Florida Senate - 2023                             CS for SB 1532
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Transportation; and Senators Burgess and
       Collins
       
       
       
       
       596-02747-23                                          20231532c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to regional transportation planning;
    3         providing legislative findings and intent; requiring
    4         the Department of Transportation, or its consultant,
    5         to conduct a study regarding the potential dissolution
    6         or transfer of the governance, staff, operations,
    7         funding, and facilities of the Hillsborough Area
    8         Regional Transit Authority; specifying requirements of
    9         the study; requiring the department to submit a report
   10         to the Governor and Legislature by a specified date;
   11         providing an effective date.
   12          
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. (1) The Legislature finds that, given this
   16  state’s rapid population growth, coordination of transportation
   17  planning, particularly regional transportation planning, is
   18  critical to the safe and efficient management, operation, and
   19  development of public transit systems. The Legislature questions
   20  whether the dissolution of the Hillsborough Area Regional
   21  Transit Authority (HART) would result in operational
   22  efficiencies and reduced administrative costs and further a
   23  regional approach to transit. It is the intent of the
   24  Legislature to explore the dissolution or transfer of the
   25  governance, staff, operations, funding, and facilities of HART
   26  with the goal of enhancing regional transit service and
   27  connectivity in the Tampa Bay area.
   28         (2) The Department of Transportation, or its consultant,
   29  shall conduct a study of the potential dissolution of HART. The
   30  study must address all aspects of the winding down of the
   31  affairs of HART, including the following:
   32         (a) The dissolution of the governance structure, including
   33  governing board membership, powers, and responsibilities.
   34         (b) The drawdown or transfer of staff.
   35         (c) The transfer of financial assets and obligations.
   36         (d) The transfer of responsibilities and administered
   37  programs.
   38         (e) The transfer of facilities and operations.
   39         (f) Impacts to federal or state grants or funds.
   40         (g) Any legal or financial impediments to or limitations on
   41  such dissolution.
   42         (h) The advantages and disadvantages of dissolution or
   43  transfer.
   44         (i) Any other matters deemed necessary or appropriate by
   45  the department.
   46         (3) By January 1, 2024, the department shall submit a
   47  report detailing the results of the study to the Governor, the
   48  President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of
   49  Representatives.
   50         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.