GA HB1437

All existing MARTA board of directors terms terminate on December 31, 2010, and the board is reconstituted as a 7-member body: 2 members from the City of Atlanta (nominated by the mayor, elected by city council), 3 from DeKalb County, and 2 from Fulton County, with geographic residency requirements within each jurisdiction.

Board members serve four-year terms and may be reappointed for one additional four-year term; vacancies caused other than by expiration are filled for the unexpired portion by the original appointing governing body.

Clayton, Cobb, and Gwinnett Counties may negotiate rapid transit contracts with MARTA and, upon voter approval via referendum, join the authority and each appoint 2 additional board members.

All restrictions on MARTA's use of annual proceeds from local sales and use taxes and interest earned on reserve funds are suspended unless reinstated by further action of the General Assembly.

Certain board actions—including issuing revenue bonds, awarding contracts of $100,000 or more, purchasing transit systems, and granting concessions—require an affirmative vote of one more than a majority of total board membership.