N.Y. Transportation Law § 73-d: Interagency coordinating committee on rural public transportation

§ 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.