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2024 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 544
BY REPRESENTATIVE BOYD
TRANSPORTATION: Provides relative to the Regional Transit Authority
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 48:1655(A)(1)(introductory paragraph) and (2) and 1656(8) and
3 (23) and to enact R.S. 48:1656(24) through (26) and 1656.1, relative to the Regional
4 Transit Authority Board of commissioners requirements; to provide for certain
5 powers and authority; to provide for the creation of an advisory board to advise and
6 make recommendations to the authority; to provide for penalties; and to provide for
7 related matters.
8Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
9 Section 1. R.S. 48:1655(A)(1)(introductory paragraph) and (2) and 1656(8) and (23)
10are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 48:1656(24) through (26) and 1656.1 are hereby
11enacted to read as follows:
12 §1655. Board of commissioners; membership; terms
13 A.(1) The board of commissioners of the authority shall be composed of
14 three members from each participating parish appointed by the chief executive
15 officer of that parish, subject to the approval of its governing authority, one member
16 appointed from House District 102 by the state representative representing the
17 district beginning on September 1, 2024, and this appointment shall rotate every four
18 years thereafter between the member appointed from the house district and a member
19 appointed from Senate District 7 by the state senator representing the district, and
20 two members appointed by the chief executive officer of the parish with the greatest
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HB NO. 544
1 percentage of public transit revenue operating miles from recommendations of the
2 legislative delegation of that parish as follows:
3 * * *
4 (2) Each member appointed by the chief executive officer of a parish shall
5 be domiciled within the parish. Further, each member appointed to the authority by
6 the council or parish legislator shall possess the minimum transit expertise standards
7 and required training and previous union experience. The transit minimum standards
8 shall be established by the board of commissioners by January 1, 2025, and shall
9 then apply to all newly appointed commissioners. The city council has the ability
10 to confirm and recall board members.
11 * * *
12 §1656. General powers
13 The authority shall have all powers necessary or convenient to accomplish
14 the aforesaid purposes, including but not limited to the following:
15 * * *
16 (8) The power to make and execute all contracts and other instruments
17 necessary or convenient to the exercise of the powers of the authority, including the
18 power to contract for managerial and operating services, provided that management
19 and labor attempt to resolve all contracts bilaterally before involving a mediator.
20 * * *
21 (23) The power to require quarterly reporting of the Regional Transit
22 Authority funds and functioning.
23 (24) The power to establish and address situations where the Regional
24 Transit Authority violates state and city laws and establish penalties.
25 (25) The power to establish an investigative committee for the following:
26 probe waste, bid rigging, abuse of employees, and labor law violations.
27 (26) Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary,
28 including the provisions of R.S. 45:161 et seq., the authority created herein and any
29 entity contracted to manage or operate the authority shall not be deemed a "person"
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HB NO. 544
1 as defined in R.S. 45:162 or a "common carrier" as defined in R.S. 45:162 nor shall
2 the authority or any entity contracted to manage or operate the authority be construed
3 or interpreted to be such. Additionally, the authority and any entity contracted to
4 manage or operate the authority shall not be deemed to be a common carrier, or
5 interpreted to be such by any court of this state in a suit for personal injury or
6 property damage.
7 §1656.1. The Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board; creation; composition;
8 powers
9 A. The Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board, hereinafter referred to
10 as the "advisory board", is hereby created to assist the Regional Transit Authority
11 and shall have the purpose, composition, duties, and functions provided in this
12 Section.
13 B.(1) The purpose of the advisory board is to advise and make
14 recommendations to the Regional Transit Authority in making informed decisions
15 regarding the functions outlined in R.S. 48:1654(B).
16 (2) The advisory board shall not have the power to vote on any matters to be
17 decided by the board of commissioners.
18 (3) The advisory board shall be required to meet quarterly with the board of
19 commissioners.
20 C. The advisory board shall be composed of nine persons as follows:
21 (1) An employee of the Regional Transit Authority appointed by the chief
22 executive officer.
23 (2) A member of the Amalgamated Transit Union appointed by the president
24 and business agent.
25 (3) A member from the Downtown Development District appointed by the
26 executive director.
27 (4) The president of each of the following universities: Loyola University,
28 Tulane University, Xavier University, Dillard University, Southern University at
29 New Orleans, and the University of Holy Cross.
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HB NO. 544
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 544 Reengrossed 2024 Regular Session Boyd
Abstract: Provides relative to the membership and certain powers of the Regional Transit
Authority Board. Creates the Regional Transit Authority Advisory board and
provides for its purpose, composition, and powers.
Present law requires the board of commissioners of the authority be composed of three
members from each participating parish appointed by the chief executive officer of that
parish, subject to the approval of its governing authority.
Present law specifies that each member appointed by the chief executive officer of a parish
must be domiciled within that parish.
Present law requires that one member be appointed from House District 102 by the state
representative representing the district beginning on Sept. 1, 2024, and specifies that the
appointment rotates every four years between the members appointed from the house district
and a member appointed from Senate District 7 by the state senator representing the district.
Proposed law adds additional qualifications to present law for the board of commissioners
and members. Specifies that each member appointed must possess minium transit expertise
standards, the required training, and have previous union experience. Further specifies that
the transit minimum standards be established by Jan. 1, 2025, and will apply to all newly
appointed commissioners. Grants the City Council of New Orleans authority to recall and
confirm members of the board.
Present law grants authority to make and execute all contracts and other instruments
necessary or convenient, including the power to contract for managerial and operating
services.
Proposed law makes authority in present law contingent on management and labor
attempting to resolve all contracts bilaterally before involving a mediator.
Proposed law specifies that quarterly reporting of the Regional Transit Authority (RTA)
funds is required, and establishes penalties for when the RTA breaks city and state laws.
Proposed law provides the power to establish and address situations where the RTA violates
state and city laws and establish penalties.
Proposed law gives the authority the power to probe waste, bid rigging, abuse of employees,
and labor law violations.
Proposed law creates the Regional Transit Authority Advisory board and provides for its
purpose, composition, and powers.
Proposed law specifies that the advisory board is created to assist and advise the RTA and
make recommendations to make informed decisions regarding the functions outlined in
present law.
Proposed law specifies that the advisory board does not have the power to vote on any
matters decided on by the board of commissioners. Requires the advisory board is to meet
quarterly with the board of commissioners.
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HB NO. 544
Proposed law requires the advisory board be composed of nine persons as follows:
(1)An employee of the Regional Transit Authority appointed by the chief
executive officer.
(2)A member of the Amalgamated Transit Union appointed by the president and
business agent.
(3) A member from the Downtown Development District appointed by the
executive director.
(4)The president of each of the following universities: Loyola University,
Tulane University, Xavier University, Dillard University, Southern
University at New Orleans, and the University of Holy Cross
(Amends R.S. 48:1655(A)(1)(introductory paragraph) and (2) and 1658(8) and (23); Adds
R.S. 48:1656(24)-(26) and 1656.1)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Transportation,
Highways and Public Works to the original bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Revert back to present law by changing the approval authority from the city
council to the parish's governing authority.
3. Remove the two members to be appointed from submissions by the parish's
legislative delegation.
4. Add two members to the Regional Transit Authority board of commissioners as
follows: (a) one member appointed from House District 102 by the state
representative who represents the district and (b) one member appointed from
Senate District 7 by the state senator who represents the district.
5. Add a requirement that each member appointed to the authority possess previous
union experience.
6. Remove a provision that would have required the powers of the Regional Transit
Authority board of commissioners to include at least one designated
representative from the authority's non-management labor force.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes.
2. Add one member to the Regional Transit Authority board of commissioners to
be appointed from House District 102 by the state representative representing the
district to begin on September 1, 2024, and requires the appointment to rotate
every four years between a member appointed from the house district and a
member appointed from Senate District 7 by the state senator representing the
district.
3. Remove a provision that would have required two members of the Regional
Transit Authority board of commissioners as follows: (a) one member appointed
from House District 102 by the state representative who represents the district
and (b) one member appointed from Senate District 7 by the state senator who
represents the district.
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