1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to metropolitan government; governing special transportation service 
1.3 	requirements; amending Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.386, subdivision 
1.4 	3.
1.5 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.6 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2004, section 473.386, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
1.7 		Subd. 3.Duties of council. In implementing the special transportation service, the 
1.8 	council shall:
1.9 	(a) encourage participation in the service by public, private, and private nonprofit 
1.10 	providers of special transportation currently receiving capital or operating assistance 
1.11 	from a public agency;
1.12 	(b) contract with public, private, and private nonprofit providers that have 
1.13 	demonstrated their ability to effectively provide service at a reasonable cost;
1.14 	(c) encourage individuals using special transportation to use the type of service 
1.15 	most appropriate to their particular needs;
1.16 	(d) ensure that all persons providing special transportation service receive equitable 
1.17 	treatment in the allocation of the ridership;
1.18 	(e) encourage shared rides to the greatest extent practicable;
1.19 	(f) encourage public agencies that provide transportation to eligible individuals as a 
1.20 	component of human services and educational programs to coordinate with this service 
1.21 	and to allow reimbursement for transportation provided through the service at rates that 
1.22 	reflect the public cost of providing that transportation;
1.23 	(g) establish criteria to be used in determining individual eligibility for special 
1.24 	transportation services;
2.1 	(h) consult with the Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee in a timely 
2.2 	manner before changes are made in the provision of special transportation services, 
2.3 	including, but not limited to, changes in policies affecting the matters subject to hearing 
2.4 	under subdivision 2;
2.5 	(i) provide for effective administration and enforcement of council policies and 
2.6 	standards; and
2.7 	(j) annually evaluate providers of special transportation service to ensure compliance 
2.8 	with the standards established for the program.; and 
2.9 	(k) ensure that, taken as a whole including contracts with public, private, and private 
2.10 	nonprofit providers, the geographic coverage area of the special transportation service is 
2.11 	continuous within the boundaries of the transit taxing district, as defined as of March 1, 
2.12 	2006, in section 473.446, subdivision 2.