I 

114TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION H. R. 4082 

To coordinate transportation services for transportation-disadvantaged 

individuals. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

NOVEMBER 19, 2015 

Mr. WEBSTER of Florida introduced the following bill; which was referred to 

the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 

A BILL 

To coordinate transportation services for transportationdisadvantaged individuals. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Coordinating Trans5 portation Services for Transportation Disadvantaged Indi6 viduals Act of 2015’’. 

7 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

8 In this Act, the following definitions apply: 

9 (1) TRANSPORTATION-DISADVANTAGED INDI10 VIDUAL.—The term ‘‘transportation-disadvantaged 


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1 individual’’ means an individual who requires the use 

2 of public transportation, but has difficulty accessing 

3 public transportation due to disability, income level, 

4 age, or veteran status. 

5 (2) APPROPRIATE COMMITTEES OF CON6 GRESS.—The term ‘‘appropriate committees of Con7 gress’’ means the Committee on Transportation and 

8 Infrastructure of the House of Representatives and 

9 the Committee on Environment and Public Works of 

10 the Senate. 

11 (3) COUNCIL.—The term ‘‘Council’’ means the 

12 New Interagency Transportation Coordinating Coun13 cil on Access and Mobility established under section 

14 3. 

15 (4) DISABILITY.—The term ‘‘disability’’ has the 

16 meaning given such term in section 3 of the Ameri17 cans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 

18 12102). 

19 (5) FEDERAL AGENCY.—The term ‘‘Federal 

20 agency’’ has the meaning given the term ‘‘executive 

21 agency’’ in section 105 of title 5, United States 

22 Code. 

23 (6) PURCHASING AGENCY.—The term ‘‘pur24 chasing agency’’ means a department or agency of 

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1 tation services for transportation-disadvantaged indi2 viduals. 

3 (7) STATE.—The term ‘‘State’’ has the mean4 ing given such term in section 101 of title 23, 

5 United States Code. 

6 (8) STATE TRANSPORT COORDINATING COMMIS7 SION.—The term ‘‘State Transport Coordinating 

8 Commission’’ means a commission established pur9 suant to section 4. 

10 SEC. 3. ESTABLISHMENT OF FEDERAL INTERAGENCY 

11 TRANSPORTATION COORDINATING COUNCIL 

12 ON ACCESS AND MOBILITY. 

13 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established in the 

14 Department of Transportation a council to be known as 

15 the ‘‘New Interagency Transportation Coordinating Coun16 cil on Access and Mobility’’. 

17 (b) DUTIES OF COUNCIL.— 

18 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall coordinate 

19 transportation services to transportation-disadvan20 taged individuals in a manner that is cost effective, 

21 efficient, and minimizes the fragmentation and du22 plication of such services. 

23 (2) DUTIES.—The Council shall carry out the 

24 following activities: 


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1 (A) STRATEGIC PLAN.—Develop, and up2 date every 2 years, a written strategic plan that 

3 identifies Federal agency roles and responsibil4 ities and measurable outcomes, including— 

5 (i) the promotion of interagency co6 operation and the establishment of appro7 priate mechanisms to minimize duplication 

8 and overlap of Federal programs and serv9 ices so that transportation-disadvantaged 

10 individuals have access to more transpor11 tation services; 

12 (ii) the alignment of the goals of re13 ducing fragmentation, overlap, and dupli14 cation of services with benefits, including 

15 increased efficiency; 

16 (iii) the formulation and implementa17 tion of administrative, policy, and proce18 dural mechanisms that enhance transpor19 tation services at all levels; and 

20 (iv) the development and implementa21 tion of a method for monitoring progress 

22 on achieving the purposes of this Act, in23 cluding the implementation of the func24 tions and requirements of the State Trans25 port Coordinating Commissions. 


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1 (B) JOINT COST-SHARING POLICY.—Not 

2 later than 90 days after the date of enactment 

3 of this Act, develop a joint cost-sharing policy 

4 among Federal agencies with representatives on 

5 the Council that provides clear guidance to 

6 State and local governments regarding the ap7 propriate allocation of costs to each Federal 

8 agency. 

9 (C) PROGRAM INVENTORY.—Maintain an 

10 inventory of all Federal programs that provide 

11 transportation services to transportation-dis12 advantaged individuals. 

13 (D) PARTNERSHIPS WITH STATE TRANS14 PORT COORDINATING COMMISSIONS.—Partner 

15 with State Transport Coordinating Commis16 sions and aid such commissions in coordinating 

17 transportation services for transportation-dis18 advantaged individuals, including— 

19 (i) establishing best practices for the 

20 coordination by State and local govern21 ments of transportation services to trans22 portation-disadvantaged individuals; 

23 (ii) facilitating access to the most ap24 propriate and cost-effective transportation 

25 services using available resources; 


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1 (iii) encouraging enhanced access to 

2 the variety of transportation and resources 

3 available; and 

4 (iv) advising each State Transport Co5 ordinating Commission, upon the request 

6 of the State, with regard to the establish7 ment of guidelines and procedures for the 

8 coordination of transportation services for 

9 transportation-disadvantaged individuals. 

10 (c) MEMBERSHIP.— 

11 (1) COMPOSITION.—The Council shall be com12 posed of each of the following Federal officials or 

13 the designee of such official: 

14 (A) Secretary of Agriculture. 

15 (B) Secretary of Education. 

16 (C) Secretary of Health and Human Serv17 ices. 

18 (D) Secretary of Housing and Urban De19 velopment. 

20 (E) Secretary of the Interior. 

21 (F) Secretary of Labor. 

22 (G) Secretary of Transportation. 

23 (H) Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

24 (I) Attorney General of the United States. 

25 (J) Commissioner of Social Security. 


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1 (K) Any other Federal official that the 

2 Chairperson determines to have activities rel3 evant to the duties of the Council. 

4 (2) CRITERIA FOR SELECTION OF DES5 IGNEES.—The designee of an official described in 

6 subparagraphs (A) through (K) of paragraph (1) 

7 shall be an officer or employee of that official’s 

8 agency serving in a position with pay equal to or 

9 greater than the minimum rate payable for GS–15 

10 of the General Schedule. 

11 (3) TERMS.—Each member shall serve for the 

12 life of the Council. 

13 (4) PROHIBITION ON COMPENSATION OF MEM14 BERS.—Members of the Council may not receive 

15 pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their serv16 ice on the Council. 

17 (5) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—Each member of the 

18 Council shall receive travel expenses, including per 

19 diem in lieu of subsistence in accordance with appli20 cable provisions under subchapter I of chapter 57 of 

21 title 5, United States Code. 

22 (6) QUORUM.—Two-thirds of the members of 

23 the Council shall constitute a quorum but a lesser 

24 number may hold hearings. 


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1 (7) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary of Trans2 portation, or the Secretary’s designee, shall serve as 

3 the Chairperson of the Council. 

4 (8) MEETINGS.—The first meeting of the Coun5 cil shall take place not later than 90 days after the 

6 date of the enactment of this Act. Thereafter the 

7 Council shall meet quarterly and may also meet at 

8 the call of the Chairperson or a majority of its mem9 bers. 

10 (9) TERMINATION.—The Council shall termi11 nate 1 year after the expiration of all transportation12 disadvantaged programs, as determined by the Sec13 retary of Transportation. 

14 (d) STAFF OF COUNCIL.— 

15 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Chairperson may ap16 point and fix the pay of personnel as the Chair17 person considers appropriate. 

18 (2) STAFF OF FEDERAL AGENCIES.—Upon re19 quest of the Chairperson, the head of any Federal 

20 agency may detail on a reimbursable basis, any of 

21 the personnel of that department or agency to the 

22 Council to assist it in carrying out its duties under 

23 this Act. 

24 (e) POWERS OF COUNCIL.— 


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1 (1) HEARINGS AND SESSIONS.—The Council 

2 may sit and act at times and places, take testimony, 

3 and receive evidence as the Council considers appro4 priate to carry out the duties of the Council under 

5 this Act. 

6 (2) POWERS OF MEMBERS AND AGENTS.—Any 

7 member or agent of the Council may, if authorized 

8 by the Council, take any action which the Council is 

9 authorized to take by this Act. 

10 (3) OBTAINING OFFICIAL DATA.—The Council 

11 may secure directly from any Federal agency infor12 mation necessary to enable it to carry out this Act. 

13 Upon request of the Chairperson of the Council the 

14 head of that department or agency shall furnish the 

15 requested information to the Council. 

16 (4) CONTRACT AUTHORITY.—To the extent or 

17 in the amounts provided in advance in appropriation 

18 Acts, the Council may contract with and compensate 

19 government and private agencies or persons for serv20 ices related to the duties of the Council. 

21 (f) REPORT TO CONGRESS.— 

22 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Council shall submit to 

23 the appropriate committees of Congress a report 

24 containing the information described in paragraph 


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1 (2) not later than 1 year after the date of the enact2 ment of this Act, and annually thereafter. 

3 (2) CONTENTS OF REPORT.—The report re4 quired by paragraph (1) shall— 

5 (A) contain the strategic plan developed 

6 under subsection (b)(2)(A); 

7 (B) identify Federal, State, and local laws, 

8 regulations, and procedures that have proven to 

9 be most useful and appropriate in coordinating 

10 transportation services for transportation-dis11 advantaged individuals; 

12 (C) identify Federal, State, and local laws, 

13 regulations, and procedures, if any, that have 

14 impeded the coordination of transportation 

15 services to transportation-disadvantaged indi16 viduals and recommend changes to such laws, 

17 regulations, and procedures that would remove 

18 impediments and facilitate greater coordination 

19 of transportation services to transportation-dis20 advantaged individuals; 

21 (D) describe, on a Federal agency and pro22 gram basis, steps taken to reduce the duplica23 tion of and enhance coordination among trans24 portation services to transportation-disadvan25 taged individuals and the benefits realized as a 


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1 result of reduced fragmentation, overlap, and 

2 duplication of services; 

3 (E) describe the progress of each State in 

4 meeting the requirements of section 4; and 

5 (F) provide any other recommendation 

6 that would advance the goal of coordinating and 

7 reducing the duplication of transportation serv8 ices to transportation-disadvantaged individuals. 

9 SEC. 4. STATE COORDINATING COMMISSIONS FOR TRANS10 PORTATION-DISADVANTAGED INDIVIDUALS. 

11 (a) STATE REQUIREMENTS.—A State meets the re12 quirements of this section if it establishes a commission 

13 described in subsections (b) through (e). 

14 (b) STATE TRANSPORT COORDINATING COMMIS15 SION.— 

16 (1) IN GENERAL.—The State Transport Coordi17 nating Commission shall coordinate transportation 

18 for transportation-disadvantaged individuals within 

19 the State. 

20 (2) DUTIES.—The State Transport Coordi21 nating Commission shall carry out the following ac22 tivities: 

23 (A) Compile all available information on 

24 the transportation operations for and needs of 


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1 transportation-disadvantaged individuals in the 

2 State. 

3 (B) Establish statewide objectives for co4 ordinating transportation services for transpor5 tation-disadvantaged individuals. 

6 (C) Develop written policies and proce7 dures for the coordination of Federal, State, 

8 and local government funding for transpor9 tation-disadvantaged individuals. 

10 (D) Identify barriers prohibiting the co11 ordination and accessibility of transportation 

12 services to transportation-disadvantaged indi13 viduals and aggressively pursue the elimination 

14 of such barriers. 

15 (E) Establish a clearinghouse for informa16 tion about services for transportation-disadvan17 taged individuals, including training, funding 

18 sources, innovations, and coordination efforts. 

19 (F) Assist communities in developing 

20 transportation systems designed to serve trans21 portation-disadvantaged individuals. 

22 (G) Verify that the procedures, guidelines, 

23 and directives issued by purchasing agencies are 

24 conducive to the coordination of transportation 


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1 services for transportation-disadvantaged indi2 viduals. 

3 (H) Verify that purchasing agencies pur4 chase all trips within transportation systems 

5 that serve transportation-disadvantaged individ6 uals, unless such agencies use more cost-effec7 tive alternative providers that meet comparable 

8 quality and standards. 

9 (I) Develop a written strategic plan that 

10 addresses the transportation problems and 

11 needs of transportation-disadvantaged individ12 uals for the 5-year period beginning on the date 

13 of the enactment of this Act. Such plan shall be 

14 fully coordinated with local government transit 

15 plans, compatible with local government com16 prehensive plans, and shall provide that the 

17 most cost-effective and efficient methods of pro18 viding transportation to transportation-dis19 advantaged individuals are programmed for de20 velopment. 

21 (c) REPORT TO COUNCIL.—Not later than 1 year 

22 after the date of the establishment of the State Transport 

23 Coordinating Commission, such commission shall submit 

24 to the Council a report containing the strategic plan devel25 oped under subsection (b)(2)(I). 


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1 (d) MEMBERSHIP.— 

2 (1) NUMBER AND APPOINTMENT.—The State 

3 Transport Coordinating Commission shall be com4 posed of members appointed by the chief executive 

5 of the State (hereafter in this section referred to as 

6 the ‘‘chief executive’’), in accordance with State law. 

7 (2) COMPOSITION.— 

8 (A) IN GENERAL.—In appointing members 

9 to the State Transport Coordinating Commis10 sion, the chief executive shall ensure that not 

11 less than two-thirds of such members have sig12 nificant experience in the operation of a busi13 ness and should seek to appoint members who 

14 reflect the racial, ethnic, geographical, and gen15 der diversity of the State population. 

16 (B) RESIDENCY REQUIREMENT.—Each 

17 member must be a resident of the State in 

18 which the State Transport Coordinating Com19 mission is established. 

20 (C) DISABLED MEMBERS.—Not less than 2 

21 members shall be individuals who have a dis22 ability and who regularly use a transportation 

23 system for transportation-disadvantaged indi24 viduals. 


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1 (D) SENIOR CITIZEN MEMBER.—Not less 

2 than 1 member shall have attained the age of 

3 65 years before serving on the State Transport 

4 Coordinating Commission. 

5 (E) VETERAN MEMBER.—Not less than 1 

6 member shall be a veteran who regularly uses 

7 a transportation system for transportation-dis8 advantaged individuals. 

9 (F) PURCHASING AGENCIES.—The head of 

10 a State government agency or department that 

11 purchases nonemergency medical transportation 

12 services shall be a member. 

13 (G) SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION.— 

14 The State’s Secretary of Transportation (or 

15 equivalent official) shall be a member. 

16 (e) EX OFFICIO ADVISORS.—Additional government 

17 officials that the chief executive or State legislature may 

18 designate shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting advisors to 

19 the State Transport Coordinating Commission. 

20 (f) ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION.—The 

21 chief executive shall— 

22 (1) issue regulations or bylaws to ensure that 

23 no member of the State Transport Coordinating 

24 Commission has a financial stake in the provision of 


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1 services to transportation-disadvantaged individuals; 

2 and 

3 (2) determine the organization of the State 

4 Transport Coordinating Commission, including— 

5 (A) the selection of a chairperson or direc6 tor; 

7 (B) the rate of compensation or per diem; 

8 (C) the number of members that constitute 

9 a quorum; 

10 (D) the development of a budget; 

11 (E) staffing; 

12 (F) the establishment of subgroups; and 

13 (G) any other policy, procedure, or per14 sonnel matters that the chief executive deter15 mines to be necessary to meet the goals of the 

16 State Transport Coordinating Commission. 

17 (g) WITHHOLDING OF FUNDS FOR NONCOMPLI18 ANCE.— 

19 (1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary of Transpor20 tation shall withhold 1 percent of the amount re21 quired to be apportioned to a State under each of 

22 paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 104(b) of title 23, 

23 United States Code, on the first day of each fiscal 

24 year beginning after September 30, 2016, if the 


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1 State does not meet the requirements of this section 

2 on such day. 

3 (2) EFFECT OF WITHHOLDING FUNDS.—Funds 

4 withheld from apportionment to a State under para5 graph (1) shall lapse. 

6 SEC. 5. ADDITIONAL AGENCY REQUIREMENTS. 

7 (a) ACCOUNTING OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.— 

8 Each Federal agency shall keep an accounting of all ex9 penditures directly related to the provision of transpor10 tation services for transportation-disadvantaged individ11 uals. 

12 (b) LIMITATION ON CAPITAL INVESTMENTS.—Not13 withstanding any other provision of law, no Federal agen14 cy may make capital investments for the purpose of pro15 viding transportation services to transportation-disadvan16 taged individuals. 

17 SEC. 6. TERMINATION OF EXISTING COUNCIL. 

18 The Interagency Transportation Coordinating Coun19 cil on Access and Mobility established pursuant to Execu20 tive Order 13330 dated February 24, 2004, shall termi21 nate upon the enactment of this Act. 

22 SEC. 7. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. 

23 (a) CONSTRUCTION WITH OLDER AMERICANS

24 ACT.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed in such a 

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1 ments of the Older Americans Act of 1965 (42 U.S.C. 

2 3001 et seq.). 

3 (b) INTERSTATE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES.— 

4 Nothing in this Act shall be construed in such a manner 

5 to prohibit the coordination of transportation services for 

6 transportation-disadvantaged individuals across State 

7 lines. 

8 SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

9 There are authorized to be appropriated to the De10 partment of Transportation for each of the fiscal years 

11 2016 through 2021 such sums as may be necessary to 

12 carry out this Act. 

Æ 


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