§ 73-d. Interagency coordinating committee on rural public
transportation. 1. There is hereby created a committee to be known as
the "interagency 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
following 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 addiction
services and supports; the commissioner of the office for people with
developmental disabilities; the commissioner of the office for temporary
and disability assistance; the executive director of the New York state
justice center for the protection of people with special needs;
secretary of state; the commissioner of agriculture and markets and the
commissioner of the office of children and family services. Six
additional members, five of whom shall be transportation providers or
consumers representing rural counties and one of whom shall be a
representative of a labor union affiliated with rural public
transportation systems receiving mass transportation operating
assistance pursuant to section eighteen-b of this chapter, shall be
appointed to serve a term of three years as follows: two by the
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 broad representation
of consumers and providers of transportation services in rural counties
when making such appointments. Members of the committee shall receive no
salary. Any vacancies on the committee shall be filled in the manner
provided for in the initial appointment. Beginning January first, two
thousand twenty-two, the committee shall meet at least once every three
months and, beginning January first, two thousand twenty-four, the
committee shall meet at least once every four months.

The commissioner shall cause the department to provide staff
assistance necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the
committee.

2. The committee shall:

a. 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. identify restrictions on existing programs that inhibit funds from
such programs being used to pay for a coordinated public transportation
service in rural counties;

c. recommend changes in state or local laws or regulations that would
improve the coordination of funds, facilities, vehicles or equipment 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;

e. conduct a study, in consultation with the department, of the
availability of public transportation services in rural counties. Such
study shall identify, examine and review the following: the efficiency,
effectiveness, quality and availability of public transportation
services in rural counties; the current and projected operating and
capital costs, revenues, subsidies, and ridership and service area data
of each public transportation system operating within rural counties;
the barriers and financial challenges to providing and operating public
transportation services in rural counties; and the demographics of the
populations which have, and those which lack, access to public
transportation services in rural counties. Such study shall include
findings and recommendations to expand the level and availability of
public transportation services in rural counties. On or before January
first, two thousand twenty-three, the committee shall deliver such study
to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of
the assembly, and the chairs of the senate and assembly transportation
committees; and

f. beginning June first, two thousand twenty-four and on the same date
in each succeeding year, submit an annual report to the governor, the
temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the
chairs of the senate and assembly transportation committees on the level
and availability of public transportation services in rural counties.