TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: Monthly Legislative Report
BRIEFING ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider receiving the monthly legislative report.
Body
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary or fiscal impact associated with this report.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Federal Legislation Update
Congress is on recess until September 9. On July 30, the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee voted 21-0 to advance S. 2302, the America’s Transportation Infrastructure Act (ATIA). The current bill, known as the FAST Act, is scheduled to expire after September 30, 2020.
Some of the provisions of the proposed bill include:
• $287 billion in highway spending over FY 2021-2025. The majority of those funds (90 percent) would be distributed to the states by current formulas.
• $10.8 billion for programs addressing resiliency and other climate issues, including $1 billion for electric, hydrogen, and natural gas vehicle charging and fueling infrastructure.
Before S. 2302 is considered by the full Senate, several other Committees will need to develop their titles.
State Legislation Update
The Legislature returned on August 12th from summer recess for the remaining five weeks of session. They have until September 13th to move legislation to the Governor. Bills that do not reach the governor’s desk will still have the opportunity to be addressed next year. About 870 total bills will be considered by the fiscal committees by the end of August, and most of these bills are on the respective Suspense Files which were sorted out on Friday, August 30th. After fiscal bills are dispensed with, the remaining two weeks of the legislative year will be focused on floor session.
Regional Update
On August 28, the Contra Costa Transportation Authority (CCTA) approved a proposed transportation expenditure plan for its proposed March 2020 ballot measure. The CCTA Board approved draft language of the expenditure plan, with allocations and policy documents, for release to the Contra Costa cities and ultimately to the County to qualify for the ballot. The final expenditure plan included over $250 million for bus transit operations in West Contra Costa County and another $90 million for West County express bus service, (as compared to the 2016 Measure X, which only offered $110 million for West County bus operations.)
CCTA will now present the expenditure plan and seek resolutions of support from Contra Costa Cities; on the following dates, they will present to Cities in the AC Transit service area: 10/1/19 El Cerrito; 10/22/19 Richmond; 10/21/19 San Pablo. By late October CCTA staff will seek authorization to put the measure on the ballot and by mid-November they will seek a County ordinance to place the TEP on the ballot.
ADVANTAGES/DISADVANTAGES:
This report is provided to inform the Board of monthly legislative activities.
ALTERNATIVES ANALYSIS:
There were no alternatives considered as this report provides an update of monthly legislative activities.
PRIOR RELEVANT BOARD ACTION/POLICIES:
State Report 19-001a: 2019 Federal and State Legislative Advocacy Programs
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Federal Update from Van Scoyoc Associates
2. State Legislative Report from Platinum Advisors
3. State Legislative Bill Matrix
4. 2019 Federal Advocacy Program
5. 2019 State Advocacy Program
Approved by:
Beverly Greene, Executive Director of External Affairs, Marketing & Communications
Prepared by:
Claudia Burgos, Director of Legislative Affairs and Community Relations