1.1 	A bill for an act
1.2 	relating to transportation; encouraging coordination of paratransit services; 
1.3 	establishing paratransit and special transportation service standards; requiring 
1.4 	subsidized paratransit providers to offer intercounty service; directing 
1.5 	commissioner to facilitate establishment of one-stop paratransit call centers; 
1.6 	amending Minnesota Statutes 2006, sections 174.24, subdivision 2a; 174.255, by 
1.7 	adding a subdivision; 174.29, by adding subdivisions; 473.386, subdivision 3.
1.8 	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

1.9 	Section 1. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 174.24, subdivision 2a, is amended to read:
1.10 		Subd. 2a.Eligible activities. Activities eligible for assistance under the program 
1.11 	include but are not limited to:
1.12 	(1) planning and engineering design for transit services and facilities;
1.13 	(2) capital assistance to purchase or refurbish transit vehicles and other capital 
1.14 	expenditures necessary to provide a transit service;
1.15 	(3) operating assistance as provided under subdivision 3b; and
1.16 	(4) partnership creation to coordinate and supplement services of county, local, and 
1.17 	private transit providers;
1.18 	(5) design and operation of regional call centers; and
1.19 	(6) other assistance for public transit services that furthers the purposes of section 
1.20 	174.21.

1.21 	Sec. 2. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 174.255, is amended by adding a subdivision 
1.22 	to read:
1.23 		Subd. 1a.Service standards. The commissioner shall require any paratransit 
1.24 	project that serves disabled individuals and receives assistance under section 174.24 to:
2.1 	(1) allow passengers to schedule trips up to four days in advance;
2.2 	(2) guarantee same-day demand service availability for trips that are 25 miles or 
2.3 	less; and
2.4 	(3) provide service for a minimum of 14 hours per day, unless the commissioner 
2.5 	finds that service needs are met by one or more providers in the service area for a 
2.6 	minimum of 14 hours per day.

2.7 	Sec. 3. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 174.29, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.8 	to read:
2.9 		Subd. 4.Supplementary paratransit. The commissioner shall facilitate the 
2.10 	creation of partnerships among paratransit providers, including, but not limited to, medical 
2.11 	assistance transportation providers, to supplement and coordinate with available county 
2.12 	and local transit service.

2.13 	Sec. 4. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 174.29, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.14 	to read:
2.15 		Subd. 5.Intercounty service. The commissioner shall require providers of 
2.16 	service within ..... miles of a county line to enter into regional intercounty service 
2.17 	agreements, allowing passengers to take trips up to 50 miles in length without payment 
2.18 	of a supplemental fare. The commissioner, in cooperation with state agencies that 
2.19 	assist, provide, reimburse, or regulate special transportation services, shall establish a 
2.20 	reimbursement mechanism to facilitate reimbursement for intercounty trips.

2.21 	Sec. 5. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 174.29, is amended by adding a subdivision 
2.22 	to read:
2.23 		Subd. 6.One-stop call centers. The commissioner shall promote, support, and 
2.24 	facilitate the establishment and operation of one-stop regional call centers that assist 
2.25 	callers in arranging the most efficient and cost-effective available rides while meeting 
2.26 	passengers' needs for special equipment.

2.27 	Sec. 6. Minnesota Statutes 2006, section 473.386, subdivision 3, is amended to read:
2.28 		Subd. 3.Duties of council. In implementing the special transportation service, the 
2.29 	council shall:
2.30 	(a) encourage participation in the service by public, private, and private nonprofit 
2.31 	providers of special transportation currently receiving capital or operating assistance 
2.32 	from a public agency;
3.1 	(b) contract with public, private, and private nonprofit providers that have 
3.2 	demonstrated their ability to effectively provide service at a reasonable cost;
3.3 	(c) encourage individuals using special transportation to use the type of service 
3.4 	most appropriate to their particular needs;
3.5 	(d) ensure that all persons providing special transportation service receive equitable 
3.6 	treatment in the allocation of the ridership;
3.7 	(e) require special transit service providers to:
3.8 	(1) allow passengers to schedule trips up to four days in advance;
3.9 	(2) guarantee same-day demand service availability for trips that are 25 miles or less;
3.10 	(3) provide service for a minimum of 14 hours per day, unless the council finds 
3.11 	that service needs are met by one or more providers in the service area for a minimum 
3.12 	of 14 hours per day; and
3.13 	(4) encourage shared rides to the greatest extent practicable;
3.14 	(f) encourage public agencies that provide transportation to eligible individuals as a 
3.15 	component of human services and educational programs to coordinate with this service 
3.16 	and to allow reimbursement for transportation provided through the service at rates that 
3.17 	reflect the public cost of providing that transportation;
3.18 	(g) establish criteria to be used in determining individual eligibility for special 
3.19 	transportation services;
3.20 	(h) consult with the Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee in a timely 
3.21 	manner before changes are made in the provision of special transportation services, 
3.22 	including, but not limited to, changes in policies affecting the matters subject to hearing 
3.23 	under subdivision 2;
3.24 	(i) provide for effective administration and enforcement of council policies and 
3.25 	standards; 
3.26 	(j) annually evaluate providers of special transportation service to ensure compliance 
3.27 	with the standards established for the program; and 
3.28 	(k) ensure that, taken as a whole including contracts with public, private, and private 
3.29 	nonprofit providers, the geographic coverage area of the special transportation service is 
3.30 	continuous within the boundaries of the transit taxing district, as defined as of March 1, 
3.31 	2006, in section 473.446, subdivision 2.

3.32 	Sec. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.
 3.33 	Sections 1 and 3 are effective July 1, 2007. Sections 2, 4, 5, and 6 are effective 
3.34 	January 1, 2010.