BILL ANALYSIS
AB 644
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Date of Hearing: May 13, 2009
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Kevin De Leon, Chair
AB 644 (Caballero) - As Amended: May 7, 2009
Policy Committee: Local
GovernmentVote:7-0
Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program:
Yes Reimbursable: No
SUMMARY
This bill creates the Monterey-Salinas Transit District, which
is responsible for providing public transportation throughout
Monterey County. Specifically, the bill:
1)States that effective July 1, 2010, the existing
Monterey-Salinas Transit Joint Powers Agency is dissolved and
the District is vested with, all of the rights, powers,
duties, and obligations of the agency.
2)States that effective July 1, 2010, that specified cities -
including Carmel-by-the-Sea, Del Rey Oaks, Marina, Monterey,
Pacific Grove, Salinas, and Seaside - as well as the County of
Monterey are included within the District.
3)Provides that the District will act as the consolidated
transportation services agency for the County and the regional
transportation planning agency.
4)States that District shall be governed by a 13-member board.
5)Transfers employees of the existing joint powers agency to the
new district without any break in service or any loss or
reduction of compensation or benefits, except as may be
imposed by specific action of the Board of Directors of the
Monterey-Salinas Transit District.
FISCAL EFFECT
Any local costs associated with creation of the new district are
not state reimbursable.
AB 644
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COMMENTS
Purpose . According to the author, the purpose of this bill is
to create a new transit district in order to provide more
flexibility to the county to offset reductions in state funding
for transit programs. Specifically, the new district would have
the power to seek voter approval of a continuous local funding
source for public transit services, and the authority to issue
bonds to finance major capital projects, such as bus
replacement.
Analysis Prepared by : Brad Williams / APPR. / (916) 319-2081