S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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5794
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
June 3, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. O'MARA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee 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
S. 5794 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
S. 5794 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.
