House Bill No. [insert number] proposes amendments to the governance structure and operational requirements of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA) in Louisiana. Key changes include the transfer of the authority to appoint new board members from the mayor to the chief executive officer of the parish if a participating parish opts out after August 1, 2024. The bill also mandates that all board members complete at least two hours of transit-specific training within a year of taking office, while removing previous requirements for union experience. Additionally, the frequency of board meetings is increased from one per month to a minimum of ten per year, and the quorum requirements are adjusted to allow for a simple majority when only one parish is represented.

The bill further modifies the composition and responsibilities of the advisory board, which will now include a labor union representative from one of three specified unions and representatives appointed by the presidents of certain educational institutions, including the addition of Delgado Community College. The requirement for advisory board members to receive training on labor relations is removed, and the authority for cities or parishes to audit the RTA is maintained, with the stipulation that any costs incurred for third-party audits will be borne by the requesting city or parish. The bill also repeals several provisions related to the RTA's general powers, including those concerning quarterly reporting and the establishment of investigative committees.

Statutes affected:
HB588 Original: 48:1655(A)(1), 48:1656(23), 48:1(B)(3), 48:1656(24)