SF 1516

as introduced - 86th Legislature (2009 - 2010) Posted on 02/09/2010 02:21am

A bill for an act
relating to transportation; public transit; allowing use of public transit free of
charge for disabled veterans and current, uniformed members on active service;
amending Minnesota Statutes 2008, sections 174.24, subdivision 1a, by adding a
subdivision; 473.384, subdivision 5, by adding a subdivision.

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

Section 1.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 174.24, subdivision 1a, is amended to read:

Subd. 1a.

Transit service needs implementation plan.

The commissioner shall
develop a transit service needs implementation plan that contains a goal of meeting at
least 80 percent of unmet transit service needs in greater Minnesota by July 1, 2015, and
meeting at least 90 percent of unmet transit service needs in greater Minnesota by July 1,
2025. The plan must include, but is not limited to, the following: an analysis of ridership
and transit service needs throughout greater Minnesota; a calculation of unmet needs; an
assessment of the level and type of service required to meet unmet needs; an analysis of
costs and revenue options; and, a plan to reduce unmet transit service needs as specified
in this subdivision. The plan must specifically address special transportation service
ridership and needs. new text begin The plan must also provide that recipients of operating assistance
under this section provide public transit service without charge for disabled veterans
and for persons in uniform and currently on active military service in accordance with
subdivision 7. new text end The commissioner may amend the plan as necessary, and may use all or
part of the 2001 greater Minnesota public transportation plan created by the Minnesota
Department of Transportation.

Sec. 2.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 174.24, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 7. new text end

new text begin Transit service for veterans and uniformed persons on active service.
new text end

new text begin On and after the effective date of this section, an eligible recipient of operating assistance
under this section, who contracts or has contracted to provide public transit, shall provide
public transit service free of charge for (1) veterans, as defined in section 197.447, certified
as disabled and (2) persons in uniform and currently on active service, as defined in section
190.05, subdivision 5. For purposes of this section, "certified as disabled" means certified
in writing by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs or the state commissioner
of veterans affairs as having a permanent and total service-connected disability.
new text end

Sec. 3.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 473.384, subdivision 5, is amended to read:

Subd. 5.

Service plan.

The council shall, before making a contract with an eligible
recipient, require the submission of a service plan deleted text begin which deleted text end new text begin that new text end includes the following
elements:

(a) a description of the service proposed for financial assistance, including vehicles,
routes, and schedules;

(b) an assessment of the extent to which the proposed service meets the needs as
determined by the transit study;

(c) a description of the contract administration and review process if the operation of
the proposed service is to be done by a private contractor;

(d) a description of the amount required to establish and operate the proposed service
and the proposed sources of the required amount including operating revenue, other local
sources, and assistance from the council and from federal sources;

(e) the fare structure of the proposed service new text begin , including but not limited to provision
by an eligible recipient described in subdivision 2, of the use of regular route transit
without charge by disabled veterans and by persons in uniform and currently on active
military service, in accordance with subdivision 10 new text end ; and

(f) projections of usage of the system.

The council may specify procedures, including public hearing requirements, to be
followed by applicants that are new text begin statutory or home rule charter new text end cities, towns, or counties new text begin , new text end or
combinations new text begin , new text end thereof in conducting transit studies and formulating service plans.

Sec. 4.

Minnesota Statutes 2008, section 473.384, is amended by adding a subdivision
to read:

new text begin Subd. 10. new text end

new text begin Transit service for veterans and uniformed persons on active service.
new text end

new text begin On and after the effective date of this section, an eligible recipient of financial assistance
under this section, who contracts or has contracted to provide regular route transit as
defined in section 473.385, subdivision 1, shall provide regular route transit service free of
charge for (1) veterans, as defined in section 197.447, certified as disabled and (2) persons
in uniform and currently on active service, as defined in section 190.05, subdivision 5. For
purposes of this section, "certified as disabled" means certified in writing by the United
States Department of Veterans Affairs or the state commissioner of veterans affairs as
having a permanent and total service-connected disability.
new text end