Download Zipped Introduced WordPerfect SB0222.ZIP
[Status][Bill Documents][Fiscal Note][Bills Directory]

S.B. 222

             1     

PUBLIC TRANSIT AMENDMENTS

             2     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             5     
House Sponsor: Christopher N. Herrod

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill amends provisions relating to public transit.
             10      Highlighted Provisions:
             11          This bill:
             12          .    authorizes a local district that provides transportation services to adopt a resolution
             13      approving the annexation of the area outside of the local district's boundaries if:
             14              .    the area is within a county that has levied a certain local option sales and use
             15      tax; and
             16              .    the county legislative body has adopted a resolution approving the annexation of
             17      the areas outside of the local district;
             18          .    repeals certain public transit district conflict of interest provisions and clarifies that
             19      each trustee, officer, and employee of a public transit district is subject to the Utah
             20      Public Officers' and Employees' Ethics Act;
             21          .    provides that a county, city, or town legislative body is not required to submit an
             22      opinion question to the county's, city's, or town's registered voters to impose a
             23      certain sales and use tax to fund public transit if the county, city, or town imposes a
             24      certain sales and use tax on or after July 1, 2010, but on or before July 1, 2011; and
             25          .    makes technical changes.
             26      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             27          None


             28      Other Special Clauses:
             29          None
             30      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             31      AMENDS:
             32          17B-1-415, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 350
             33          17B-2a-804, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 281
             34          17B-2a-814, as renumbered and amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 329
             35          59-12-2213, as enacted by Laws of Utah 2010, Chapter 263
             36     
             37      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             38          Section 1. Section 17B-1-415 is amended to read:
             39           17B-1-415. Annexation of wholesale district through expansion of retail provider.
             40          (1) (a) A local district that provides a wholesale service may adopt a resolution
             41      approving the annexation of an area outside the local district's boundaries if:
             42          (i) the area is annexed by or otherwise added to, or is added to the retail service area of,
             43      a municipality or another local district that:
             44          (A) acquires the wholesale service from the local district and provides it as a retail
             45      service;
             46          (B) is, before the annexation or other addition, located at least partly within the local
             47      district; and
             48          (C) after the annexation or other addition will provide to the annexed or added area the
             49      same retail service that the local district provides as a wholesale service to the municipality or
             50      other local district; and
             51          (ii) except as provided in Subsection (2), no part of the area is within the boundaries of
             52      another local district that provides the same wholesale service as the proposed annexing local
             53      district.
             54          (b) For purposes of this section:
             55          (i) a local district providing public transportation service shall be considered to be
             56      providing a wholesale service; and
             57          (ii) a municipality included within the boundaries of the local district providing public
             58      transportation service shall be considered to be acquiring that wholesale service from the local


             59      district and providing it as a retail service and to be providing that retail service after the
             60      annexation or other addition to the annexed or added area, even though the municipality does
             61      not in fact provide that service.
             62          (2) Notwithstanding Subsection (1)(a)(ii), an area outside the boundaries of a local
             63      district providing a wholesale service and located partly or entirely within the boundaries of
             64      another local district that provides the same wholesale service may be annexed to the local
             65      district if:
             66          (a) the conditions under Subsection (1)(a)(i) are present; and
             67          (b) the proposed annexing local district and the other local district follow the same
             68      procedure as is required for a boundary adjustment under Section 17B-1-417 , including both
             69      district boards adopting a resolution approving the annexation of the area to the proposed
             70      annexing local district and the withdrawal of that area from the other district.
             71          (3) A local district that provides transportation services may adopt a resolution
             72      approving the annexation of the area outside of the local district's boundaries if:
             73          (a) the area is within a county that has levied a sales and use tax under Section
             74      59-12-2216 ; and
             75          (b) the county legislative body has adopted a resolution approving the annexation of
             76      the areas outside of the local district.
             77          [(3)] (4) Upon the adoption of an annexation resolution under this section, the board of
             78      the annexing local district shall comply with the requirements of Subsection 17B-1-414 (2), and
             79      the lieutenant governor shall issue a certificate of annexation and send a copy of notice as
             80      provided in Section 67-1a-6.5 .
             81          [(4)] (5) Subsections 17B-1-414 (2) and (3) apply to an annexation under this section.
             82          Section 2. Section 17B-2a-804 is amended to read:
             83           17B-2a-804. Additional public transit district powers.
             84          (1) In addition to the powers conferred on a public transit district under Section
             85      17B-1-103 , a public transit district may:
             86          (a) provide a public transit system for the transportation of passengers and their
             87      incidental baggage;
             88          (b) notwithstanding Subsection 17B-1-103 (2)(g) and subject to Section 17B-2a-817 ,
             89      levy and collect property taxes only for the purpose of paying:


             90          (i) principal and interest of bonded indebtedness of the public transit district; or
             91          (ii) a final judgment against the public transit district if:
             92          (A) the amount of the judgment exceeds the amount of any collectable insurance or
             93      indemnity policy; and
             94          (B) the district is required by a final court order to levy a tax to pay the judgment;
             95          (c) insure against:
             96          (i) loss of revenues from damage to or destruction of some or all of a public transit
             97      system from any cause;
             98          (ii) public liability;
             99          (iii) property damage; or
             100          (iv) any other type of event, act, or omission;
             101          (d) acquire, contract for, lease, construct, own, operate, control, or use:
             102          (i) a right-of-way, rail line, monorail, bus line, station, platform, switchyard, terminal,
             103      parking lot, or any other facility necessary or convenient for public transit service; or
             104          (ii) any structure necessary for access by persons and vehicles;
             105          (e) (i) hire, lease, or contract for the supplying or management of a facility, operation,
             106      equipment, service, employee, or management staff of an operator; and
             107          (ii) provide for a sublease or subcontract by the operator upon terms that are in the
             108      public interest;
             109          (f) operate feeder bus lines and other feeder or ridesharing services as necessary;
             110          (g) accept a grant, contribution, or loan, directly through the sale of securities or
             111      equipment trust certificates or otherwise, from the United States, or from a department,
             112      instrumentality, or agency of the United States, to:
             113          (i) establish, finance, participate as a limited partner or member in a development with
             114      limited liabilities in accordance with Subsection (1)(l), construct, improve, maintain, or operate
             115      transit facilities, equipment, and transit-oriented developments or transit-supportive
             116      developments; or
             117          (ii) study and plan transit facilities in accordance with any legislation passed by
             118      Congress;
             119          (h) cooperate with and enter into an agreement with the state or an agency of the state
             120      to establish transit facilities and equipment or to study or plan transit facilities;


             121          (i) issue bonds as provided in and subject to Chapter 1, Part 11, Local District Bonds,
             122      to carry out the purposes of the district;
             123          (j) from bond proceeds or any other available funds, reimburse the state or an agency of
             124      the state for an advance or contribution from the state or state agency;
             125          (k) do anything necessary to avail itself of any aid, assistance, or cooperation available
             126      under federal law, including complying with labor standards and making arrangements for
             127      employees required by the United States or a department, instrumentality, or agency of the
             128      United States; and
             129          (l) subject to the restriction in Subsection (2), assist in a transit-oriented development
             130      or a transit-supportive development in connection with the economic development of areas in
             131      proximity to a right-of-way, rail line, station, platform, switchyard, terminal, or parking lot, by:
             132          (i) investing in a project as a limited partner or a member, with limited liabilities; or
             133          (ii) subordinating an ownership interest in real property owned by the public transit
             134      district.
             135          (2) (a) A public transit district may only assist in the economic development of areas
             136      under Subsection (1)(l):
             137          (i) in the manner described in Subsection (1)(l)(i) or (ii); and
             138          (ii) on no more than five transit-oriented developments or transit-supportive
             139      developments selected by the board of trustees.
             140          (b) A public transit district may not invest in a transit-oriented development or
             141      transit-supportive development as a limited partner or other limited liability entity under the
             142      provisions of Subsection (1)(l)(i), unless the partners, developer, or other investor in the entity,
             143      makes an equity contribution equal to no less than 25% of the appraised value of the property
             144      to be contributed by the public transit district.
             145          (c) A current board member of a public transit district to which the board member is
             146      appointed may not have any interest in the transactions engaged in by the public transit district
             147      pursuant to Subsection (1)(l)(i) or (ii), except as may be required by the board member's
             148      fiduciary duty as a board member.
             149          (3) A public transit district may be funded from any combination of federal, state, or
             150      local funds.
             151          (4) A public transit district may not acquire property by eminent domain.


             152          Section 3. Section 17B-2a-814 is amended to read:
             153           17B-2a-814. Conflict of interests prohibited -- Disclosure -- Violation -- Penalty.
             154          [(1) As used in this section, "relative" means a parent, spouse, child, grandparent,
             155      grandchild, great grandparent, great grandchild, or sibling of a trustee, officer, or employee.]
             156          [(2) Except as provided in this section, a trustee, officer, or employee of a public transit
             157      district may not be interested in any manner, directly or indirectly, in a contract or in the profits
             158      derived from a contract:]
             159          [(a) awarded by the board of trustees; or]
             160          [(b) made by an officer or employee pursuant to discretionary authority vested in the
             161      officer or employee.]
             162          [(3) Notwithstanding Subsection (2), if a trustee, officer, or employee of a public
             163      transit district is a stockholder, bondholder, director, or other officer or employee of a
             164      corporation contracting with the district, the district may contract with that corporation for its
             165      general benefit unless the trustee, officer, or employee of the district owns or controls, directly
             166      or indirectly, stock or bonds in an amount greater than 5% of the total amount of outstanding
             167      stock or bonds.]
             168          [(4) (a) (i) A trustee, officer, or employee of a public transit district who has, or whose
             169      relative has, a substantial interest in a contract with, sale to, purchase from, or service to the
             170      district shall disclose that interest to the board of trustees of the district in a public meeting of
             171      the board.]
             172          [(ii) The board of trustees of the district shall disclose that interest in the minutes of its
             173      meeting.]
             174          [(b) A trustee, officer, or employee of a public transit district who has, or whose
             175      relative has, a substantial interest in a contract with, sale to, purchase from, or service to the
             176      district may not vote upon or otherwise participate in any manner as a trustee, officer, or
             177      employee in the contract, sale, purchase, or service.]
             178          [(5) A trustee, officer, or employee of a public transit district, in contemplation of
             179      official action by the trustee, officer, or employee or by the district or in reliance on
             180      information to which the trustee, officer, or employee has access in an official capacity and
             181      which has not been made public, commits misuse of official information if the trustee, officer,
             182      or employee:]


             183          [(a) acquires a pecuniary interest in any property, transaction, or enterprise that may be
             184      affected by the information or official action;]
             185          [(b) speculates or wagers on the basis of the information or official action; or]
             186          [(c) aids, advises, or encourages another to do so with intent to confer upon any person
             187      a special pecuniary benefit.]
             188          [(6) Each trustee, officer, and employee who violates this section:]
             189          [(a) is guilty of a class B misdemeanor; and]
             190          [(b) if convicted, shall be terminated from board appointment or district employment.]
             191          Each trustee, officer, and employee of a public transit district is subject to the
             192      provisions of Title 67, Chapter 16, Utah Public Officers' and Employees' Ethics Act.
             193          Section 4. Section 59-12-2213 is amended to read:
             194           59-12-2213. County, city, or town option sales and use tax to fund a system for
             195      public transit -- Base -- Rate.
             196          (1) Subject to the other provisions of this part, a county, city, or town may impose a
             197      sales and use tax under this section of up to:
             198          [(1)] (a) for a county, city, or town other than a county, city, or town described in
             199      Subsection [(2)] (1)(b), .25% on the transactions described in Subsection 59-12-103 (1) located
             200      within the county, city, or town to fund a system for public transit; or
             201          [(2)] (b) for a county, city, or town within which a tax is not imposed under Section
             202      59-12-2216 , .30% on the transactions described in Subsection 59-12-103 (1) located within the
             203      county, city, or town, to fund a system for public transit.
             204          (2) Notwithstanding Section 59-12-2208 , a county, city, or town legislative body is not
             205      required to submit an opinion question to the county's, city's, or town's registered voters in
             206      accordance with Section 59-12-2208 to impose a sales and use tax under this section if the
             207      county, city, or town imposes the sales and use tax under Section 59-12-2216 on or after July 1,
             208      2010, but on or before July 1, 2011.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-9-11 10:51 AM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


[Bill Documents][Bills Directory]