TO: AC Transit Board of Directors
FROM: Michael A. Hursh, General Manager
SUBJECT: Monthly Legislative Report
BRIEFING ITEM
RECOMMENDED ACTION(S):
Title
Consider approving the monthly legislative report.
Body
STRATEGIC IMPORTANCE:
Goal - Strong Public and Policymaker Support
Initiative - Financial Efficiency and Revenue Maximization
The Monthly Legislative Report helps the District track state, regional and federal legislation to ensure alignment with the District's Strategic Plan and the specific goal of having strong public and policy maker support. Policy decisions at all levels of government can positively or negatively affect District operations and revenues and as such, are important to track and influence as needed.
BUDGETARY/FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no budgetary or fiscal impact associated with this report.
BACKGROUND/RATIONALE:
Federal
The House and Senate are both expected to be back in session on May 11. Negotiations regarding the next federal stimulus bill are ongoing.
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) submitted to Congress a request of $23.8 billion to enable transit systems to continue to operate through 2020. Congress provided $25 billion to public transit in the CARES Act.
State
The State's Department of Finance has released a projected $54 billion budget shortfall through next summer. Governor Newsom is preparing the required May Revise that will be released by May 15th. The Department of Finance has issued guidance to all state departments informing them that all aspects of the January budget will be reconsidered in preparation of a bare bones June budget that will be revisited in August.
Additional bills that authors have confirmed as not moving forward this year are:
* AB 2176 (Holden) Free student transit passes: eligibility for state funding
* AB 2777 (Quirk) Alameda-Contra Costa Transit District
* AB 1839 (Bonta) Climate change: California Green New Deal
* AB 2057 (Chiu) San Francisco Bay area...
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