2000 -- S 2401
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LC02117
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S T A T E O F R H O D E I S L A N D
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2000
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A N A C T
RELATING TO WORK RELATING PARATRANSIT SERVICES
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
SECTION 1. Chapter 42-66 of the General Laws entitled "Elderly Affairs Department" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:
42-66-18. Work-related paratransit program. --
(1) There is hereby created a pilot program known as the "work-related paratransit program." The goal of the pilot program shall be to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities in areas not serviced by public transportation. The department of elderly affairs shall administer the work-related paratransit program as part of its coordination of the "elderly/disabled transportation" program.(2) This limited pilot project shall provide transportation to and from work sites and/or job training for individuals with disabilities who:
(a) meet the eligibility criteria for:
(i) RIPTA's ADA paratransit service (other than geographic starting and/or ending point of the trip); or
(ii) RIPTA's disabled bus pass program;
(b) reside and/or work or attend job training outside RIPTA's ADA paratransit corridor;
(c) are unable to operate or do not have the use of an automobile;
(d) are not able to participate in an existing car pool to their work site or job training location; and
(e) are not eligible for other specialized transportation services to transport them to and from work or job training.
(3) Participants in the work-related paratransit program shall:
(a) pay a fare, which allows the participant to transfer to the RIPTA fixed route and RIPTA "ADA" paratransit service without an additional charge; and
(b) be transported on RIde vans, which feed to and from fixed route RIPTA buses whenever economical and the participant is able to ride on a public bus.
(4) The paratransit task force (or its successor) shall:
(a) by September 1, 2000 and annually thereafter, establish a fare schedule for the work-related paratransit service which is equivalent to the average daily commuter cost (including fuel, vehicle depreciation, parking fees, etc.) for the prior year, by zone and/or statewide;
(b) ensure coordination of the RIde and RIPTA services to encourage transfers between systems, including a system for splitting the fares between the systems;
(c) by September 1, 2000 and annually thereafter, establish a memorandum of agreement regarding the distribution of the elderly/disabled transportation fund and other appropriations for paratransit services, including the work-related paratransit program;
(d) shall file an annual financial and service report, including the number of persons transported to work, with the governor and the general assembly no later than January fifteenth of each year, commencing January, 2001.
SECTION 2. Section 39-13-1 of the General Laws in Chapter 39-13 entitled "Motor Passenger Carriers" is hereby amended to read as follows:
39-13-1. Definitions. -- (a) "Coordinated paratransit services" means paratransit services coordinated by the department of transportation elderly affairs, to be provided under a brokerage or other contractual model to provide, promote and coordinate new or existing paratransit operations to enable all state, municipal and private agencies access to appropriate paratransit services.
(b) "Jitney" means and includes any motor bus or other public service motor vehicle operated in whole or in part upon any street or highway in such manner as to afford a means of transportation similar to that afforded by a street railway company, by indiscriminately receiving or discharging passengers; or running on a regular route or over any portion thereof; or between fixed termini.
(c) "Paratransit services" means flexible transportation services provided on a demand responsive and advance reservation basis, for any destination within the scope of a service program provided by a state, or municipal agency, the fee for which is determined pursuant to a contract between the service provider and the state or municipal agency. Paratransit includes single or group trips or trips made on a recurring basis such as for work, school, medical, nutrition, and sheltered workshops.
(d) "Public service motor vehicle" shall include all motor vehicles as defined in section 31-1-3, used for the transportation of passengers for hire.
(e) "Transportation operator(s)" means an entity(ies) providing flexible transportation services which are operated publicly or privately, and are distinct from conventional fixed-route, fixed-schedule transit, and are generally operated with low-capacity vehicles which provide curb-to-curb or door-to-door service which typically involves transportation of elderly, disabled, low-income, or the otherwise transportation dependent population.
SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC02117
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO WORK RELATED PARATRANSIT SERVICES
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This act would establish a pilot project to transport individuals with disabilities to work and job training programs in areas not serviced by RIPTA.
This act would take effect upon passage.
