House Bill 1057

(As Sent to Governor)

AN ACT TO CREATE THE PUBLIC TRANSIT TASK FORCE TO STUDY AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE LEGISLATURE WITH REGARD TO PRESENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF THE STATEWIDE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND INFRASTRUCTURE; TO PROVIDE THAT MEMBERS SHALL SERVE WITHOUT PER DIEM OR EXPENSES; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:

SECTION 1. (1) There is created the Public Transit Task Force to study and make recommendations with regard to present and future needs of public transportation in Mississippi. The task force shall make a report of its findings and recommendations to the Legislature during the 2011 and 2012 Regular Legislative Sessions.

(2) The task force shall be composed of the following members:

(a) The Chairman of the House Transportation Committee;

(b) The Chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee;

(d) One (1) member of the Senate appointed by the Chairman of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee;

(e) Two (2) members of the Mississippi Public Transportation Association appointed by the association's executive director;

(f) The Director of the Public Transit Division of the Mississippi Department of Transportation;

(g) The Executive Director of the Mississippi Development Authority, or his designee;

(h) The Executive Director of the Southern High-Speed Rail Commission, or his designee;

(i) Three (3) persons appointed by the Governor, one (1) from a consumer advisory group composed of citizens who use that public transit on a regular basis, one (1) from the Mississippi State University department; or disciplines that study public transportation; and one (1) who represents either a metropolitan planning organization or a planning and development district.

(3) Appointments shall be made within thirty (30) days after the effective date of this act, and, within fifteen (15) days thereafter on a day to be designated jointly by the Chair of the House Transportation Committee and the Chair of the Senate Highways and Transportation Committee, the task force shall meet and organize by selecting from its membership a chairman and a vice chairman. The vice chairman shall also serve as secretary and shall be responsible for keeping all records of the task force. A majority of the members of the task force shall constitute a quorum. In the selection of its officers and the adoption of rules, resolutions and reports, an affirmative vote of a majority of the task force shall be required. All members shall be notified in writing of all meetings, such notices to be electronically transmitted or mailed at least seven (7) days before the date on which a meeting is to be held.

(4) The task force shall be assisted by administrative and legal staff members of the Legislature and any other staff assistance requested of the Mississippi Department of Transportation and the Mississippi Development Authority. To effectuate the purposes of this section, any department, division, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or of any political subdivision thereof, at the request of the chairman of the task force, shall provide to the task force such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the task force properly to carry out its duties.

SECTION 2. In order to carry out the functions and responsibilities necessary to study and make recommendations to the Legislature, the Public Transit Task Force shall:

(a) Form task force committees based on specific areas of expertise to study the present statewide passenger transit system and infrastructure, including rail and all other forms of public transportation, and to make recommendations for its future construction, rehabilitation, maintenance and improvement, with an emphasis on passenger service areas that are both intercity and within cities.

(b) Review and consider coordinated transportation plans and related studies done by or through existing state agencies and advisory, policy or research organizations, including the passenger component of the State Rail Plan described in Section 57-43-1.

(d) Consider efforts of stakeholder groups to comply with federal requirements for coordinated planning and passenger service delivery.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage.