South Florida Regional Transportation Authority.

(1) There is created and established a body politic and corporate, an agency of the state, to be known as the “South Florida Regional Transportation Authority,” hereinafter referred to as the “authority.”

(2) The governing board of the authority shall consist of 10 voting members, as follows:

(a) The county commissions of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties shall each elect a commissioner as that commission’s representative on the board. The commissioner must be a member of the county commission when elected and for the full extent of his or her term.

(b) The county commissions of Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties shall each appoint a citizen member to the board who is not a member of the county commission but who is a resident of the county from which he or she is appointed and a qualified elector of that county. Insofar as practicable, the citizen member shall represent the business and civic interests of the community.

(c) The secretary of the Department of Transportation shall appoint one of the district secretaries, or his or her designee, for the districts within which the area served by the South Florida Regional Transportation Authority is located, who shall serve ex officio as a voting member.

(d) If the authority’s service area is expanded pursuant to s. 343.54(6), the county containing the new service area shall have two members appointed to the board as follows:

1. The county commission of the county shall elect a commissioner as that commission’s representative on the board. The commissioner must be a member of the county commission when elected and for the full extent of his or her term.

2. The Governor shall appoint a citizen member to the board who is not a member of the county commission but who is a resident and a qualified elector of that county.

(e) The Governor shall appoint three members to the board who are residents and qualified electors in the area served by the authority but who are not residents of the same county.

(3) Members of the governing board of the authority shall be appointed to serve 4-year staggered terms, except that the terms of the appointees of the Governor shall be concurrent.

(4) A vacancy during a term shall be filled by the respective appointing authority in the same manner as the original appointment and only for the balance of the unexpired term.

(5) The members of the authority shall serve without compensation, but are entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses actually incurred in their duties as provided by law.