Introduced By: Senators Fogarty, Algiere, Coderre and Izzo
Date Introduced : June 29, 1998
RESOLVED, That a special senate commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of fourteen (14) members: eleven (11) of whom shall be the paratransit task force (established by executive order 94-5 and expanded by executive orders 95-6 and 97-6, which include the directors or their designees of the departments of: elderly affairs; transportation; mental health, retardation, and hospitals; human services; and administration, the general manager of the RI public transit authority, the executive secretary of the governor's commission and disabilities, and the four public members appointed by the governor) one (1) of whom shall be the house fiscal advisor, or designee; one (1) of whom shall be the senate fiscal advisor, or designee; and one (1) of whom shall be the executive director of the long term care coordinating council, or designee.
In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a general assembly resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.
The purpose of said commission shall be to study the transportation needs of senior citizens, persons with disabilities and residents who are unable to use private automobiles in areas not serviced by the RI public transit authority and make recommendations to ensure:
1. that senior citizens and other users of long term health care services have their transportation needs met so they can remain in their own homes when appropriate and utilize community based health care services;
2. that persons with disabilities and others have work related transportation services that are affordable and reliable, so they can go to work and achieve economic independence;
3. that families with children have their health care related transportation needs met so they have access to preventative medical care; and
4. that specialized transportation and fixed route (RIPTA) services are coordinated to the maximum extent feasible and appropriate to the individual needs, abilities, and destinations of the passengers.
The commission shall utilize the experience and knowledge gained by the paratransit task in creating a coordinated statewide paratransit system that meets the needs of senior citizens, people with disabilities, low income persons, and other transportation dependent persons.
Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the senate majority leader and organize. The Executive Director of the Long Term Care Coordinating Council shall serve as chairperson. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.
The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.
All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.
The joint committee on legislative services is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters for said commission; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the commission shall report it findings and recommendations to the Senate on or before March 1, 1999 and said commission shall expire on May 1, 1999.
