§1656.1. Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board; creation; composition; powers

            A. The Regional Transit Authority Advisory Board, hereinafter referred to as the "advisory board", is hereby created to assist the Regional Transit Authority and shall have the purpose, composition, duties, and functions provided in this Section.

            B.(1) The purpose of the advisory board is to advise and make recommendations to the Regional Transit Authority in making informed decisions regarding the functions outlined in R.S. 48:1654(B).

            (2) To ensure that the advisory board can function effectively, the following powers and functions shall be vested in the board:

            (a) Full and unrestricted access to all written information, documents, and data which are before the Regional Transit Authority board of commissioners and its committees. However, this Subparagraph does not include items that are covered by the executive session proceedings.

            (b) The power to request written briefings, presentation reports, and any other information as needed from the staff of the Regional Transit Authority in making informed decisions regarding the functions outlined in R.S. 48:1654(B).

            (c) The power to adopt formal recommendations regarding any such matter which shall be presented on the record at commission meetings prior to a vote. However, the advisory board shall not have the power to vote.

            (3) The advisory board shall be required to meet at least quarterly, and present findings, recommendations, and any other relevant information to the board of commissioners at least once per year.

            C. The advisory board shall be composed of twelve persons as follows:

            (1) An employee of the Regional Transit Authority appointed by the chief executive officer.

            (2) One labor representative from the Amalgamated Transit Union who works for the Regional Transit Authority appointed by the union's president.

            (3) One labor union representative from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the United Labor Union, or any other labor union that is formed in the future to represent Regional Transit Authority workers. This appointment shall rotate every two years and the nomination and selection shall be decided by the elected officers of these relevant Regional Transit Authority local labor unions.

            (4) A member from Ride New Orleans appointed by the executive officer.

            (5) A representative appointed by the president of each of the following educational institutions: Loyola University, Tulane University, Xavier University, Dillard University, Southern University at New Orleans, the University of New Orleans, the University of Holy Cross, and Delgado Community College.

            D. All appointed members of the advisory board shall commit to completing at least two hours of transit-specific training either before taking office or no later than one year after the office is assumed. The minimum standards for transit-specific training shall be established by the advisory board and shall apply to all newly appointed members.

            E. Any city or parish with appointments and representation on the Regional Transit Authority board of commissioners shall have the authority to request an internal audit of the Regional Transit Authority or, at its expense, hire a third party to perform the audit. Any work hours by an employee of the authority that are dedicated to support the third-party audit shall be reimbursed by the city or parish requesting the third-party audit. All records and information requested in the audit shall be provided in an expedited manner by the Regional Transit Authority.

            Acts 2024, No. 474, §1; Acts 2025, No. 511, §1.