Greater Miami Expressway Agency.

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature that the Greater Miami Expressway Agency prioritizes the best interests of the toll payors of South Florida.

(2) There is hereby created and established a body politic and corporate, an agency of the state, to be known as the “Greater Miami Expressway Agency.” The agency shall serve the area within the geographical boundaries of Miami-Dade County and the portion of northeast Monroe County including County Road 94 and the portion of Monroe County bounded on the north and east by the borders of Monroe County and on the south and west by County Road 94.

(3)(a) The governing body of the agency shall consist of nine voting members. Except for the district secretary of the department, each member must be a permanent resident of a county served by the agency and may not hold, or have held in the previous 2 years, elected or appointed office in such county, except that this paragraph does not apply to any initial appointment under paragraph (b) or to any member who previously served on the governing body of the former Greater Miami Expressway Agency. Each member may only serve two terms of 4 years each, except that there is no restriction on the term of the department’s district secretary. Four members, each of whom must be a permanent resident of Miami-Dade County, shall be appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate at the next regular session of the Legislature. Refusal or failure of the Senate to confirm an appointment shall create a vacancy. Appointments made by the Governor and board of county commissioners of Miami-Dade County shall reflect the state’s interests in the transportation sector and represent the intent, duties, and purpose of the Greater Miami Expressway Agency, and have at least 3 years of professional experience in one or more of the following areas: finance; land use planning; tolling industry; or transportation engineering. Two members, who must be residents of an unincorporated portion of the geographic area described in subsection (1) and residing within 15 miles of an agency toll road, shall be appointed by the board of county commissioners of Miami-Dade County. Two members, who must be residents of incorporated municipalities within a county served by the agency, shall be appointed by the metropolitan planning organization for a county served by the agency. The district secretary of the department serving in the district that contains Miami-Dade County shall serve as an ex officio voting member of the governing body.

(b) Initial appointments to the governing body of the agency shall be made by July 31, 2019. For the initial appointments:

1. The Governor shall appoint one member for a term of 1 year, one member for a term of 2 years, one member for a term of 3 years, and one member for a term of 4 years.

2. The board of county commissioners of Miami-Dade County shall appoint one member for a term of 1 year and one member for a term of 3 years.

3. The metropolitan planning organization of Miami-Dade County shall appoint one member for a term of 2 years and one member for a term of 4 years.

(c) Persons who, on or after July 1, 2009, were members of the governing body or employees of the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority may not be appointed members of the governing body of the agency. This paragraph does not apply to appointments to the governing body of the agency made by the Governor or to the district secretary of the department serving in an ex officio role pursuant to paragraph (a).

(4)(a) The governing body of the agency shall elect one of its members as chair and shall elect a secretary and a treasurer who need not be members of the governing body. The chair, secretary, and treasurer shall hold their offices at the will of the governing body. A simple majority of the governing body constitutes a quorum, and the vote of a majority of those members present is necessary for the governing body to take any action. A vacancy shall not impair the right of a quorum of the governing body to exercise all of the rights and perform all of the duties of the governing body.

(b) Upon the effective date of his or her appointment, or as soon thereafter as practicable, each member of the governing body of the agency shall enter upon his or her duties. The governing body’s initial board meeting must take place within 15 days after the initial appointments.

(c) Each member of the governing body of the agency, before entering upon his or her official duties, shall take and subscribe to an oath before some official authorized by law to administer oaths that he or she will honestly, faithfully, and impartially perform the duties devolving upon him or her in office as a member of the governing body and that he or she will not neglect any duties imposed upon him or her by this part.

(5)(a) The governing body of the agency may employ an executive secretary, an executive director, its own counsel and legal staff, technical experts, and such engineers and employees, permanent or temporary, as it may require and shall determine the qualifications and fix the compensation of such persons, firms, or corporations. The governing body may employ a fiscal agent or agents; however, the governing body must solicit sealed proposals from at least three persons, firms, or corporations for the performance of any services as fiscal agents. The governing body may delegate to one or more of its agents or employees such of its power as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this act, subject always to the supervision and control of the governing body. Members of the governing body may be removed from office by the Governor for misconduct, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance in office.

(b) Employees of the agency shall serve at the pleasure of the governing body of the agency. The governing body of the agency shall review the employment of all employees of the former Miami-Dade County Expressway Authority to determine whether each employee will continue employment with the agency. In the hiring of an executive director of the agency, the governing body of the agency shall conduct a nationwide search in order to identify the most qualified candidate.

(6) The members of the governing body of the agency shall not be entitled to compensation but shall be entitled to receive per diem and travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.