CHAPTER 2. Creation of Commissions [130050. - 130059.]

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC 2.
in effect

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130050.1. Section 130050.1.

There is hereby created the Ventura County Transportation Commission. The commission shall be the successor agency to the Ventura County Association of Governments and shall assume all assets and liabilities of that association. Notwithstanding Section 180050, the Board of Supervisors of Ventura County may designate the commission as the authority to carry out the provisions of Division 19 (commencing with Section 180000).

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130050.2. Section 130050.2.

There is hereby created the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The authority shall be the single successor agency to the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission as provided by the act that enacted this section.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051. Section 130051.

The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority consists of 14 members, as follows: (a) Five members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors. If the number of members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is increased, the authority shall, within 60 days of the increase, submit a plan to the Legislature for revising the composition of the authority. (b) The Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. (c) Two public members and one member of the City Council of the City of Los Angeles appointed by the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles. (d) Four members, each of whom shall be a mayor or a member of a city council, appointed by the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee. For purposes of the selection of these four members, the County of Los Angeles, excluding the City of Los Angeles, shall be divided into the following four sectors: (1) The North County/San Fernando Valley sector. (2) The Southwest Corridor sector. (3) The San Gabriel Valley sector. (4) The Southeast Long Beach sector. The League of California Cities, Los Angeles County Division, shall define the sectors. Every city within a sector shall be entitled to vote to nominate one or more candidates from that sector for consideration for appointment by the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee. A city’s vote shall be weighted in the same proportion that its population bears to the total population of all cities within the sector. The members appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall be appointed by the Los Angeles County City Selection Committee upon an affirmative vote of its members which represent a majority of the population of all cities within the county, excluding the City of Los Angeles. The members selected by the city selection committee shall serve four-year terms with no limitation on the number of terms that may be served by any individual. The city selection committee may shorten the initial four-year term for one or more of the members for the purpose of ensuring that the members will serve staggered terms. (e) If the population of the City of Los Angeles, at any time, becomes less than 35 percent of the combined population of all cities in the county, the position of one of the two public members appointed pursuant to subdivision (c), as determined by the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles by lot, shall be vacated, and the vacant position shall be filled by appointment by the city selection committee pursuant to subdivision (d) from a city not represented by any other member appointed pursuant to subdivision (d). (f) One nonvoting member appointed by the Governor.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.1. Section 130051.1.

Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 130051, if a member appointed by the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles is not a member of the city council of that city, the person appointed may serve for 60 days without consent of the city council.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.6. Section 130051.6.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), each member of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall serve a term of four years or until his or her successor is appointed and qualified. A member may be removed at the pleasure of the appointing authority. A member may be reappointed for additional terms without limitation on the number of reappointments. Other than the member initially appointed by the Governor, and members appointed to staggered terms pursuant to subdivision (e) of Section 130051, the members initially appointed shall serve until January 1, 1997. (b) The membership of any member serving on the authority as a result of holding another public office shall terminate when the member ceases holding the other public office.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.7. Section 130051.7.

(a) The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and the Southern California Rapid Transit District shall conduct joint regular meetings at least once during each quarter of the calendar year. (b) Notwithstanding subdivisions (a) and (b) of Section 130051, the members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, rather than their alternates, shall personally serve at the joint meetings. (c) Notwithstanding Section 30201, the members of the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, rather than their appointees, shall personally serve at the joint meetings. (d) Notwithstanding Section 30201, the Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, rather than the mayor’s appointee, shall personally serve at the joint meetings as one of the two directors representing the City of Los Angeles. (e) It is the intent of the Legislature that reasonable efforts be made to discuss major fiscal and policy items related to the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and the Southern California Rapid Transit District at the meetings required by subdivision (a). This statement of legislative intent shall not be construed as requiring any action which would interfere with, delay, or otherwise impede the orderly and proper functioning of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission or the Southern California Rapid Transit District.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.9. Section 130051.9.

(a) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall appoint a full-time chief executive officer who shall act for the authority under its direction and perform those duties delegated by the authority. (b) The chief executive officer shall be appointed to a term of four years and shall be removed from office only upon the occurrence of one or both of the following: (1) A two-thirds majority of the members of the authority votes for removal. (2) The chief executive officer violates a federal or state law, regulation, local ordinance, or policy or practice of the authority, relative to ethical practices, including, but not limited to, the acceptance of gifts or contributions. (c) The chief executive officer shall approve and award all contracts for construction, and that approval shall be based upon the lowest responsible and responsive bid submitted. (d) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall appoint a general counsel and board secretary.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.10. Section 130051.10.

(a) The members of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall be appointed no later than February 1, 1993. The authority shall have no powers, duties, or responsibilities until February 1, 1993. (b) From February 1, 1993, until April 1, 1993, the Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation Authority, exclusively, may exercise any of the powers of the board of directors of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the governing body of the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, except those powers that the authority has expressly delegated to the district or to the commission.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.11. Section 130051.11.

(a) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority may determine its organizational structure, which may include, but is not limited to, the establishment of departments, divisions, subsidiary units, or similar entities. Any department, division, subsidiary unit, or similar entity established by the authority shall be referred to in this chapter as an “organizational unit.” The authority shall, at a minimum, establish the following organizational units: (1) A transit construction organizational unit to assume the construction responsibilities for all exclusive public mass transit guideway construction projects in Los Angeles County. (2) An operating organizational unit with the following responsibilities: (A) The operating responsibilities of the former Southern California Rapid Transit District on all exclusive public mass transit guideway projects in the County of Los Angeles. (B) The operation of bus routes operated by the former Southern California Rapid Transit District, and all the duties, obligations, and liabilities of the district relating to those bus routes. (3) A transportation planning and programming organizational unit with all planning responsibilities previously performed by the former Southern California Rapid Transit District and the former Los Angeles County Transportation Commission. (b) Nothing in this section shall be construed to require specific bus routes to be operated. The authority or the operating organizational unit may make any adjustment with respect to bus routes, bus services, or both, which is within the power of the former Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, or the former Southern California Rapid Transit District. (c) Any obligations of the former Southern California Rapid Transit District arising out of a collective bargaining agreement entered into by the district shall be the exclusive obligations of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. It is the intent of the Legislature that the rights or obligations under any collective bargaining agreement in existence on January 1, 1993, not be enlarged or diminished by this section or any other provision of the act which added this section. (d) No collective bargaining agreement entered into by the former Southern California Rapid Transit District on or after January 1, 1993, shall be effective unless approved by the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The authority’s approval of an agreement shall cause the agreement to be binding upon the authority. (e) On and after April 1, 1993, any reference to the former Southern California Rapid Transit District in Article 10 (commencing with Section 30750) of Chapter 5 of Part 3 of Division 10 is deemed to refer to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. (f) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority may administratively delegate to an organizational unit or to its chief executive officer any powers and duties it deems appropriate. Powers and duties which may be delegated to an organizational unit include, but are not limited to, the following: (1) The power of eminent domain. (2) Approval of contracts, except the final approval of labor contracts. (3) Hearing and resolving bid protests. (4) Preparation of supporting documents and findings, and approval of contracts, under Sections 130233, 130234, 130236, and 130237 within guidelines adopted by the board of directors. (g) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall establish a citizens’ advisory council pursuant to subdivision (d) of Section 130105.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.12. Section 130051.12.

(a) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall, at a minimum, reserve to itself exclusively, all of the following powers and responsibilities: (1) Establishment of overall goals and objectives to achieve optimal transport service for the movement of goods and people on a countywide basis. (2) Adoption of the aggregate budget for all organizational units of the authority. (3) Designation of additional included municipal operators pursuant to subdivision (f) of Section 99285. (4) Approval of final rail corridor selections. (5) Final approval of labor contracts covering employees of the authority and organizational units of the authority. (6) Establishment of the authority’s organizational structure. (7) Conducting hearings and the setting of fares for the operating organizational unit established pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 130051.11. (8) (A) Approval of transportation zones. (B) In determining the cost-effectiveness of any proposed transportation zone, the authority may not approve or disapprove a transportation zone based upon consideration of rates of wages and other forms of compensation or hours and working conditions of employees of the proposed transportation zone. (C) Any determination of efficiencies that may be derived from the approval of a transportation zone shall include consideration of maintaining the prevailing rate of wages, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment contained in current collective bargaining agreements applicable to the authority as required under subdivision (d) of Section 130051.11. (D) A proposed transportation zone is not required to demonstrate lower operating costs than those of the existing operator or operators of the service to be transferred to the zone, but shall demonstrate that the net cost will not be greater than the current service. (9) Approval of the issuance of any debt instrument with a maturity date that exceeds the end of the fiscal year in which it is issued. (10) Approval of benefit assessment districts and assessment rates. (11) Approval of contracts for transit equipment acquisition that exceed five million dollars ($5,000,000), and making the findings required by subdivision (c) of Section 130238. (b) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall in conjunction with the other municipal operators in the County of Los Angeles perform a security assessment once every five years to determine the safety and security measures required to protect the operation of their systems and their passengers.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.13. Section 130051.13.

On April 1, 1993, the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission are abolished. Upon the abolishment of the district and the commission, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall succeed to any or all of the powers, duties, rights, obligations, liabilities, indebtedness, bonded and otherwise, immunities, and exemptions of the district and its board of directors and the commission and its governing body.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.14. Section 130051.14.

On and after April 1, 1993, any reference in this part, or in any other provision of law or regulation, to the Southern California Rapid Transit District or to the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission or to the county transportation commission in general shall be deemed to refer to the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.15. Section 130051.15.

(a) Upon the abolishment of the Southern California Rapid Transit District and the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall assume the rights and obligations of the district and the commission under any contract to which the district or the commission is a party and which is to be performed, in whole or in part, on or after January 1, 1993. All real and personal property owned by the district or the commission shall be transferred to the authority by operation of law. (b) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall assume, without any condition whatsoever, all responsibilities and obligations previously assumed by the Southern California Rapid Transit District or the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission with regard to the full funding agreement, including all agreements pursuant to Section 13(c) of the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 which relate to the full funding agreement, with the Federal Transit Administration for the funding of the Los Angeles County Metro Rail Project. It is the intent of the Legislature that nothing in this act shall enlarge or diminish the projects covered or any rights or obligations under any existing agreements pursuant to Section 13(c). (c) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall not, until April 1, 1993, renew or extend any personal services contract entered into between either the Los Angeles County Transportation Commission or the Southern California Rapid Transit District and an employee or former employee of either agency prior to January 1, 1993.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.16. Section 130051.16.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall assume the duties, obligations, and liabilities of the Southern California Rapid Transit District, including those duties, obligations, and liabilities arising from or relating to collective bargaining agreements or labor obligations imposed by state or federal law, only to the extent that the authority is acting pursuant to specific duties, obligations, liabilities, rights, or powers to which it succeeded as a result of the abolishment of the district pursuant to Section 130051.13.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.17. Section 130051.17.

Any gifts received by members of the board or employees of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall be governed by applicable state law and the authority’s administrative code.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.18. Section 130051.18.

(a) This section, in addition to rules or codes adopted by the board of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority, shall regulate lobbying of the authority. (b) For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) “Activity expense” means any payment, including any gift, made to, or directly benefiting, any authority official or member of their immediate family, made by a lobbyist, lobbying firm, or lobbyist employer. (2) “Administrative testimony” means influencing or attempting to influence authority action undertaken by any person or entity who does not seek to enter into a contract or other arrangement with the authority by acting as counsel in, appearing as a witness in, or providing written submissions, including answers to inquiries, which become a part of the record of, any proceeding of the authority that is conducted as an open public hearing for which public notice is given. (3) “Authority” means the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority and all of its organizational units. (4) “Authority action” means the drafting, introduction, consideration, modification, enactment, or defeat of an ordinance, resolution, contract, or report by the governing board of an organizational unit of the authority, or by an authority official, including any action taken, or required to be taken, by a vote of the members of the authority or by the members of the governing board of an organizational unit of the authority, except those actions relating to Article 10 (commencing with Section 30750) of Chapter 5 of Part 3 of Division 10. (5) “Authority official” means any member of the authority, member of an organizational unit of the authority, or employee of the authority. (6) (A) “Contact” means any communication, oral or written, including communication made through an agent, associate, or employee, for the purpose of influencing authority action, except as provided in subparagraph (B). (B) The following activities are not “contacts” for purposes of this section: (i) Attending or participating in a prebid or preproposal conference. (ii) Submitting a response to a solicitation issued by the authority or authority official. (iii) Participating in an interview regarding a solicitation at the request of the authority or authority official. (iv) Responding to a request for information from the authority or authority official regarding a solicitation or existing contract. (v) A representative of a news media organization gathering news and information or disseminating the same to the public, even if the organization, in the ordinary course of business, publishes news items, editorials or other commentary, or paid advertisements, that urge action upon authority matters. (vi) Providing oral or written testimony that becomes part of the record of a public hearing. A person providing testimony pursuant to this clause who has already qualified as a lobbyist under this section and is testifying on behalf of a client shall identify the client on whose behalf the lobbyist is testifying. (vii) A communication from an elected public official acting in their official capacity. (7) (A) “Contribution” means a payment, a forgiveness of a loan, a payment of a loan by a third party, or an enforceable promise to make a payment, except to the extent that full and adequate consideration is received, unless it is clear from the surrounding circumstances that it is not made for political purposes. (B) For purposes of this section, “contribution” also includes all of the following: (i) An expenditure made at the behest of a candidate, committee, or elected officer is a contribution to the candidate, committee, or elected officer unless full and adequate consideration is received for making the expenditure. (ii) The purchase of tickets for events such as dinners, luncheons, rallies, and similar fundraising events. (iii) The candidate’s own money or property used on behalf of their candidacy. (iv) The granting of discounts or rebates not extended to the public generally or the granting of discounts or rebates by television and radio stations and newspapers not extended on an equal basis to all candidates for the same office. (v) The payment of compensation by any person for the personal services or expenses of any other person if those services are rendered or expenses are incurred on behalf of a candidate or committee without payment of full and adequate consideration. (vi) Any transfer of anything of value received by a committee from another committee, unless full and adequate consideration is received. (C) For purposes of this section, “contribution” does not include any of the following: (i) Amounts received pursuant to an enforceable promise to the extent that those amounts have been previously reported as a contribution. However, the fact that those amounts have been received shall be indicated in the appropriate campaign statement. (ii) A payment made by an occupant of a home or office for costs related to any meeting or fundraising event held in the occupant’s home or office if the costs for the meeting or fundraising event are five hundred dollars ($500) or less. (iii) Volunteer personal services or payments made by any individual for the individual’s own travel expenses if those payments are made voluntarily without any understanding or agreement that they shall be, directly or indirectly, repaid to the individual. (8) “Employee of the authority” has the same meaning as defined in the authority’s administrative code. (9) “Ethics officer” means the ethics officer appointed pursuant to Section 130610. (10) “Filing officer” means the individual designated by the authority with whom statements and reports required by this section shall be filed. (11) “Lobbying” means influencing or attempting to influence authority action through direct or indirect contact, other than administrative testimony, with an authority official, as described in paragraph (14). (12) “Lobbying activity” includes any of the following conduct when that conduct is related to a contact to influence any authority action: (A) Engaging in, either personally or through an agent, written or oral communication with an authority official. (B) Providing advice or recommending strategy to a person or other entity that may have business in front of the authority. (C) Research, investigation, and information gathering. (D) Seeking to influence the position of a third party on issues related to authority action by any means, including, but not limited to, engaging in community, public, or press relations activities. (E) Attending or monitoring authority meetings or other events. (13) (A) “Lobbying firm” means any business entity, including an individual lobbyist, that meets either of the following criteria: (i) The business entity receives or becomes entitled to receive any compensation, other than reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses, for the purpose of influencing authority action on behalf of any other person, if any partner, owner, officer, or employee of the business entity is a lobbyist. (ii) The business entity receives or becomes entitled to receive any compensation, other than reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses, to communicate directly with any agency official for the purpose of influencing authority action on behalf of any other person, if a substantial or regular portion of the activities for which the business entity receives compensation is for the purpose of influencing authority action. (B) A business entity shall not be considered a lobbying firm by reason of engaging in activities described in subparagraph (B) of paragraph (6). (14) “Lobbyist” means any individual who receives compensation, other than reimbursement for reasonable travel expenses, and who meets both of the following criteria in a consecutive three-month period: (A) The individual has at least one contact with an authority official or employee in an attempt to influence authority action. (B) The individual is compensated to engage in at least 15 hours of lobbying activity in connection with attempts to influence authority action. (15) “Lobbyist employer” means any person, other than a lobbying firm, who does either of the following: (A) Employs one or more lobbyists for the purpose of influencing authority action. (B) Contracts for the services of a lobbying firm for economic consideration for the purpose of influencing authority action. (c) (1) (A) Lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers shall register with the filing officer within 10 calendar days after qualifying as a lobbyist, lobbying firm, or lobbyist employer. No additional lobbying contacts shall occur before registration. Registration shall include the filing of a registration statement and the payment of any fee required pursuant to paragraph (2). Registration shall be renewed annually by the filing of a new registration statement and the payment of a fee, if applicable, on or before January 31 of the year of renewal. (B) After registration, each lobbyist, lobbying firm, or lobbyist employer shall retain that status through December 31 of that year unless that status is terminated as set forth in paragraph (6). (2) Each lobbyist, lobbying firm, and lobbyist employer required to register under this section may be charged a fee by the authority in an amount determined by the ethics officer. (3) The lobbyist registration statement shall include all of the following: (A) The name, address, telephone number, and email address of the lobbyist. (B) For each person or entity from whom the lobbyist receives compensation to provide lobbying services, all of the following: (i) The full name, business address, and telephone number of the person or entity. (ii) The lobbying interests of the lobbyist, including identification of specific contracts or authority actions. A description of the types of contracts or authority action is permissible only if a specific contract or authority action cannot be identified. (C) A statement signed by the lobbyist certifying that the lobbyist has read and understands the prohibitions contained in subdivisions (g) and (h). (D) Any other information required by the ethics officer consistent with the purposes and provisions of this section. (4) The registration statement of a lobbying firm shall include all of the following: (A) The full name, business address, telephone number, and email address of the lobbying firm. (B) The full name of each lobbyist who is a partner, owner, officer, or employee of the lobbying firm. (C) For each person or entity from which the firm received or became entitled to receive compensation for engaging in lobbying activities and with whom the lobbying firm contracts to provide lobbying services, all of the following: (i) The full name, business address, telephone number, and email address of the person or entity. (ii) The time period of the contract during which the lobbying activities for which the firm received or became entitled to receive compensation will occur. (iii) The lobbying interests of the lobbying firm, including identification of specific contracts or authority actions. A description of the types of contracts or authority action is permissible only if a specific contract or authority action cannot be identified. (D) A statement signed by the designated responsible person that the person has read and understands the prohibitions contained in subdivisions (g) and (h). (E) Any other information required by the ethics officer consistent with the purposes and provisions of this section. (5) The registration statement of a lobbyist employer shall include all of the following: (A) The full name, business address, telephone number, and email address of the lobbyist employer. (B) A list of the lobbyists who are employed by the lobbyist employer. (C) The lobbying interests of the lobbyist employer, including identification of specific contracts or authority actions. A description of the types of contracts or authority action is permissible only if a specific contract or authority action cannot be identified. (D) A statement signed by the designated responsible person that the person has read and understands the prohibitions contained in subdivisions (g) and (h). (E) Any other information required by the ethics officer consistent with the purposes and provisions of this section. (6) (A) Lobbyists, lobbyist employers, and lobbying firms shall file amendments to their registration statements within 10 days of any change in information required to be included in the registration statement. (B) (i) Lobbying firms and lobbyist employers upon ceasing all lobbying activity that required registration shall file a notice of termination within 30 days after the cessation. (ii) Failure to complete annual renewal by March 1 shall constitute a termination of a lobbyist, lobbyist employer, or lobbying firm’s registration. (iii) The ethics officer may establish additional processes for terminating the registration of a lobbyist, lobbyist employer, or lobbying firm. (d) Lobbyists, lobbying firms, and lobbyist employers that receive payments, make payments, or incur expenses, or expect to receive payments, make payments, or incur expenses, in connection with activities that are reportable pursuant to this section shall keep detailed accounts, records, bills, and receipts for four years, and shall make them reasonably available for inspection for the purposes of auditing for compliance with, or enforcement of, this section. (e) When a person is required to report activity expenses pursuant to this section, all of the following information shall be provided: (1) The date and amount of each activity expense. (2) The full name and official position, if any, of the beneficiary of each expense, a description of the benefit, and the amount of the benefit. (3) The full name of the payee of each expense if other than the beneficiary. (f) (1) A lobbying firm shall file a periodic report containing all of the following: (A) The full name, address, telephone number, and email address of the lobbying firm. (B) The full name, business address, and telephone number of each person or entity from which the firm received or became entitled to receive compensation for engaging in lobbying activities and who contracted with the lobbying firm for lobbying services. (C) A description of each contract or authority action that the lobbying firm attempted to influence during the reporting period, including identification of specific contracts or authority actions. A description of the types of contracts or authority action is permissible only if a specific contract or authority action cannot be identified. (D) The total payments, including fees and the reimbursement of expenses, received or expected from the person or entity for lobbying services during the reporting period. (E) A copy of the periodic report completed and verified by each lobbyist in the lobbying firm pursuant to paragraph (2). (F) Each activity expense incurred by the lobbying firm, including those reimbursed by a person who contracts with the lobbying firm for lobbying services. (G) The date, amount, and the name of the recipient of any contribution of one hundred dollars ($100) or more made by the filer to an authority official. (H) Any other information required by the ethics officer consistent with the purposes and provisions of this section. (2) A lobbyist shall complete and verify a periodic report, and file the report with the filing officer, and a copy of the report with their lobbying firm or lobbyist employer. The periodic report shall contain all of the following: (A) The name, address, telephone number, and email address of the lobbyist. (B) The full name, business address, and telephone number of the lobbying firm or lobbyist employer from whom the lobbyist receives compensation to provide lobbying services. (C) A description of each contract or authority action that the lobbyist attempted to influence during the reporting period, including identification of specific contracts or authority actions. A description of the types of contracts or authority action is permissible only if a specific contract or authority cannot be identified. (D) A report of all activity expenses by the lobbyist during the reporting period. (E) A report of all contributions of one hundred dollars ($100) or more made or delivered by the lobbyist to any authority official during the reporting period. (F) Any other information required by the ethics officer consistent with the purposes and provisions of this section. (3) A lobbyist employer shall file a periodic report containing all of the following: (A) The name, business address, telephone number, and email address of the lobbyist employer. (B) The total amount of payments to each lobbying firm. Those payments shall include solely payments for compensation and reimbursement of expenses relating to the lobbying firm’s attempts to influence authority action. (C) The total amount of all payments to lobbyists employed by the filer. The lobbyist employer shall only be required to disclose whether the total salary payments made to the individual during the reporting period was less than or equal to two hundred fifty dollars ($250), greater than two hundred fifty dollars ($250) but less than or equal to one thousand dollars ($1,000), greater than one thousand dollars ($1,000) but less than or equal to ten thousand dollars ($10,000), or greater than ten thousand dollars ($10,000). (D) A description of each contract or authority action that the filer attempted to influence during the reporting period, including identification of specific contracts or authority actions. A description of the types of contracts or authority action is permissible only if a specific contract or authority action cannot be identified. (E) Each activity expense of the filer and a total of all activity expenses of the filer. (F) The date, amount, and the name of the recipient of any contribution of one hundred dollars ($100) or more made by the filer to an authority official. (G) The total of all other payments to influence authority action. (H) Any other information required by the ethics officer consistent with the purposes and provisions of this section. (4) The periodic reports shall be filed by the last day of the month following the end of each calendar quarter. The period covered shall be from the beginning of the calendar year through the last day of the calendar quarter before the period during which the report is filed, except that the period covered by the first report a person is required to file shall begin with the first day of the calendar quarter in which the filer first registered or qualified. (g) (1) It is unlawful for a lobbyist, a lobbying firm, or a lobbyist employer to make a gift to an authority official aggregating more than ten dollars ($10) in a calendar month, to act as an agent or intermediary in the making of any gift, or to arrange for the making of any gift by any other person. (2) It is unlawful for any authority official knowingly to receive any gift that is made unlawful by this section. For the purposes of this subdivision, “gift” has the same meaning as defined in Section 82028 of the Government Code. (h) A lobbyist, lobbying firm, or lobbyist employer shall not do any of the following: (1) Do anything with the purpose of placing an authority official under personal obligation to the lobbyist, the lobbying firm, or the employer of the lobbyist or lobbying firm. (2) Deceive or attempt to deceive any authority official with regard to any material fact pertinent to any authority action. (3) Cause or influence any authority action for the purpose of thereafter being employed to secure its passage or defeat. (4) Attempt to create a fictitious appearance of public favor or disfavor of any authority action, or cause any communications to be sent to any authority official in the name of any fictitious person or in the name of any real person, except with the consent of that real person. (5) Represent falsely, either directly or indirectly, that the lobbyist, lobbying firm, or lobbyist employer can control any authority official. (6) Accept or agree to accept any payment that is contingent upon the outcome of any authority action. (i) Any person who knowingly or willfully violates any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor. (j) (1) The ethics officer may conduct audits of reports and statements filed pursuant to this section. Those audits may be conducted on a random basis or when the ethics officer has reason to believe that a filer has not complied with this section. (2) In addition to any other penalty or remedy available, the ethics officer may impose a late fee on any person or entity that does not file a report or statement required by this section before a deadline imposed by this section. The late fee shall be in the amount of ten dollars ($10) per day until the statement or report is filed, up to a maximum amount of three hundred dollars ($300). The ethics officer may choose not to impose the late fee if the ethics officer determines that the late filing was not willful and that enforcement of the late fee would not further the purposes of this section. (k) The ethics officer may issue guidance and advice as necessary to implement this section. (l) The District Attorney of the County of Los Angeles is responsible for prosecuting violations of this section. (m) Any person who violates any provision of this section is liable in a civil action brought by the civil prosecutor or by a person residing within the jurisdiction of the authority for an amount up to five hundred dollars ($500), or three times the amount of an unlawful gift or expenditure, whichever amount is greater. (n) The authority shall reject any bid or other proposal to enter into a contract with the authority by any person or entity that has not complied with the registration and reporting requirements of this section. (o) This section does not apply to any of the following: (1) An elected public official who is acting in their official capacity to influence authority action. (2) Any newspaper or other periodical of general circulation, book publisher, radio or television station that, in the ordinary course of business, publishes or broadcasts news items, editorials, or other documents, or paid advertisement, that directly or indirectly urges authority action, if the newspaper, periodical, book publisher, radio or television station engages in no further or other activities in connection with urging authority action other than to appear before the authority in support of, or in opposition to, the authority action. (p) A former authority official shall not become a lobbyist for a period of one year after leaving the authority.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.19. Section 130051.19.

(a) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall adopt an affirmative action plan for its management positions which reflects the ethnic demographics of the county, taking into consideration the availability of the work force in the various ethnic groups. (b) The authority shall, prior to the approval of any contract by the authority or by its organization units, adopt and implement a disadvantaged business enterprise program which establishes participation goals of not less than 15 percent of the dollar value of all contracts by minority business enterprises and not less than 5 percent by women business enterprises. (c) The authority shall establish a Transportation Business Advisory Council to advise it on matters regarding the disadvantaged business enterprise program to enable the authority to meet or exceed women and minority business enterprise participation goals. Members of the council shall be selected by the authority, and shall include representatives of professional organizations and other groups which advocate on behalf of greater participation of women and minority business enterprises in public contracts. The chairperson of the authority or his or her designee shall meet with the council, and the authority shall provide adequate staff support for the council, and shall consider all recommendations made by the council.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.20. Section 130051.20.

(a) A former board member or employee of MTA shall not accept compensation from an MTA contractor as an employee, officer, director, or consultant of the contractor within 12 months after the former board member or employee served in any of the following capacities: (1) As a member of the procurement evaluation team for a contract that was awarded to that contractor. (2) As the procuring contract officer for a contract that was awarded to that contractor. (3) As the project manager or deputy project manager for a contract that was awarded to that contractor. (4) As an agency executive with oversight responsibilities for a contract awarded to that contractor if the executive participated in the contract development, proposal review, or approval, or provided agency signatory authority related to the contract or project. (5) As a substantial participant in an MTA decision to do any of the following: (A) Award a contract, subcontract, modification of a contract or subcontract, or a task order or delivery order to that contractor. (B) Develop a contract awarded to that contractor, including developing the scope of work. (C) Approve issuance of one or more contract payments to that contractor. (D) Pay or settle a claim with that contractor. (b) For purposes of paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), a former board member’s or former employee’s service ends at the completion of the evaluation period, or the former board member’s or former employee’s last day of service with MTA, whichever occurs first. (c) For purposes of paragraphs (2) to (5), inclusive, of subdivision (a), a former board member’s or former employee’s service ends at the completion of the contract term, or the former board member’s or former employee’s last day of service with MTA, whichever occurs first. (d) The inspector general appointed pursuant to Section 130051.28 may enforce this section.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.21. Section 130051.21.

The Los Angeles County Transportation Commission and the Southern California Rapid Transit District shall each cause a supplemental independent fiscal audit to be conducted for the period beginning July 1, 1992, and ending March 30, 1993, for the purpose of determining the financial condition of each agency prior to the abolishment of those agencies pursuant to Section 130051.13. Thereafter, the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall cause an independent fiscal audit of the authority to be conducted annually and shall consider the results of the audit at a duly noticed public hearing.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.22. Section 130051.22.

(a) The authority may establish and maintain a prequalification program for bidders on contracts not covered by subdivision (b). (b) On public projects, as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 22002 of the Public Contract Code, the authority shall require, at a minimum, that prospective bidders for a construction contract complete and submit to the authority a prequalification standardized questionnaire and financial statement in a form specified by the authority, pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 20101 of the Public Contract Code.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.23. Section 130051.23.

Whenever the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority by resolution determines that any record, map, book, or paper in the possession of the authority or any officer or employee thereof is of no further value to the authority, the board may authorize its sale, destruction, or other disposition. Documents significant to the activities of the authority, including, but not limited to, board and committee agendas, incoming and outgoing correspondence, and contractual documents, shall be microfilmed or otherwise preserved prior to the sale, destruction, or other disposition of the original.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.24. Section 130051.24.

(a) For the purposes of this section, the following terms have the following meanings, unless the context requires otherwise: (1) The “authority” is the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. (2) A “transportation zone” is a public agency or a public benefit corporation of which public agencies are the sole members established on or after January 1, 1999, that assumes any of the operating responsibilities described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) of Section 130051.11 on or after that date, regardless of whether the transportation zone is an included municipal operator, as defined in Section 99207, or an included transit district, as defined in Section 99208. (b) (1) Except as authorized under paragraph (2), a transportation zone shall assume and be bound by the terms and conditions of employment set forth in any collective bargaining agreements between the authority and any labor organizations affected by the creation of the transportation zone as well as the duties, obligations, and liabilities arising from, or relating to, labor obligations imposed by state or federal law upon the authority. (2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), if the authority is engaged in collective bargaining with labor organizations representing employees who are subject to transfer to the transportation zone between the date of approval of the transportation zone and the date of the transfer of service to the transportation zone, the authority may consult with the transportation zone regarding matters within the scope of labor representation. (c) (1) For a period of four years, commencing with the date of transfer of service by the authority to the transportation zone, or at the expiration date of any collective bargaining agreement that is in effect during that four-year period, whichever is later, employees of the transportation zone, together with like employees of the authority, shall constitute appropriate collective bargaining units. However, the transportation zone may be a separate employer for other purposes. (2) Upon expiration of the period described in paragraph (1), employees of the transportation zone, at the option of the transportation zone, may constitute appropriate collective bargaining units that are independent of the collective bargaining units of the authority. (3) If independent bargaining units are established as authorized under paragraph (2), the transportation zone may enter into agreements with labor organizations as a separate employer, regarding wages, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment. (4) The transportation zone shall maintain single employer collective bargaining units for transportation operations and maintenance employees. Those bargaining units shall contain classifications for employees that are identical to those that existed for the joint collective bargaining units of the authority and the transportation zone under paragraph (1), unless modified by mutual agreement between the transportation zone and the affected labor organizations. (d) (1) The authority shall retain, for the period described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), the power of final approval of labor contracts negotiated by it and a transportation zone with those labor organizations representing collective bargaining units consisting of both employees of the authority and the employees of the transportation zone. However, the authority may not grant any final approval of a labor agreement unless it has first consulted with the transportation zone. (2) Upon expiration of the period described in paragraph (1) of subdivision (c), the authority shall have no final approval power over any labor contract negotiated between a transportation zone and a labor organization representing the employees of the transportation zone. (e) (1) A transportation zone shall maintain, as a cosponsor with the authority, any retirement system established and maintained under subdivision (b) of Section 130110, until participation in the retirement system or retirement benefits are modified under the collective bargaining process. (2) The transportation zone may appoint at least one member to the retirement board of the retirement system. If the size of the board is increased pursuant to this section, an equivalent number of representatives of the labor organization representing the employees shall be appointed to the board to ensure that the board maintains an equal number of employer and labor organization members. (3) Prior to the transfer of any service to a transportation zone, the plan administrator for the retirement system shall permit the transportation zone to perform an actuarial financial examination of the assets and liabilities of the retirement system and the benefits accrued under it. (4) The liability of the transportation zone for obligations under the retirement system shall be limited to benefits accruing to employees of the transportation zone. (f) (1) The transportation zone shall maintain the health care provisions contained in any assumed collective bargaining agreement, until those provisions are modified through the collective bargaining process. (2) The transportation zone may not be held liable for financial obligations to any health care provider that arose prior to the direct transfer of employees from the authority to the transportation zone. (g) Labor relations in a transportation zone shall be governed under Article 10 (commencing with Section 30750) of Chapter 4 of Part 3 of Division 10, except that whenever a duty or power is imposed upon or granted to the authority under those provisions, the duty or power, for the purposes of this section, shall be deemed to be imposed upon or granted to the transportation zone as well as the authority. (h) Nothing in this section prohibits a transportation zone from contracting for managerial services that are not provided by any classification of any bargaining unit. (i) A transportation zone is not an organizational unit of the authority.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.25. Section 130051.25.

(a) For the purpose of this section, “recordable injury” means any injury requiring treatment beyond simple first aid. (b) A construction firm that contracts with the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall report total recordable injuries to the authority on a monthly basis. (c) The authority shall annually determine if the number of recordable injuries reported to the authority during the preceding calendar year exceeded the national average of similar injuries as reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the most recent published year. If the authority determines that the number of recordable injuries reported to the authority during the preceding calendar year exceeded the national average, the authority shall not base any safety bonus program for contractors on injuries that result in lost time, and shall base such a program on the overall rate of recordable injuries.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130051.28. Section 130051.28.

(a) The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority shall appoint an inspector general to a term of office of four years. The inspector general shall be removed from office only if either or both of the following occur: (1) A two-thirds majority of the members of the authority votes for removal. (2) The inspector general violates a federal or state law or regulation, a local ordinance, or a policy or practice of the authority, relative to ethical practices, including, but not limited to, the acceptance of gifts or contributions. (b) The inspector general shall, at a noticed public hearing of the authority, report quarterly on the expenditures of the authority for travel, meals and refreshments, private club dues, membership fees and other charges, and any other expenditures which are specified by the authority. (c) Any investigatory file compiled by the inspector general is an investigatory file compiled by a local law enforcement agency subject to disclosure pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 7923.600) of Chapter 1 of Part 5 of Division 10 of Title 1 of the Government Code.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130052. Section 130052.

The Orange County Transportation Commission shall be known as the Orange County Transportation Authority and shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of 18 members appointed as follows: (a) Five members of the Orange County Board of Supervisors appointed by that board. Terms of office of the five members of the board of supervisors shall be determined by the board of supervisors. A board of supervisors member’s term shall cease if he or she no longer serves as a member of the board of supervisors. (b) (1) (A) Five city members, with one from each of the five supervisorial districts, elected by the Orange County City Selection Committee members within each supervisorial district on a population-weighted voting basis. (B) Five city members, with one from each of the five supervisorial districts, elected on a “one city, one vote” basis by the Orange County City Selection Committee members within each supervisorial district. (2) A city that is within more than one supervisorial district shall be considered part of the district where the highest percentage of the city’s population resides. Under this circumstance, the entire city’s population shall be used for population-weighted voting purposes. Each city member shall be a mayor or a city council member serving within the county. Terms of office of each city member shall be determined by the Orange County City Selection Committee. A city member’s term shall cease if he or she no longer serves as a member of a city council or as the mayor of a city. (3) A city member serving on the authority on the effective date of the act amending this section in the 2003–04 Regular Session shall continue to serve until the earliest of either the expiration of his or her term or until he or she no longer serves as a mayor or member of a city council. (c) Two public members appointed by a majority vote of the other 15 voting members of the authority. Each public member shall be a resident of Orange County who is not then serving, and has not within the last four years served, as an elected official of a city within the county, as an elected official of any agency or special district within Orange County, or as an elected official of the county. Each public member shall serve for a term of four years. (d) The Director of Transportation, District 12, who shall be appointed by the Governor as a nonvoting member. The member shall serve for a term of four years.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130052.1. Section 130052.1.

The members of the Orange County Transportation Authority, comprised as specified by Section 130052, shall serve as the governing body of the Orange County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130052.2. Section 130052.2.

Until July 1, 1996, any included municipal operator within the jurisdiction of the Orange County Transportation Authority shall annually be allocated a level of funding pursuant to the Mills-Alquist-Deddeh Act (Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 99200) of Part 11 of Division 10) which is not less than the amount allocated to that operator during the 1989–90 fiscal year adjusted by an amount equal to the previous year’s allocation multiplied by the Los Angeles-Anaheim-Riverside Consumer Price Index, if the apportionment under Section 99231 is not exceeded, and the operator complies with the expenditure limit prescribed by Section 99268.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130052.3. Section 130052.3.

(a) The Orange County Transportation Commission, the Orange County Transit District, the Orange County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies, and the Orange County Consolidated Transportation Services Agency shall jointly develop a comprehensive plan for consolidation of the functions of these agencies. The plan shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following: (1) An institutional structure that provides for the consolidation of all functions of the agencies within a unified management structure responsible to a single policy board. (2) A staffing plan that defines the personnel needs of the consolidated agencies. (3) A financial plan that includes an estimate of the revenues available to the consolidated agencies, related restrictions or requirements, and an estimate of the expenditures under the consolidation plan. (4) Recommendations for legislation necessary to implement the plan. (b) The plan shall be approved by the Orange County Transportation Commission and the Board of Directors of the Orange County Transit District and shall be transmitted to the Legislature, the Governor, and the Controller on or before December 1, 1991. (c) If the plan is not submitted by December 1, 1991, the Controller shall, during the 1992–93 fiscal year, withhold payments pursuant to Sections 2104, 2105, 2106, and 2107 of the Streets and Highways Code to every city in Orange County, and the County of Orange. (d) Nothing in this section prohibits the Orange County Transportation Commission, the Orange County Transit District, the Orange County Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies, or the Orange County Consolidated Transportation Services Agency, pursuant to any authority which each respective agency possessed on January 1, 1991, from implementing all or part of the plan prior to its receipt by the Legislature.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130053. Section 130053.

The Riverside County Transportation Commission shall consist of the following regular members: (a) Five members of the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. (b) One member from each incorporated city in Riverside County, each of whom shall be a mayor or city council member. (c) One nonvoting member appointed by the Governor.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130053.5. Section 130053.5.

(a) The Riverside County Board of Supervisors shall establish a procedure by which a member of that board may appoint an alternate member of the board of supervisors to represent the member for one meeting of the Riverside County Transportation Commission. Notice of the alternate appointment shall be made in writing to the clerk of the commission 24 hours prior to the meeting. (b) Each incorporated city in Riverside County shall appoint one alternate member to the commission who shall represent the regular member of the commission who serves on behalf of the city, if the regular member is not in attendance at a meeting. Notice of the alternate appointment shall be made in writing to the clerk of the commission 24 hours prior to the meeting. If an incorporated city appoints an alternate member, the alternate member shall be either the mayor or a city council member of that incorporated city.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130053.7. Section 130053.7.

(a) Except as specified in subdivision (b), each regular member of the Riverside County Transportation Commission, or an alternate member acting in the place of a regular member pursuant to Section 130053.5, shall have one vote at meetings of the commission. (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), any member of the commission, immediately after a vote of the commission in accordance with subdivision (a), may call for a weighted vote. For an item to be passed by weighted vote, all of the following requirements shall be met: (1) The item shall be approved by a majority of the commission members present at the meeting who represent the board of supervisors, who each shall have one vote. (2) The item shall be approved by a majority of the commission members present at the meeting who represent cities in Riverside County, who each shall have one vote. (3) The item shall be approved by commission members present at the meeting who represent cities in Riverside County representing a majority of the population of the county living in incorporated areas. For the purpose of this paragraph, each regular commission member at the meeting who represents a city in Riverside County shall be assigned votes based on the percentage of the population of incorporated areas of Riverside County represented by that member in relation to the total population of incorporated areas of Riverside County represented at the meeting. Population data shall be determined through Department of Finance estimates, adjusted annually. (c) Notwithstanding Section 130102, a quorum of the Riverside County Transportation Commission shall be a majority of the total voting membership of the commission.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130054.1. Section 130054.1.

The Ventura County Transportation Commission shall consist of the following members: (a) Five members of the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. (b) One member from each incorporated city within Ventura County who shall be the mayor of the city or a member of its city council. The term of a member under this subdivision terminates when he or she ceases to hold that office or when replaced by the city council. (c) One citizen member appointed by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors, who shall not be an elected official, but who shall be a resident of Ventura County. (d) One citizen member appointed by the Ventura County City Selection Committee, who shall not be an elected official, but who shall be a resident of Ventura County. (e) One nonvoting member appointed by the Governor.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130054.8. Section 130054.8.

The Governor shall appoint a nonvoting member to each of the commissions to represent the interest of state. The appointees shall serve terms of four years and until their successors are appointed and qualified. No individual shall serve as a nonvoting member more than two terms on a commission.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130055. Section 130055.

The commissions shall merge with, or otherwise join, any statutorily created multifunctional regional government organization, if it has transportation planning and programming responsibilities as specified in Article 5 (commencing with Section 130300) of Chapter 4, within one year of creation of such an organization.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130056. Section 130056.

The commissions shall rely to the maximum extent possible on existing state, regional, and local transportation planning and programming data and expertise, rather than on a large duplicative commission staff and set of plans. The Legislature envisions the development of a small, but very capable, core staff able to provide the commissions with an objective analysis of the various options relative to plans and proposed projects of the regional and local transportation agencies and operators, and then translate those options into a short-range transportation improvement program to be developed and approved pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 130303 in accordance with decisions made by the commissions.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130057. Section 130057.

It is the intent of the Legislature that, after the development and approval of the short-range transportation improvement program pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 130303, the transportation agencies responsible for the implementation of the program shall be granted discretion on how to best implement the program. Any changes made in the program by such an agency in its implementation shall be consistent with the purposes of the program, and the commission shall be immediately notified of such changes.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130058. Section 130058.

It is the intent of the Legislature that, working through the multicounty designated transportation planning agency, the four commissions be encouraged to develop joint powers agreements or other contractual arrangements between themselves in the development of transportation facilities or for the provision of transportation services where the commissions feel such arrangements are in the public interest.

Cal. Public Utilities Code - PUC § 130059. Section 130059.

The multicounty designated transportation planning agency shall convene at least two meetings annually of representatives from each of the four commissions, the agency, and the Department of Transportation for the following purposes: (a) To review and discuss the near-term transportation improvement programs prior to adoption by the commissions. (b) To review and discuss the regional transportation plan prior to adoption by the agency pursuant to Chapter 2.5 (commencing with Section 65080) of Title 7 of the Government Code. (c) To consider progress in the development of a regionwide and unified public transit system. (d) To review and discuss any other matter of mutual concern.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

Starting a business in California? California LLC guide: costs and requirements