HF 2751

as introduced - 88th Legislature (2013 - 2014) Posted on 03/27/2014 03:42pm

A bill for an act
relating to metropolitan transit; expanding scope of jurisdiction of Transportation
Accessibility Advisory Committee; amending Minnesota Statutes 2012, sections
473.375, by adding a subdivision; 473.386, subdivision 2.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA:

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.375, is amended by adding a
subdivision to read:

new text begin Subd. 9a. new text end

new text begin Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee. new text end

new text begin The council shall
establish a Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee consisting of 15 members
and a chair to advise the council on the development and management of policies regarding
accessibility of all aspects of fixed regular route and special transportation services for
persons with disabilities. The Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee shall also
advise the council on long-range plans to meet the accessible transportation needs of the
disability community. The Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee must include
elderly persons, persons with disabilities, other users of special transportation services, and
representatives of appropriate agencies for elderly persons and persons with disabilities. At
least half the Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee members must be persons
who are both ADA-certified and users of public transit in the metropolitan area. Two of
the appointments to the Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee must be made
by the Council on Disability in consultation with the chair of the Metropolitan Council.
new text end

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2012, section 473.386, subdivision 2, is amended to read:

Subd. 2.

Service contracts; management deleted text begin ; transportation accessibility advisory
committee deleted text end .

(a) The council may contract for services necessary for the provision of
special transportation. Transportation service provided under a contract must specify the
service to be provided, the standards that must be met, and the rates for operating and
providing special transportation services.

(b) The council shall establish management policies for the service and may contract
with a service administrator for day-to-day administration and management of the service.
Any contract must delegate to the service administrator clear authority to administer and
manage the delivery of the service pursuant to council management policies and must
establish performance and compliance standards for the service administrator. The council
may provide directly day to day administration and management of the service and may
own or lease vehicles used to provide the service.

(c) The council shall ensure that the service administrator establishes a system for
registering and expeditiously responding to complaints by users, informing users of how
to register complaints, and requiring providers to report on incidents that impair the safety
and well-being of users or the quality of the service.

(d) The council shall report on its special transportation services as part of the
program evaluation provided for in section 473.13, subdivision 1a.

(e) The council shall provide, on an annual basis, an opportunity for users and
other interested persons to provide testimony to the council concerning services provided
under this section.

deleted text begin (f) The council shall establish a Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee
consisting of 15 members and a chair to advise the council on management policies for
the council's special transportation service. The Transportation Accessibility Advisory
Committee must include elderly and disabled persons, other users of special transportation
service, and representatives of appropriate agencies for elderly and disabled persons. At
least half the Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee members must be persons
who are both ADA-certified and users of public transit in the metropolitan area. Two of
the appointments to the Transportation Accessibility Advisory Committee shall be made
by the Council on Disability in consultation with the chair of the Metropolitan Council.
deleted text end

Sec. 3. new text begin EFFECTIVE DATE.
new text end

new text begin Sections 1 and 2 are effective the day following final enactment.
new text end