(a) (1) Each transportation planning agency shall annually identify, analyze, and recommend potential productivity improvements that could lower the operating costs of those operators who operate at least 50 percent of their vehicle service miles, as defined in subdivision (i) of Section 99247, within the area under its jurisdiction. However, where a transit development board created pursuant to Division 11 (commencing with Section 120000) or a county transportation commission exists, the board or commission, as the case may be, shall have the responsibility of the transportation planning agency with respect to potential productivity improvements. The recommendations for improvements and productivity shall include, but not be limited to, those recommendations related to productivity made in the performance audit conducted pursuant to Section 99246.
(2) A committee for the purpose of providing advice on productivity improvements may be formed by the responsible entity. The membership of this committee shall consist of representatives from the management of the operators, organizations of employees of the operators, and users of the transportation services of the operators located within the area under the jurisdiction of the responsible entity.
(3) (A) Before determining the allocation to an operator for the next fiscal year, the responsible entity shall review and evaluate the efforts made by the operator to implement the recommended improvements.
(B) If the responsible entity determines that the operator has not made a reasonable effort to implement the recommended improvements, the responsible entity shall not approve the allocation to the operator for the support of its public transportation system for the next fiscal year that exceeds the allocation to the operator for those purposes for the current fiscal year.
(b) For the 2020–21 to 2022–23, inclusive, fiscal years, each transportation planning agency, transportation development board, and county transportation commission, is exempt from the requirements described in subdivision (a).
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 81, Sec. 4. (AB 149) Effective July 16, 2021.)