The bill amends RCW 36.57A.050 to enhance the governance of public transportation benefit areas by adding two voting members who are transit users to the governing body. The new provisions specify that these transit-using members must be appointed by the elected official voting members and cannot be employees of the transit agency. One member must primarily rely on public transportation, while the other must represent a community-based organization and occasionally use public transportation. Additionally, the bill increases the maximum number of voting members on a single county public transportation benefit area governing body from nine to eleven and from fifteen to seventeen for multicounty areas.

The bill also includes adjustments to compensation for members of the authority, raising the daily compensation limit from $44 to $44, with the possibility of increasing it to $90 through resolution. Furthermore, it mandates that the compensation thresholds be adjusted for inflation every five years starting January 1, 2024. The act is set to take effect on January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 36.57A.050
Substitute Bill: 36.57A.050
Bill as Passed Legislature: 36.57A.050
Session Law: 36.57A.050