(a) Contiguous local governments within which lie designated portions of the Atlanta Urbanized Area, as defined in 23 U.S.C. Section 101(a) (37), or air quality nonattainment areas, as identified under the federal Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. Section 7401, et seq., shall participate in a metropolitan transportation planning process through a metropolitan planning organization established by one or more units of government, or through a metropolitan planning process established through their area regional commission.

(b) The metropolitan transportation and air quality planning area for each regional commission established pursuant to Code Section 50-8-32 and metropolitan area planning and development commission established pursuant to Code Section 50-8-82 shall be defined by paragraph (1) of subsection (f) of Code Section 50-8-4.

(c) Any unit of government that is participating as a limited member of a metropolitan area planning and development commission for transportation purposes and is located outside the planning area defined by paragraph (1) of subsection (f) of Code Section 50-8-4 shall be authorized, on or after July 1, 2015, to designate the local area regional commission to serve as the metropolitan planning organization.

(d) Any unit of government that is not participating as a limited member of a metropolitan area planning and development commission for transportation purposes shall continue to perform metropolitan planning in accordance with 23 U.S.C. Section 134.

(e) Regional commissions and metropolitan area planning and development commissions shall be provided funding by the appropriate state and regional entities to develop a comprehensive transportation and air quality plan for affected local governments within the Atlanta Urbanized Area as defined by the United States Census Bureau and further defined by paragraph (1) of subsection (f) of Code Section 50-8-4.

(f) Each regional commission established pursuant to Code Section 50-8-32 and metropolitan area planning and development commission established pursuant to Code Section 50-8-82 shall establish a policy board that shall govern the transportation and air quality planning process for all affected areas, approve plans, and have equal voting representation from affected local governments.

(g) In the event of any conflict between the provisions of law governing metropolitan planning and development commissions and those governing regional commissions, the laws defined in this Code section shall control and shall govern the metropolitan transportation planning area funding and planning responsibilities.