Ill STAT. 2686 PUBLIC LAW 105-151—DEC. 16, 1997 Public Law 105-151 105th Congress Joint Resolution n ifi 1QQ7 Granting the consent and approval of Congress for the State of Maryland, the
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Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia to amend the Washington [H.J. Res. 96] Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact. Whereas the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia have adopted amendments to the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact relating to public hearing requirements and empowering transit police officers to carry weapons issued by WMATA while in an off- duty status, consistent with limitations imposed by the applicable political subdivision; and Whereas the Congress has reviewed such amendments and is willing to consent to such amendments: Now, therefore, be it Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That consent of Congress is hereby given to the amendments of the State of Mary- land (Chapter 489, 1996 Laws of the Maryland General Assembly and Chapters 91 and 699, 1997 Laws of the Maryland General Assembly), the amendments of the Commonwealth of Virginia (Chapter 150, 1995 Acts of Assembly of Virginia), and the amendments of the District of Columbia (D.C. Law 11-443) to sections 62 and 76 of title III of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Regulation Compact. Such amendments are as follows: (1) Section 62(a) is amended to read as follows: "(a) The Board shall not raise any fare or rate, nor implement a major service reduction, except after holding a public hearing with respect thereto.". (2) Section 62(c) is amended to read as follows: "(c) The Board shall give at least fifteen days' notice for all public hearings. The notice shall be given by publication in a newspaper of daily circulation throughout the Transit Zone and such notice shall be published once a week for two successive weeks. The notice period shall start with the first day of publication. Notices of public hearings shall be posted in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Board.". (3) Section 76(b) is amended to read as follows: "(b) A member of the Metro Transit Police shall have the same powers, including the power of arrest, and shall be subject to the same limitations, including regulatory limitations, in the performance of his duties as a member of the duly constituted police force of the political subdivision in which the Metro Transit Police member is engaged in the performance of his duties. A member of the Metro Transit Police is authorized to carry and use only such weapons, including handguns, as are issued by the Authority. A member of the Metro Transit Police is subject to
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