S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   6896
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 25, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by M. of A. BRONSON -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Aging
 
 AN ACT to amend the elder law, in relation to an economically  sustaina-
   ble transportation demonstration program
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. Subdivisions 2 and 6 of section 223 of the  elder  law,  as
 added  by  section  3  of  part J of chapter 57 of the laws of 2006, are
 amended to read as follows:
   2. The director shall establish the economically sustainable transpor-
 tation demonstration program for the  purpose  of  enabling  seniors  to
 remain  independent  and  mobile  in  their community. The program would
 provide an on demand transit service for seniors [that would use] ESTAB-
 LISHING, AT A MINIMUM, OPERATIONAL HOURS DURING  NORMAL  BUSINESS  HOURS
 USING  automobiles  driven  by  volunteer  and paid drivers to transport
 seniors to where they need and want to  go.  [After  a  period  of  five
 years,  the  program  would  no longer be eligible for state funding and
 would be completely  self-sustaining,  relying  on  consumer  fares  and
 voluntary community support to remain operational.]
   6.  [Within  amounts appropriated, the] THE DIRECTOR SHALL ESTABLISH A
 PILOT PROGRAM WITHIN AMOUNTS APPROPRIATED THEREFOR, IN UP TO FIVE  COUN-
 TIES,  EACH  WITH NOT MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND PERSONS AS OF THE
 TWO THOUSAND TEN UNITED STATES CENSUS, OR A COLLABORATIVE PROJECT OF TWO
 CONTIGUOUS COUNTIES THAT EACH DO NOT HAVE MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED  THOU-
 SAND PERSONS AS OF THE TWO THOUSAND TEN UNITED STATES CENSUS. THE direc-
 tor  shall  make  grants available to qualified economically sustainable
 transportation providers of no less than fifty-five thousand dollars per
 grantee [in the first year of the  operation  of  the  program].    EACH
 PROVIDER SHALL BE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT A REPORT TO THE DIRECTOR WITHIN ONE
 YEAR  OF  THE  IMPLEMENTATION OF SUCH PILOT PROGRAM WHICH SHALL INCLUDE,
 BUT NOT BE LIMITED  TO, DOCUMENTATION OF PARTICIPATION RATES, ANY IMPED-
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD07690-02-9

 A. 6896                             2
 
 IMENTS TO IMPLEMENTATION ENCOUNTERED, STEPS TAKEN TO ENSURE SUSTAINABIL-
 ITY OF THE PROGRAM AND PROPOSALS FOR EXPANSION TO OTHER  SERVICE  AREAS.
 Such  providers  shall be eligible to receive funding under this section
 annually  for  up to five years. After such time, providers must be able
 to provide  economically  sustainable  transportation  services  without
 receiving  further  public financial assistance for operating or capital
 expenses.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.