BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 1757 Page 1 ASSEMBLY THIRD READING AB 1757 (Waldron) As Amended May 5, 2016 Majority vote ------------------------------------------------------------------ |Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------| |Local |7-0 |Eggman, Waldron, | | |Government | |Alejo, Bonilla, Chiu, | | | | |Cooley, Gordon | | | | | | | |----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------| |Appropriations |15-0 |Gonzalez, Bloom, | | | | |Bonilla, Bonta, | | | | |Calderon, McCarty, | | | | |Eggman, Eduardo | | | | |Garcia, Chau, Holden, | | | | |Obernolte, Quirk, | | | | |Santiago, Weber, Wood | | | | | | | | | | | | ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUMMARY: Increases the North County Transit District's (District) compensation limits for the District's Board of Directors (Board). Specifically, this bill: AB 1757 Page 2 1)Increases, from $75 to $150, the compensation to be paid to Board members and their alternates for each day the member or alternate attends meetings of the Board, and increases the total amount of this compensation from $300 per month to $750 per month. 2)Removes a requirement that the Board adopt a resolution before allowing Board members and alternates to receive compensation for representing the Board at meetings of other governmental entities and public agencies, and increases the compensation for these activities to the same amounts in 1) above. 3)Provides that no reimbursement is required by this bill because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency are the result of a program for which legislative authority was requested by that local agency, as specified. EXISTING LAW: 1)Requires each member of the Board, including alternate members that are appointed, to be paid $75 for each day the member or alternate attends meetings of the Board, not to exceed $300 in any month, as well as necessary and reasonable expenses in performing duties as a Board member. 2)Authorizes the Board, by resolution, to compensate members and alternates, in addition to the compensation allowed in 1) above, for representing the Board at specified meetings of other governmental entities and public agencies. Allows compensation to be in the same amounts specified in 1) above. AB 1757 Page 3 FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee: 1)In Fiscal Year 2015, the District spent approximately $11,850 on Board compensation, which averages approximately 17 meetings per year for a nine-member board. This bill would double that amount to $23,700 annually, assuming the same level of participation at meetings by the Board. Board member compensation has not been increased since 1988. 2)The bill contains a "Local Request Disclaimer," meaning that no state reimbursement of local costs is required. COMMENTS: 1)Bill Summary. This bill raises the compensation amounts that must be paid to the District's Board members and alternates for each meeting of the District's Board, and for meetings of other governmental entities and public agencies that Board members or alternates attend as representatives of the Board, from $75 to $150 per meeting. This bill also raises the monthly cap for this compensation from $300 to $750. This bill also removes a requirement that the District's Board pass a resolution to authorize Board members or alternates to receive compensation for attending meetings of other governmental entities and public agencies. This bill provides that no reimbursement is required by the bill because the only costs that may be incurred by a local agency are the result of a program for which legislative authority was requested by that local agency. This bill is sponsored by the District. 2)Author's Statement. According to the author, "Currently, District Board Members are compensated at $75 per meeting, an amount that has remained unchanged since 1988. This amount is AB 1757 Page 4 also only half of what representatives of other local and regional boards receive for the same commitment of time. In addition, Board Members routinely serve on other regional boards on behalf of the District, where their counterparts receive compensation that is double their amount. This proposal would ensure compensation for Board Members is commensurate with that of other regional entities they serve on for the District." 3)Background. SB 1703 (Peace), Chapter 743, Statutes of 2002, created a consolidated transportation agency in San Diego from specified existing agencies, including the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), the San Diego Metropolitan Transit Development Board (MTDB), and the District, and authorized that agency to assume certain responsibilities. SANDAG is responsible for many public transit and long-term transportation planning and programming responsibilities that formerly resided with MTDB and the District Board. SB 1703 established the general authority and powers of the revamped SANDAG in an attempt to create an agency with the power to develop a comprehensive regional public transportation system. In addition to the planning functions, SB 1703 transferred project development and construction activities to SANDAG, except on certain existing projects, and sought to refocus MTDB and the District primarily as agencies operating public transit services. 4)Arguments in Support. The District, sponsor of this measure, states, "This is an important effort to ensure parity of the District's board compensation?with other transit agencies in the region." 5)Arguments in Opposition. None on file. AB 1757 Page 5 Analysis Prepared by: Angela Mapp / L. GOV. / (916) 319-3958 FN: 0002930