SECTION 74.
For fiscal year 2019, $4,000,000 of the amount required to be transferred to regional transit authorities under clause (2) of subsection (d) of section 2ZZZ of chapter 29 shall be conditioned on the execution of a memorandum of understanding by a regional transit authority, including but not limited to, regional transit authorities which the Massachusetts Department of Transportation has determined (i) provide best practice services or programs or (ii) seek to initiate, maintain or expand service to a priority population, and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation under the task force on regional transit authority performance and funding established under section 72. The memorandum of understanding shall incorporate appropriate ridership, customer service, asset management and financial performance indicators and best practices to ensure that the authority makes data-driven decisions with respect to its operation including, but not limited to, service and asset management. The memorandum of understanding shall certify that the regional transit authority did not sustain a budget deficit the prior year and that its budget for the current fiscal year is balanced. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation shall provide a copy of each memorandum of understanding upon execution to the chairs of the joint committee on transportation and the senate and house committees on ways and means.