacent to a designated stop on a route traveled by
             117      a transit vehicle.
             118          [(6)] (8) "Transit vehicle" means a passenger bus, coach, railcar, van, or other vehicle


             119      operated as public transportation by a public transit district.
             120          Section 2. Section 17B-2a-803 is amended to read:
             121           17B-2a-803. Provisions applicable to public transit districts.
             122          (1) (a) Each public transit district is governed by and has the powers stated in:
             123          (i) this part; and
             124          (ii) except as provided in Subsection (1)(b), Chapter 1, Provisions Applicable to All
             125      Local Districts.
             126          (b) (i) Except for Sections 17B-1-301 , 17B-1-311 , and 17B-1-313 , the following
             127      provisions [of Chapter 1, Part 3, Board of Trustees,] do not apply to public transit districts[.]:
             128          (A) Chapter 1, Part 3, Board of Trustees; and
             129          (B) Section 17B-2a-905 .
             130          (ii) A public transit district is not subject to Chapter 1, Part 6, Fiscal Procedures for
             131      Local Districts.
             132          (2) This part applies only to public transit districts.
             133          (3) A public transit district is not subject to the provisions of any other part of this
             134      chapter.
             135          (4) If there is a conflict between a provision in Chapter 1, Provisions Applicable to All
             136      Local Districts, and a provision in this part, the provision in this part governs.
             137          Section 3. Section 17B-2a-807 is amended to read:
             138           17B-2a-807. Public transit district board of trustees -- Appointment --
             139      Apportionment -- Qualifications -- Quorum -- Compensation -- Terms.
             140          (1) (a) If 200,000 people or fewer reside within the boundaries of a public transit
             141      district, the board of trustees shall consist of members appointed by the legislative bodies of
             142      each municipality, county, or unincorporated area within any county on the basis of one
             143      member for each full unit of regularly scheduled passenger routes proposed to be served by the
             144      district in each municipality or unincorporated area within any county in the following calendar
             145      year.
             146          (b) For purposes of determining membership under Subsection (1)(a), the number of
             147      service miles comprising a unit shall be determined jointly by the legislative bodies of the
             148      municipalities or counties comprising the district.
             149          (c) The board of trustees of a public transit district under this Subsection (1) may


             150      include a member that is a commissioner on the Transportation Commission created in Section
             151      72-1-301 and appointed as provided in Subsection (11), who shall serve as a nonvoting, ex
             152      officio member.
             153          (d) Members appointed under this Subsection (1) shall be appointed and added to the
             154      board or omitted from the board at the time scheduled routes are changed, or as municipalities,
             155      counties, or unincorporated areas of counties annex to or withdraw from the district using the
             156      same appointment procedures.
             157          (e) For purposes of appointing members under this Subsection (1), municipalities,
             158      counties, and unincorporated areas of counties in which regularly scheduled passenger routes
             159      proposed to be served by the district in the following calendar year is less than a full unit, as
             160      defined in Subsection (1)(b), may combine with any other similarly situated municipality or
             161      unincorporated area to form a whole unit and may appoint one member for each whole unit
             162      formed.
             163          (2) (a) [If] Subject to Section 17B-2a-807.5 , if more than 200,000 people reside within
             164      the boundaries of a public transit district, the board of trustees shall consist of [15]:
             165          (i) ten members:
             166          (A) appointed as described under this Subsection (2)[,]; or
             167          (B) retained in accordance with Section 17B-2a-807.5 ;
             168          (ii) three members appointed as described in Subsection (4)[,]; and
             169          (iii) one voting member appointed as provided in Subsection (11).
             170          (b) Except as provided in Subsections (2)(c) and (d), the board shall apportion voting
             171      members to each county within the district using an average of:
             172          (i) the proportion of population included in the district and residing within each county,
             173      rounded to the nearest [1/15] 1/10 of the total transit district population; and
             174          (ii) the cumulative proportion of transit sales and use tax collected from areas included
             175      in the district and within each county, rounded to the nearest [1/15] 1/10 of the total cumulative
             176      transit sales and use tax collected for the transit district.
             177          (c) The board shall join an entire or partial county not apportioned a voting member
             178      under this Subsection (2) with an adjacent county for representation. The combined
             179      apportionment basis included in the district of both counties shall be used for the
             180      apportionment.


             181          (d) (i) If rounding to the nearest [1/15] 1/10 of the total public transit district
             182      apportionment basis under Subsection (2)(b) results in an apportionment of more than [15] ten
             183      members, the county or combination of counties with the smallest additional fraction of a
             184      whole member proportion shall have one less member apportioned to it.
             185          (ii) If rounding to the nearest [1/15] 1/10 of the total public transit district
             186      apportionment basis under Subsection (2)(b) results in an apportionment of less than [15] ten
             187      members, the county or combination of counties with the largest additional fraction of a whole
             188      member proportion shall have one more member apportioned to it.
             189          (e) If the population in the unincorporated area of a county is at least [1/15] 1/10 of the
             190      district's population, the county executive, with the advice and consent of the county legislative
             191      body, shall appoint one voting member to represent each [1/15] 1/10 of the district's population
             192      within a county's unincorporated area population.
             193          (f) If a municipality's population is at least [1/15 of the district's population] 160,000,
             194      the chief municipal executive, with the advice and consent of the municipal legislative body,
             195      shall appoint one voting member to represent [each 1/15 of the district's] the population within
             196      a municipality.
             197          (g) (i) The number of voting members appointed from a county and municipalities
             198      within a county under Subsections (2)(e) and (f) shall be subtracted from the county's total
             199      voting member apportionment under this Subsection (2).
             200          (ii) Notwithstanding Subsections (2)(l) and (10), no more than one voting member
             201      appointed by an appointing entity may be a locally elected public official.
             202          (h) If the entire county is within the district, the remaining voting members for the
             203      county shall represent the county or combination of counties, if Subsection (2)(c) applies, or
             204      the municipalities within the county.
             205          (i) If the entire county is not within the district, and the county is not joined with
             206      another county under Subsection (2)(c), the remaining voting members for the county shall
             207      represent a municipality or combination of municipalities.
             208          (j) (i) Except as provided under Subsections (2)(e) and (f), voting members
             209      representing counties, combinations of counties if Subsection (2)(c) applies, or municipalities
             210      within the county shall be designated and appointed by a simple majority of the chief
             211      executives of the municipalities within the county or combinations of counties if Subsection


             212      (2)(c) applies.
             213          (ii) The appointments shall be made by joint written agreement of the appointing
             214      municipalities, with the consent and approval of the county legislative body of the county that
             215      has at least [1/15] 1/10 of the district's apportionment basis.
             216          (k) Voting members representing a municipality or combination of municipalities shall
             217      be designated and appointed by the chief executive officer of the municipality or simple
             218      majority of chief executive officers of municipalities with the consent of the legislative body of
             219      the municipality or municipalities.
             220          (l) The appointment of voting members shall be made without regard to partisan
             221      political affiliation from among citizens in the community.
             222          (m) Each voting member shall be a bona fide resident of the municipality, county, or
             223      unincorporated area or areas which the voting member is to represent for at least six months
             224      before the date of appointment, and must continue in that residency to remain qualified to serve
             225      as a voting member.
             226          (n) (i) All population figures used under this section shall be derived from the most
             227      recent official census or census estimate of the United States Bureau of the Census.
             228          (ii) If population estimates are not available from the United States Bureau of Census,
             229      population figures shall be derived from the estimate from the Utah Population Estimates
             230      Committee.
             231          (iii) All transit sales and use tax totals shall be obtained from the State Tax
             232      Commission.
             233          (o) (i) The board shall be apportioned as provided under this section in conjunction
             234      with the decennial United States Census Bureau report every ten years.
             235          (ii) Within 120 days following the receipt of the population estimates under this
             236      Subsection (2)(o), the district shall reapportion representation on the board of trustees in
             237      accordance with this section.
             238          (iii) The board shall adopt by resolution a schedule reflecting the current and proposed
             239      apportionment.
             240          (iv) Upon adoption of the resolution, the board shall forward a copy of the resolution to
             241      each of its constituent entities as defined under Section 17B-1-701 .
             242          (v) The appointing entities gaining a new board member shall appoint a new member


             243      within 30 days following receipt of the resolution.
             244          (vi) The appointing entities losing a board member shall inform the board of which
             245      member currently serving on the board will step down:
             246          (A) upon appointment of a new member under Subsection (2)(o)(v)[.]; or
             247          (B) in accordance with Section 17B-2a-807.5 .
             248          (3) Upon the completion of an annexation to a public transit district under Chapter 1,
             249      Part 4, Annexation, the annexed area shall have a representative on the board of trustees on the
             250      same basis as if the area had been included in the district as originally organized.
             251          (4) In addition to the voting members appointed in accordance with Subsection (2), the
             252      board shall consist of three voting members appointed as follows:
             253          (a) one member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives;
             254          (b) one member appointed by the president of the Senate; and
             255          (c) one member appointed by the governor.
             256          (5) (a) Except [the initial members of the board,] as provided in Section 17B-2a-807.5 ,
             257      the terms of office of the voting members of the board shall be [two] four years or until a
             258      successor is appointed, qualified, seated, and has taken the oath of office.
             259          [(b) At the first meeting of the initial members of the board held after July 1, 2004,
             260      voting members of the board shall designate by the drawing of lots for 1/2 of their number to
             261      serve for one-year terms and 1/2 for two-year terms.]
             262          [(c)] (b) (i) A voting member may not be appointed for more than three successive full
             263      terms regardless of the appointing entity that appoints the voting member.
             264          (ii) A person:
             265          (A) may serve no more 12 years on a public transit district board of trustees described
             266      in Subsection (2)(a) regardless of the appointing entity that appoints the member; and
             267          (B) that has served 12 years on a public transit district board of trustees described in
             268      Subsection (2)(a) is ineligible for reappointment to a public transit board of trustees described
             269      in Subsection (2)(a).
             270          (6) (a) Vacancies for voting members shall be filled by the official appointing the
             271      member creating the vacancy for the unexpired term, unless the official fails to fill the vacancy
             272      within 90 days.
             273          (b) If the appointing official under Subsection (1) does not fill the vacancy within 90


             274      days, the board of trustees of the authority shall fill the vacancy.
             275          (c) If the appointing official under Subsection (2) does not fill the vacancy within 90
             276      days, the governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, shall fill the vacancy.
             277          (7) (a) Each voting member may cast one vote on all questions, orders, resolutions, and
             278      ordinances coming before the board of trustees.
             279          (b) A majority of all voting members of the board of trustees are a quorum for the
             280      transaction of business.
             281          (c) The affirmative vote of a majority of all voting members present at any meeting at
             282      which a quorum was initially present shall be necessary and, except as otherwise provided, is
             283      sufficient to carry any order, resolution, ordinance, or proposition before the board of trustees.
             284          (8) Each public transit district shall pay to each voting member:
             285          (a) an attendance fee of $50 per board or committee meeting attended, not to exceed
             286      $200 in any calendar month to any voting member; and
             287          (b) reasonable mileage and expenses necessarily incurred to attend board or committee
             288      meetings.
             289          (9) (a) Members of the initial board of trustees shall convene at the time and place
             290      fixed by the chief executive officer of the entity initiating the proceedings.
             291          (b) [Immediately upon convening, the] The board of trustees shall elect from its voting
             292      membership a [president, vice president,] chair, vice chair, and secretary.
             293          (c) The members elected under Subsection (9)(b) shall serve for a period of two years
             294      or until their successors shall be elected and qualified.
             295          (d) On or after January 1, 2011, a locally elected public official is not eligible to serve
             296      as the chair, vice chair, or secretary of the board of trustees.
             297          (10) [At] Except as otherwise authorized under Subsection (2)(g) and Section
             298      17B-2a-807.5 , at the time of a voting member's appointment or during a voting member's
             299      tenure in office, a voting member may not hold any employment, except as an independent
             300      contractor or locally elected public official, with a county or municipality within the district.
             301          (11) The Transportation Commission created in Section 72-1-301 :
             302          (a) for a public transit district serving a population of 200,000 people or fewer, may
             303      appoint a commissioner of the Transportation Commission to serve on the board of trustees as
             304      a nonvoting, ex officio member; and


             305          (b) for a public transit district serving a population of more than 200,000 people, shall
             306      appoint a commissioner of the Transportation Commission to serve on the board of trustees as
             307      a voting member.
             308          (12) (a) (i) Each member of the board of trustees of a public transit district is subject to
             309      recall at any time by the legislative body of the county or municipality from which the member
             310      is appointed.
             311          (ii) Each recall of a board of trustees member shall be made in the same manner as the
             312      original appointment.
             313          (iii) The legislative body recalling a board of trustees member shall provide written
             314      notice to the member being recalled.
             315          (b) Upon providing written notice to the board of trustees, a member of the board may
             316      resign from the board of trustees.
             317          (c) [If] Except as provided in Section 17B-2a-807.5 , if a board member is recalled or
             318      resigns under this Subsection (12), the vacancy shall be filled as provided in Subsection (6).
             319          Section 4. Section 17B-2a-807.5 is enacted to read:
             320          17B-2a-807.5. Public transit district board of trustees -- Transitional provisions.
             321          (1) (a) A member appointed to a board of trustees in accordance with Subsection
             322      17B-2a-807 (2) prior to April 1, 2009, that is ineligible for reappointment under Subsection (3)
             323      may remain on the board of trustees and fulfill the member's appointment until July 1, 2010.
             324          (b) The term of a member appointed to a board of trustees in accordance with
             325      Subsection 17B-2a-807 (2) prior to April 1, 2009, that is ineligible for reappointment under
             326      Subsection (3) is extended until July 1, 2010 if the member's term of appointment based on the
             327      term limits that existed at the time of the member's appointment expires prior to July 1, 2010.
             328          (2) The term of a member appointed to a board of trustees in accordance with
             329      Subsection 17B-2a-807 (2) prior to April 1, 2009, shall be extended by two years from the
             330      original date of appointment if the member is not ineligible for reappointment under
             331      Subsection (3).
             332          (3) A member appointed to a board of trustees in accordance with Subsection
             333      17B-2a-807 (2) prior to April 1, 2009, is not eligible for reappointment to serve on the board of
             334      trustees upon expiration of the member's existing term if:
             335          (a) (i) the appointing entity that appointed the member has appointed more than one


             336      member to the board of trustees that are locally elected public officials and the locally elected
             337      public officials are serving concurrently on the board of trustees;
             338          (ii) the member is a locally elected public official that holds an elected position with a
             339      municipality; and
             340          (iii) the other member appointed by the appointing entity described in Subsection
             341      (3)(a)(i) is a locally elected public official that holds an elected position with a county; or
             342          (b) (i) the appointing entity that appointed the member:
             343          (A) has appointed more than one member to the board of trustees; and
             344          (B) does not have another member appointed by the appointing entity on the board of
             345      trustees that is ineligible under Subsection (3)(a);
             346          (C) the member has served more than six months on April 1, 2009; and
             347          (D) the member has served the least amount of time on the board of trustees of all
             348      members appointed by that appointing entity to the board of trustees that took the oath of office
             349      prior to November 1, 2008.
             350          Section 5. Section 17B-2a-825 is enacted to read:
             351          17B-2a-825. Criminal background checks authorized -- Employment eligibility.
             352          (1) A public transit district may require an individual described in Subsection (2) to:
             353          (a) submit a fingerprint card in a form acceptable to the public transit district; and
             354          (b) consent to a fingerprint background check by:
             355          (i) the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification; and
             356          (ii) the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
             357          (2) A person shall comply with the requirements of Subsection (1) if the person:
             358          (a) is applying for or continuing employment with the public transit district:
             359          (i) working in a safety-sensitive position or other position that may affect:
             360          (A) the safety or well-being of patrons of the public transit district; or
             361          (B) the safety or security of the transit buildings, stations, platforms, railways, bus
             362      systems, and transit vehicles;
             363          (ii) handling personally identifiable information, financial information, or other
             364      sensitive information including personal health information;
             365          (iii) working in security-sensitive areas; or
             366          (iv) handling security-sensitive information, including information system


             367      technologies; or
             368          (b) is seeking access to designated security-sensitive areas.
             369          (3) A public transit district may use the information obtained in accordance with this
             370      section only for one or more of the following purposes:
             371          (a) to determine whether or not an individual is convicted of:
             372          (i) a felony under federal or state law;
             373          (ii) a violation of a federal law, state law, or local ordinance concerning the sale,
             374      manufacture, distribution, warehousing, adulteration, or transportation of an alcoholic
             375      beverage;
             376          (iii) a crime involving moral turpitude; or
             377          (iv) two or more convictions for a violation of driving under the influence of alcohol,
             378      any drug, or the combined influence of alcohol and any drug;
             379          (b) to determine whether or not an individual has accurately disclosed the person's
             380      criminal history on an application or document filed with the public transit district;
             381          (c) to approve or deny an application for employment with the public transit district; or
             382          (d) to take disciplinary action against an employee of the public transit district,
             383      including possible termination of employment.
             384          (4) A person is not eligible for employment with a public transit district in a capacity
             385      described in Subsection (2) if the person has been convicted of any of the offenses described in
             386      Subsection (3).
             387          Section 6. Section 72-1-201 is amended to read:
             388           72-1-201. Creation of Department of Transportation -- Functions, powers, duties,
             389      rights, and responsibilities.
             390          There is created the Department of Transportation which shall:
             391          (1) have the general responsibility for planning, research, design, construction,
             392      maintenance, security, and safety of state transportation systems;
             393          (2) provide administration for state transportation systems and programs;
             394          (3) implement the transportation policies of the state;
             395          (4) plan, develop, construct, and maintain state transportation systems that are safe,
             396      reliable, environmentally sensitive, and serve the needs of the traveling public, commerce, and
             397      industry;


             398          (5) establish standards and procedures regarding the technical details of administration
             399      of the state transportation systems as established by statute and administrative rule;
             400          (6) advise the governor and the Legislature about state transportation systems needs;
             401          (7) coordinate with utility companies for the reasonable, efficient, and cost-effective
             402      installation, maintenance, operation, relocation, and upgrade of utilities within state highway
             403      rights-of-way; [and]
             404          (8) in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah Administrative Rulemaking Act,
             405      make policy and rules for the administration of the department, state transportation systems,
             406      and programs[.]; and
             407          (9) annually report to an appropriate legislative committee as designated by the
             408      Legislative Management Committee the transfers that need to be made between all
             409      transportation-related funds to maintain the state highway construction program as prioritized
             410      by the commission.
             411          Section 7. Section 72-1-301 is amended to read:
             412           72-1-301. Transportation Commission created -- Members, appointment, terms --
             413      Qualifications -- Pay and expenses -- Chair -- Quorum -- Surety bond.
             414          (1) (a) There is created the Transportation Commission which shall consist of seven
             415      members.
             416          (b) The members of the commission shall be residents of Utah.
             417          [(c) No more than four of the commissioners shall be members of any one political
             418      party.]
             419          (c) The members of the commission shall be selected on a nonpartisan basis.
             420          (d) (i) The commissioners shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of the
             421      Senate, for a term of six years, beginning on April 1 of odd-numbered years, except as provided
             422      under Subsection (1)(d)(ii).
             423          (ii) The first two additional commissioners serving on the seven member commission
             424      shall be appointed for terms of two years nine months and four years nine months, respectively,
             425      initially commencing on July 1, 1996, and subsequently commencing as specified under
             426      Subsection (1)(d)(i).
             427          (e) The commissioners serve on a part-time basis.
             428          (f) Each commissioner shall remain in office until a successor is appointed and


             429      qualified.
             430          (2) [The] (a) Except as provided in Subsection (2)(b), the selection of the
             431      commissioners shall be as follows:
             432          [(a)] (i) one commissioner from Box Elder, Cache, or Rich county;
             433          [(b)] (ii) one commissioner from Salt Lake or Tooele county;
             434          [(c)] (iii) one commissioner from Carbon, Emery, Grand, or San Juan county;
             435          [(d)] (iv) one commissioner from Beaver, Garfield, Iron, Kane, Millard, Piute, Sanpete,
             436      Sevier, Washington, or Wayne county;
             437          [(e)] (v) one commissioner from Weber, Davis, or Morgan county;
             438          [(f)] (vi) one commissioner from Juab, Utah, Wasatch, Duchesne, Summit, Uintah, or
             439      Daggett county; and
             440          [(g)] (vii) one commissioner selected from the state at large.
             441          (b) Beginning with the appointment of commissioners on or after July 1, 2009 and
             442      subject to the restriction in Subsection (2)(d), the selection of commissioners shall be as
             443      follows:
             444          (i) four commissioners with one commissioner selected from each of the four regions
             445      established by the department; and
             446          (ii) subject to the restriction in Subsection (2)(c), three commissioners selected from
             447      the state at large.
             448          (c) (i) At least one of the three commissioners appointed under Subsection (2)(b)(ii)
             449      shall be selected from a rural county.
             450          (ii) For purposes of this Subsection (2)(c), a rural county includes a county of the third,
             451      fourth, fifth, or sixth class.
             452          (d) No more than two commissioners appointed under Subsection (2)(b) may be
             453      selected from any one of the four regions established by the department.
             454          (3) (a) Members appointed before May 2, 1996, shall continue to receive the
             455      compensation, per diem, expenses, and benefits they were receiving as of January 1, 1996.
             456          (b) Members appointed after May 2, 1996, shall receive no compensation or benefits
             457      for their services, but may receive per diem and expenses incurred in the performance of the
             458      member's official duties at the rates established by the Division of Finance under Sections
             459      63A-3-106 and 63A-3-107 .


             460          (c) Members may decline to receive compensation, benefits, per diem, and expenses
             461      for their service.
             462          (4) (a) One member of the commission shall be designated by the governor as chair.
             463          (b) The commission shall select one member as vice chair to act in the chair's absence.
             464          (5) Any four commissioners constitute a quorum.
             465          (6) (a) Each member of the commission shall qualify by:
             466          (i) taking the constitutional oath of office; and
             467          (ii) giving a surety bond.
             468          (b) The Division of Finance of the Department of Administrative Services shall
             469      determine the form and amount of the bond, and the state shall pay the bond premium.
             470          Section 8. Section 72-1-303 is amended to read:
             471           72-1-303. Duties of commission.
             472          (1) The commission has the following duties:
             473          [(1)] (a) determining priorities and funding levels of projects in the state transportation
             474      systems for each fiscal year based on project lists compiled by the department;
             475          [(2)] (b) determining additions and deletions to state highways under Chapter 4,
             476      Designation of State Highways Act;
             477          [(3)] (c) holding public hearings and otherwise providing for public input in
             478      transportation matters;
             479          [(4)] (d) making policies and rules in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 3, Utah
             480      Administrative Rulemaking Act, necessary to perform the commission's duties described under
             481      this section;
             482          [(5)] (e) in accordance with Section 63G-4-301 , reviewing orders issued by the
             483      executive director in adjudicative proceedings held in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 4,
             484      Administrative Procedures Act;
             485          [(6)] (f) advising the department in state transportation systems policy;
             486          [(7)] (g) approving settlement agreements of condemnation cases subject to Section
             487      63G-10-401 ;
             488          [(8)] (h) in accordance with Section 17B-2a-807 , appointing a commissioner to serve
             489      as a nonvoting, ex officio member or a voting member on the board of trustees of a public
             490      transit district;


             491          [(9)] (i) in accordance with Section 17B-2a-808 , reviewing, at least annually, the
             492      short-term and long-range public transit plans; and
             493          [(10)] (j) reviewing administrative rules made, amended, or repealed by the
             494      department.
             495          (2) (a) For projects prioritized with funding provided under Sections 72-2-124 and
             496      72-2-125 , the commission shall annually report to a committee designated by the Legislative
             497      Management Committee:
             498          (i) a prioritized list of the new transportation capacity projects in the state
             499      transportation system and the funding levels available for those projects; and
             500          (ii) the unfunded highway construction and maintenance needs within the state.
             501          (b) The committee designated by the Legislative Management Committee under
             502      Subsection (2)(a) shall:
             503          (i) review the list reported by the Transportation Commission; and
             504          (ii) make a recommendation to the Legislature on:
             505          (A) the amount of additional funding to allocate transportation; and
             506          (B) the source of revenue for the additional funding allocation under Subsection
             507      (2)(b)(ii)(A).
             508          Section 9. Section 72-1-305 is amended to read:
             509           72-1-305. Project selection using the written prioritization process -- Public
             510      comment -- Report.
             511          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (4), in determining priorities and funding levels
             512      of projects in the state transportation system under Subsection 72-1-303 (1)(a) that are new
             513      transportation capacity projects, the commission shall use the weighted criteria system adopted
             514      in the written prioritization process under Section 72-1-304 .
             515          (2) Prior to finalizing priorities and funding levels of projects in the state transportation
             516      system, the commission shall conduct public hearings at locations around the state and accept
             517      public comments on:
             518          (a) the written prioritization process;
             519          (b) the merits of new transportation capacity projects that will be prioritized under this
             520      section; and
             521          (c) the merits of new transportation capacity projects as recommended by a consensus


             522      of local elected officials participating in a metropolitan planning organization as defined in
             523      Section 72-1-208.5 .
             524          (3) The commission shall make the weighted criteria system ranking for each project
             525      publicly available prior to the public hearings held under Subsection (2).
             526          (4) (a) If the commission prioritizes a project over another project with a higher rank
             527      under the weighted criteria system, the commission shall identify the change and accept public
             528      comment at a hearing held under this section on the merits of prioritizing the project above
             529      higher ranked projects.
             530          (b) The commission shall make the reasons for the prioritization under Subsection
             531      (4)(a) publicly available.
             532          (5) The executive director or the executive director's designee shall report annually to
             533      the governor and a committee designated by the Legislative Management Committee no later
             534      than the last day of October:
             535          (a) the projects prioritized under this section during the year prior to the report; and
             536          (b) the status and progress of all projects prioritized under this section.
             537          (6) (a) The department may not delay a new transportation capacity project that was
             538      funded by the Legislature in an appropriations act to a different fiscal year than programmed by
             539      the commission due to an unavoidable shortfall in revenues unless the project delays are
             540      prioritized and approved by the Transportation Commission.
             541          (b) The Transportation Commission shall prioritize and approve any new
             542      transportation capacity project delays for projects that were funded by the Legislature in an
             543      appropriations act due to an unavoidable shortfall in revenues.
             544          Section 10. Section 72-2-125 is amended to read:
             545           72-2-125. Critical Highway Needs Fund.
             546          (1) There is created a restricted special revenue fund entitled the Critical Highway
             547      Needs Fund.
             548          (2) The fund consists of monies generated from the following sources:
             549          (a) any voluntary contributions received for the maintenance, construction,
             550      reconstruction, or renovation of state and federal highways;
             551          (b) appropriations made to the fund by the Legislature; and
             552          (c) the sales and use tax revenues deposited into the fund in accordance with Section


             553      59-12-103 .
             554          (3) (a) The fund shall earn interest.
             555          (b) All interest earned on fund monies shall be deposited into the fund.
             556          (4) (a) The executive director shall use monies deposited into the fund to pay:
             557          (i) the costs of right-of-way acquisition, maintenance, construction, reconstruction, or
             558      renovation to state and federal highways identified by the department and prioritized by the
             559      commission in accordance with this Subsection (4); and
             560          (ii) principal, interest, and issuance costs of bonds authorized by Section 63B-16-101 .
             561          (b) (i) The department shall:
             562          (A) establish a complete list of projects to be maintained, constructed, reconstructed, or
             563      renovated using the funding described in Subsection (4)(a) based on the following criteria:
             564          (I) the highway construction project is a high priority project due to high growth in the
             565      surrounding area;
             566          (II) the highway construction project addresses critical access needs that have a high
             567      impact due to commercial and energy development;
             568          (III) the highway construction project mitigates congestion;
             569          (IV) whether local matching funds are available for the highway construction project;
             570      and
             571          (V) the highway construction project is a critical alternative route for priority Interstate
             572      15 reconstruction projects; and
             573          (B) submit the list of projects to the commission for prioritization in accordance with
             574      Subsection (4)(c).
             575          (ii) A project that is included in the list under this Subsection (4):
             576          (A) is not required to be currently listed in the statewide long-range plan; and
             577          (B) is not required to be prioritized through the prioritization process for new
             578      transportation capacity projects adopted under Section 72-1-304 .
             579          (c) (i) The commission shall prioritize the project list submitted by the department in
             580      accordance with Subsection (4)(b).
             581          (ii) For projects prioritized under this Subsection (4)(c), the commission shall give
             582      priority consideration to fully funding a project that meets the criteria under Subsection
             583      (4)(b)(i)(A)(V).


             584          (d) (i) Expenditures of bond proceeds issued in accordance with Section 63B-16-101
             585      by the department for the construction of highway projects prioritized under this Subsection (4)
             586      may not exceed $1,200,000,000.
             587          (ii) Monies expended from the fund for principal, interest, and issuance costs of bonds
             588      issued under Section 63B-16-101 are not considered expenditures for purposes of the
             589      $1,200,000,000 cap under Subsection (4)(d)(i).
             590          (e) (i) Before bonds authorized by Section 63B-16-101 may be issued in any fiscal
             591      year, the department and the commission shall appear before the Executive Appropriations
             592      Committee of the Legislature and present:
             593          (A) the commission's current list of projects established and prioritized in accordance
             594      with this Subsection (4); and
             595          (B) the amount of bond proceeds that the department needs to provide funding for
             596      projects on the project list prioritized in accordance with this Subsection (4) for the next fiscal
             597      year.
             598          (ii) The Executive Appropriations Committee of the Legislature shall review and
             599      comment on the prioritized project list and the amount of bond proceeds needed to fund the
             600      projects on the prioritized list.
             601          (f) The Division of Finance shall, from monies deposited into the fund, transfer the
             602      amount of funds necessary to pay principal, interest, and issuance costs of bonds authorized by
             603      Section 63B-16-101 in the current fiscal year to the appropriate debt service or sinking fund.
             604          (5) When the general obligation bonds authorized by Section 63B-16-101 have been
             605      paid off and the highway projects completed that are included in the prioritized project list
             606      under Subsection (4), the Division of Finance shall transfer any existing balance in the fund
             607      into the Transportation Investment Fund of 2005 created by Section 72-2-124 .
             608          (6) (a) The Division of Finance shall monitor the general obligation bonds authorized
             609      by Section 63B-16-101 .
             610          (b) The department shall monitor the highway construction or reconstruction projects
             611      that are included in the prioritized project list under Subsection (4).
             612          (c) Upon request by the Executive Appropriations Committee of the Legislature:
             613          (i) the Division of Finance shall report to the committee the status of all general
             614      obligation bonds issued under Section 63B-16-101 ; and


             615          (ii) the department shall report to the committee the status of all highway construction
             616      or reconstruction projects that are included in the prioritized project list under Subsection (4).
             617          (d) When the Division of Finance has reported that the general obligation bonds issued
             618      by Section 63B-16-101 have been paid off and the department has reported that projects
             619      included in the prioritized project list are complete to the Executive Appropriations Committee
             620      of the Legislature, the Division of Finance shall transfer any existing fund balance in
             621      accordance with Subsection (5).
             622          (7) (a) Unless prioritized and approved by the Transportation Commission, the
             623      department may not delay a project prioritized under this section to a different fiscal year than
             624      programmed by the commission due to an unavoidable shortfall in revenues if:
             625          (i) the prioritized project was funded by the Legislature in an appropriations act; or
             626          (ii) general obligation proceeds have been issued for the project in the current fiscal
             627      year.
             628          (b) For projects identified under Subsection (7)(a), the commission shall prioritize and
             629      approve any project delays for projects prioritized under this section due to an unavoidable
             630      shortfall in revenues if:
             631          (i) the prioritized project was funded by the Legislature in an appropriations act; or
             632          (ii) general obligation proceeds have been issued for the project in the current fiscal
             633      year.
             634          Section 11. Effective date.
             635          (1) Except as provided in Subsection (2), this bill takes effect on May 12, 2009.
             636          (2) If approved by two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, the
             637      amendments in Sections 17B-2a-802 , 17B-2a-807 , and 17B-2a-807.5 take effect upon approval
             638      by the governor, or the day following the constitutional time limit of Utah Constitution Article
             639      VII, Section 8, without the governor's signature, or in the case of a veto, the date of veto
             640      override.


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