WMATA Governance Reform Act

To ensure that the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority includes board members who have certified expertise in certain areas, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the WMATA Governance Reform Act 2. WMATA board appointments (a) Federal approval The Government shall not approve an amendment to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact (an interstate compact created effective February 20, 1967), unless the signatories of the compact, the District of Columbia, the State of Maryland, and the Commonwealth of Virginia, certify that beginning after the date of implementation of the amended compact and thereafter, that each signatory will appoint an absolute majority of the Board of Directors of the Authority with the expertise described in subsection (b). (b) Areas of expertise (1) In general The expertise of an absolute majority of Directors referred to in subsections (a) and (c) shall include 1 or more of the following qualifications: (A) A certified transit expert who has served in a senior executive capacity, or the equivalent, of a transit authority in the United States. (B) A certified management expert who is currently or has previously served for 5 or more years and has in his or her capacity managed, directly or indirectly, more than 1,000 full-time employees— (i) as a president, chief operating officer, chief executive officer, chairman, or managing partner of an equivalent position of a qualifying business or nonprofit entity; or (ii) as the president or most senior manager of a division of a qualifying business. (C) A certified financial expert who meets the standards of an audit committee financial expert under New York Stock Exchange rules. (D) A certified safety expert who has a minimum of 5 years of experience as a chairman, director, senior investigator or equivalent position of a transportation or transit safety board in the United States. (2) Other signatory appointments If a signatory appoints an individual to the Board of Directors who does not meet the qualifications of subsection (b), the signatory shall provide the Board with an explanation of the individual’s qualifications and why such qualifications will be beneficial to the Board. (c) Federal appointments (1) In general The Secretary of Transportation shall ensure that the next 3 Federal appointments to the Board of Directors of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority and an absolute majority thereafter have the qualifications described in subsection (b) and to the extent practicable, include appointees who reflect the diversity of the communities in the region served by the Authority. (2) Other possible Federal appointments If the Secretary of Transportation appoints an individual to the Board of Directors who does not meet the qualifications of subsection (b), the Secretary shall provide the Board with an explanation of the individual’s qualifications and why such qualifications will be beneficial to the Board. (d) Definition of qualifying business For purposes of this section, the term qualifying business

Summary: WMATA Governance Reform Act This bill prohibits the government from approving an amendment to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Compact unless its signatories (the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia) certify that after implementation of the amended compact each signatory will appoint an absolute majority of the Board of Directors of the Authority that includes one or more of the following: a certified transit expert who has served in a senior executive capacity, or the equivalent, of a U.S. transit authority; a certified management expert who is currently serving, or has served for five or more years, in a capacity managing more than 1,000 full-time employees of a nonprofit entity or a corporation, partnership, or limited liability entity that is engaged primarily in operating activities and not investing activities; a certified financial expert who meets the standards of an audit committee financial expert under New York Stock Exchange rules; or a certified safety expert who has at least five years of experience as a chairman, director, senior investigator or equivalent position of a U.S. transportation or transit safety board. If a signatory appoints an individual who does not meet such qualifications, it shall provide the Board with an explanation of the individual's qualifications and why such qualifications will be beneficial to the Board. The Department of Transportation (DOT) shall ensure that the next three federal appointments to the Board and an absolute majority thereafter have such qualifications and include appointees who reflect the diversity of the communities in the region served. If DOT appoints an individual who does not meet such qualifications, it shall provide the Board with an explanation.