CS/CS/HB 1243 - Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority

• Renames the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority to the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority and reduces the governing board from 15 to 13 voting members.

• Redefines the authority's service area to include only Hernando, Hillsborough, Manatee, Pasco, and Pinellas Counties (removing Citrus and Sarasota) plus any contiguous county that joins through participation agreement.

• Establishes a quorum of 7 members with 7 votes required for authority action, and requires the Governor to appoint one of two gubernatorial appointees as the initial board chair.

• Requires the authority to develop and adopt a regional transit development plan by July 1, 2018 instead of a transportation master plan, with the board evaluating and recommending to the Legislature the establishment of specified committees.

• Effective date is July 1, 2017.