S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  8202

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                              June 11, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. BRINDISI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
  tee on Transportation

AN  ACT  to amend the transportation law, in relation to the interagency
  coordinating committee on rural public transportation

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 73-d of the transportation law, as amended by chap-
ter 562 of the laws of 1987, is amended to read as follows:
  S 73-d. Interagency coordinating committee on rural public transporta-
tion. 1. There is hereby created a committee to be known as the "intera-
gency  coordinating  committee  on  rural  public transportation", to be
comprised of nineteen members. The commissioner or his or  her  designee
shall  serve as chairperson. Twelve of such members shall be the follow-
ing or his or her duly designated representative: the  director  of  the
office for the aging; the commissioner of education; the commissioner of
labor;  the  commissioner  of  health; the commissioner of the office of
mental  health;  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF  THE  OFFICE  OF  ALCOHOLISM  AND
SUBSTANCE  ABUSE;  the commissioner of the office [of mental retardation
and] FOR PEOPLE WITH developmental  disabilities;  the  commissioner  of
[social services; state advocate for the disabled] THE OFFICE FOR TEMPO-
RARY  AND  DISABILITY ASSISTANCE; THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK
STATE JUSTICE CENTER FOR THE PROTECTION OF PEOPLE  WITH  SPECIAL  NEEDS;
THE  secretary  of  state; THE commissioner of agriculture and markets[;
the director of the office of rural affairs] and the  [director  of  the
division  for  youth]  COMMISSIONER OF THE OFFICE OF CHILDREN AND FAMILY
SERVICES. Six additional members, all of whom  shall  be  transportation
providers or consumers representing rural counties shall be appointed to
serve  a  term of three years as follows: two by the [president pro-tem-
pore] TEMPORARY PRESIDENT of the senate,  two  by  the  speaker  of  the
assembly,  one  by  the  minority  leader  of the senate, and one by the
minority leader of the assembly. Efforts shall  be  made  to  provide  a

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD11497-01-5
              

A. 8202                             2

broad  representation  of  consumers  and  providers  of  transportation
services in rural counties when making such appointments.   [Members  of
the committee shall receive no salary.] THE SIX MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE
LEGISLATURE,  AS  WELL AS THE COMMISSIONER OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE, SHALL
BE THE VOTING MEMBERS. THE BALANCE OF THE COMMITTEE  WILL  SERVE  IN  AN
ADVISORY  OR  CONSULTING  CAPACITY. THE COMMITTEE SHALL KEEP A RECORD OF
ITS OFFICIAL ACTIONS.
  The commissioner shall cause the department to provide  staff  assist-
ance  necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the commit-
tee.
  2. The committee shall[:] MEET AT LEAST ONCE EVERY  THREE  MONTHS  AND
SHALL  REPORT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR  ANNUALLY,  BEGINNING  OCTOBER  FIRST,  TWO
THOUSAND FIFTEEN. THE ANNUAL REPORT SHALL:
  A.  IDENTIFY EXISTING RURAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND PROVIDE DATA ON
RIDERSHIP, REVENUE, AND FINANCIAL CHALLENGES FOR EACH SYSTEM;
  B. IDENTIFY RURAL POPULATIONS CURRENTLY UTILIZING  PUBLIC  TRANSPORTA-
TION,  AS  WELL  AS POPULATIONS IN NEED OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION WITHOUT
ACCESS,  AND  DISCUSS  RECOMMENDATIONS  FOR  MAINTAINING  AND  EXPANDING
SERVICES;
  C. INCLUDE A BREAKDOWN BY COUNTY OF COST SAVINGS, MODES OF TRANSPORTA-
TION  PROVIDED  TO MEDICAID PATIENTS, AND RATES OF UTILIZATION OF PUBLIC
TRANSPORTATION BY MEDICAID PATIENTS;
  D. identify programs and the annual amounts and sources of funds  from
such  programs  that  are  eligible  to be used to support a coordinated
public transportation service, and the annual  amounts  and  sources  of
such  funds  that  are  actually  used  for client transportation or for
transportation of persons in connection with agency-affiliated  programs
or services; such data shall be provided on a county basis;
  [b.]  E. identify restrictions on existing programs that inhibit funds
from such programs being used to pay for a coordinated public  transpor-
tation service in rural counties;
  [c.]  F.  recommend changes in state or local laws or regulations that
would improve the coordination of funds, facilities, vehicles or  equip-
ment and other resources used for transportation at the local level[;
  d.  upon  request, compile and forward to the commissioner any data or
other information required by this section].
  3. THE COMMITTEE SHALL BE  REQUIRED  TO  EXAMINE  REIMBURSEMENT  RATES
DEVELOPED  BY  TRANSPORTATION  MANAGERS  PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION FOUR OF
SECTION THREE HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE-H OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES LAW FOR  COUN-
TIES  WITH  A  POPULATION OF TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND OR LESS. THE COMMITTEE
SHALL SUBMIT RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PROPOSED AND EFFECTIVE RATES FOR  RURAL
COMMUNITIES  TO  THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH WITH RECOMMENDATIONS INCLUD-
ING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ADJUSTMENTS TO INDIVIDUAL RIDERSHIP  FARES  FOR
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION UTILIZATION, RATES FOR LOW-COST COORDINATED TRANS-
PORTATION  WITH  OTHER  HUMAN  SERVICE  AGENCIES,  AND RATES FOR PRIVATE
TRANSPORTATION WITH CONSIDERATIONS OF AVAILABILITY AND COST SAVINGS.
  THE COMMISSIONER OF HEALTH SHALL CONSULT WITH THE COMMITTEE  PRIOR  TO
APPROVAL  OF  RATES  PROPOSED  UNDER  SUBDIVISION  FOUR OF SECTION THREE
HUNDRED SIXTY-FIVE-H OF THE SOCIAL SERVICES  LAW  FOR  COUNTIES  WITH  A
POPULATION  OF  TWO  HUNDRED  THOUSAND  OR LESS. ANY PROPOSAL FOR A RATE
ADJUSTMENT FOR RURAL COMMUNITIES AFTER APPROVAL SHALL BE EXAMINED BY THE
COMMITTEE PRIOR TO APPROVAL BY THE COMMISSIONER.
  4. A MAJORITY OF THE WHOLE NUMBER OF VOTING MEMBERS OF  THE  COMMITTEE
SHALL  CONSTITUTE  A QUORUM FOR THE TRANSACTION OF THE COMMITTEE'S BUSI-
NESS. THE COMMITTEE SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO ACT BY A  MAJORITY  VOTE  OF

A. 8202                             3

THE  VOTING  MEMBERS.  COMMITTEE  MEMBERS  SHALL HOLD OFFICE UNTIL THEIR
SUCCESSORS HAVE BEEN APPOINTED AND  HAVE  QUALIFIED.  THE  SELECTION  OF
SUCCESSORS  TO  FILL A VACANCY SHALL BE MADE IN THE SAME MANNER IN WHICH
THE RETIRING COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHALL HAVE BEEN SELECTED.  MEMBERS OF THE
COMMITTEE  SHALL  RECEIVE  NO SALARY OR OTHER COMPENSATION, BUT SHALL BE
ENTITLED TO THEIR ACTUAL AND  NECESSARY  EXPENSES,  INCLUDING  TRAVELING
EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE DISCHARGE OF THEIR DUTIES.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.