The bill amends RCW 36.57A.050 to enhance the representation of labor within public transportation benefit area governing bodies in Washington State. It establishes that these governing bodies will now include a voting member from a labor organization, recognizing the contributions of labor representatives who have served nonvoting roles since 2010. The governing body will consist of elected officials and this labor representative, ensuring that the interests of the community and transit employees are adequately represented. Additionally, the maximum number of voting members for a single county public transportation benefit area is increased from 11 to 12, and for multicounty areas from 17 to 18.

Furthermore, the bill outlines the composition and selection process for the governing body, emphasizing proportional representation based on population and the inclusion of transit-using members who are not employees of the transit agency. It mandates that meetings be accessible by transit and that transit-using members receive training on relevant public meeting and ethics laws. The bill also specifies that the labor representative will be recommended by the labor organization representing public transportation employees, and it includes provisions for travel expense reimbursement and per diem compensation for members of the governing body.

Statutes affected:
Original bill: 36.57A.050