2023 -- H 6259 | |
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LC002759 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2023 | |
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A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC | |
TRANSIT AUTHORITY | |
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Introduced By: Representatives McEntee, Cotter, Spears, Craven, Azzinaro, Kennedy, | |
Date Introduced: April 05, 2023 | |
Referred To: House Finance | |
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows: | |
1 | SECTION 1. Chapter 39-18 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Public Transit |
2 | Authority" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section: |
3 | 39-18-25. Public transit - Human services transportation. |
4 | (a) The authority shall review existing routes servicing the paratransit and rural |
5 | communities to identify gaps within the system and determine the most feasible options to expand |
6 | these services to the underserved communities. |
7 | (b) The authority is authorized and directed to establish a paratransit voucher program. This |
8 | program shall: |
9 | (1) Operate as a one-year pilot program to study the feasibility of expanded paratransit |
10 | services to underserved communities. |
11 | (2) Provide those utilizing the program with prepaid voucher(s) to cover the expense of |
12 | paratransit services to be provided by the authority. |
13 | (3) Request funding from the general assembly to support the voucher program to be |
14 | requested by the authority when needed. |
15 | (4) Provide that, in compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) |
16 | those with disabilities residing in rural areas shall be eligible for the RIde Program and qualify for |
17 | the paratransit voucher program. |
18 | (5) Provide program participants with ride services through third-party rideshare, taxi |
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1 | services, and authority buses provided by the authority. |
2 | (6) Contract, through the authority, with at least one service provider that has handicap |
3 | accessible vehicles in their fleet. |
4 | (7) Provide participants with access to a ride scheduling platform. The platform may be |
5 | operated by the authority or third-party service provider. |
6 | (c) There is hereby appropriated, out of any money in the treasury not otherwise |
7 | appropriated for the fiscal year 2023-2024, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) to |
8 | the authority to conduct the study. |
9 | (d) Upon completion of the pilot program the authority shall report to the senate president, |
10 | speaker of the house, and the governor on the outcome of the pilot program. |
11 | SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage. |
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EXPLANATION | |
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL | |
OF | |
A N A C T | |
RELATING TO PUBLIC UTILITIES AND CARRIERS -- RHODE ISLAND PUBLIC | |
TRANSIT AUTHORITY | |
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1 | This act would require the Rhode Island public transit authority (RIPTA) to review existing |
2 | routes in rural communities to identify gaps in service and would authorize the authority to establish |
3 | paratransit vouchers and operate a one-year pilot program to study the feasibility of expanded |
4 | services in underserved communities. It would also provide that those with disabilities in those |
5 | areas would be eligible for the RIde program and be eligible for the vouchers. Financing for the |
6 | pilot program would be appropriated in the sum of five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000). |
7 | This act would take effect upon passage. |
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