Public Transportation

LWVAL Action Priority Level II - Monitoring occurs; action dependent on opportunity and available resources.

Click a bill to see sponsor(s), summary (including link to full text), League action and justification for that action, and progress of the bill through the legislative progress (not included on monitored-only bills). Inclusion of a bill in this list does not necessarily indicate LWVAL support. The League's position, if any, is noted under League Action & Justification.

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LWVAL has taken a position on this bill.

HB 70 - Transportation Commission established, members, terms, compensation, appointment of Director of Transportation Department, etc.

Sponsor(s): Rep. Cam Ward and Rep. Mac McCutcheon

Summary/Synopsis: This bill establishes the Alabama Transportation Commission and provides for the members, the manner of selection of members, terms, qualifications, duties, responsibilities, compensation, and expenses of the commission. This bill would further provide for: the salary, appointment, qualifications, and authority of the Director of the Department of Transportation; the approval of the director's appointment of a chief engineer; the department's legal division functions and duties; the records maintained by the department; the seals and the power to administer oaths; roads located on state institutions; the procurement of equipment; the director's authority to execute contracts and supplemental contracts for road and bridge construction, maintenance, and repair; and a requirement that the newly created Alabama Transportation Commission approve the letting of contracts for the construction, repair, or renewals of highways, bridges, or culverts in the state. The bill would also prohibit members of the Alabama Transportation Commission from having an interest in any contract for the construction, repair, or maintenance of any road or bridge in this state and would further provide for the promulgation of department rules and the receipt and disbursal of department funds. This bill would amend Section 23-1-249, Code of Alabama 1975, to delete the authority of the director regarding the promulgation of rules and regulations for junkyard control and Section 23-1-286, Code of Alabama 1975, to provide that the authority currently exercised by the director regarding the promulgation of outdoor advertising rules would be exercised by the commission. This bill would also repeal Section 23-1-41, Code of Alabama 1975, regarding self-insurance for department employees, and Section 23-1-63, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the limitation of obligations on the inauguration date of the incoming Governor.
Download original HB 70. (See below for substitute and amendments.)

League Action & Justification: LWVAL supports HB 70.

Bill Progress in the Legislature:
1st Read: 1/12/10 and assigned to 1/14/2010: 2nd reading and place on calendar with one substitute pending 3rd reading and favorable from GO
1/19/2010: 1st amendment offered (116816-1) and tabled. 2nd amendment offered (116782-1) and passed. 3rd reading and passed by House; sent to Senate.
2/2/2010: 1st reading in Senate and sent to Commerce, Transportation, & Utilities

CALL TO ACTION! - HB 116 - Motor vehicles, taxes and fees, authorized to be used for public transportation, Amendment 93, (Section 111.06, Recompiled Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended), am'd., const. amend.

Supporter(s): Rep. Patricia Todd

Summary/Synopsis: Under existing law, funds derived from fees and taxes levied by the state relating to the use and operation of motor vehicles and motor vehicle fuels may only be used for the construction, maintenance, and repair of public highways and bridges and for costs related to traffic regulation and enforcement. This bill would propose an amendment to Amendment 93, as amended by Amendment 354, to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, now appearing as Section 111.06 of the Official Recompilation of the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, as amended, to also authorize these funds to be used for public transportation.
League Action & Justification: LWVAL supports HB 116. Issues CALL TO ACTION 2/17/10 to urge members of the House Gov't Appropriations Committee to support HB 116. See Bill Progress. Read CALL TO ACTION.

Bill Progress in the Legislature:
1st Read: 1/12/10 and assigned to Public hearing was scheduled in Gov.Appropriations, Wed., 2/17/10, 1:30 p.m., Room 617.
4/14/2010: 2nd read and placed on calendar; indefinitely postponed.

SB 274 - Senior Services Department, United We Ride Commission, established to provide transportation for individuals with disabilities, the elderly, and individuals with low incomes, members, terms, duties, annual report to Governor

Sponsor(s): Sen. J. T. "Jabo" Waggoner

Summary/Synopsis: Senior Services Department, United We Ride Commission, established to provide transportation for individuals with disabilities, the elderly, and individuals with low incomes, members, terms, duties, annual report to Governor.
League Action & Justification: LWVAL opposes SB 274. The bill would  centralize control of all monies available from the Federal Government to the  Department of Senior Services under Commissioner Irene Collins.  United  We Ride is SUPPOSED to be...and designed by the Federal  Government to be an INCLUSIVE program that provides public transportation to all who need it.  By concentrating it in the hands of the Commissioner, it would defeat the purpose of United We Ride.

Bill Progress in the Legislature:
1st reading: 1/19/10 and referred to 2/2/10: 2nd reading and placed on calendar. Pending 3rd reading Favorable from Governmental Affairs.

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