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
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 Update
On Sunday, December 19, Senator Joe Manchin announced that he would not support the President's $1.75 trillion "human" infrastructure package, the Build Back Better plan. As a result, no vote was taken on the bill before year's end, as Democrats had intended. Senate Majority Leader Schumer has committed that the Senate will consider a revised version of the Build Back Better Act in early 2022. At the time of writing, it is unclear what transit provisions and amounts will be included in a revised bill.
The Senate will return to session on January 3. The House is not in session until January 10.
State Update
On Monday, December 20, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California suspended all proceedings related to the U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) determination that the California Public Employees' Pension Reform Act (PEPRA) infringes on collective bargaining rights. The DOL's decision had blocked federal funding to the state's transit agencies. The court's suspension went into immediate effect "to prevent irreparable injury" to California transit agencies while it reviews th...
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