AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 30, 2019

AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 14, 2019

AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2019

CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE— 2019–2020 REGULAR SESSION

94

CHAPTER 627

Statutes of 2019

[ Approved by Governor October 8, 2019. Filed with Secretary of State October 8, 2019. ]

Introduced by Assembly Member Lackey

February 22, 2019

An act to add Section 99155.6 to the Public Utilities Code, relating to public transit.

Vote: majority   Appropriation: no   Fiscal committee: yes   Local program: no

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

Existing law requires a for-profit or nonprofit transit operator that receives funds through the Mills-Alquist-Deddeh Act and that provides dial-a-ride or paratransit service to provide those services consistent with certain requirements. Existing law requires a transit operator to honor any current valid identification card for the type of transportation service or discount requested and that has been issued to an individual with disabilities by another transit operator. Existing law establishes in state government the Transportation Agency, which consists of various state entities, including the Department of Transportation.

This bill would require the agency, in consultation with public transit operators, to conduct an assessment of the procedures public transit operators use to provide dial-a-ride and paratransit services to individuals with disabilities who are visiting their service territories and are certified to use another in-state public transit operator’s similar dial-a-ride and paratransit services. The bill would require the agency to publish the assessment on its internet website on or before July 1, 2021. The bill would require the agency, after conducting and publishing the assessment, to adopt guidelines for the development of a statewide program to enable individuals with disabilities who a public transit operator has certified to use its dial-a-ride and paratransit services to use another in-state public transit operator’s similar dial-a-ride and paratransit services.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

SECTION 1.

Section 99155.6 is added to the Public Utilities Code, to read:

99155.6.

(a) The Transportation Agency, in consultation with public transit operators, shall conduct an assessment of the procedures public transit operators use to provide dial-a-ride and paratransit services to individuals with disabilities who are visiting their service territories and are certified to use another in-state public transit operator’s similar dial-a-ride and paratransit services, to the extent available. The assessment shall include, but not be limited to, timelines and methods for qualifying individuals to submit certification documents, including by electronic submission, to transit operators.

(b) On or before July 1, 2021, the Transportation Agency shall publish the assessment on its internet website.

(c) After conducting and publishing the assessment, the Transportation Agency shall adopt guidelines for the development of a statewide program to enable individuals with disabilities who a public transit operator has certified to use its dial-a-ride and paratransit services to use another in-state public transit operator’s similar dial-a-ride and paratransit services, to the extent available.