2023 New York Laws › TRA - Transportation › Article 2-F - New York State Rural Public Transportation Coordination Assistance Program › 73-D - Interagency Coordinating Committee on Rural Public Transportation.

§ 73-d. Interagency    coordinating    committee   on   rural   public
  transportation. 1. There is hereby created a committee to  be  known  as
  the "interagency coordinating committee on rural public transportation",
  to  be  comprised  of  nineteen  members. The commissioner or his or her
  designee shall serve as chairperson. Twelve of such members shall be the
  following or his or her duly designated representative: the director  of
  the   office   for   the  aging;  the  commissioner  of  education;  the
  commissioner of labor; the commissioner of health; the  commissioner  of
  the office of mental health; the commissioner of the office of addiction
  services  and  supports;  the commissioner of the office for people with
  developmental disabilities; the commissioner of the office for temporary
  and disability assistance; the executive director of the New York  state
  justice  center  for  the  protection  of  people  with  special  needs;
  secretary of state; the commissioner of agriculture and markets and  the
  commissioner  of  the  office  of  children  and  family  services.  Six
  additional members, five of whom shall be  transportation  providers  or
  consumers  representing  rural  counties  and  one  of  whom  shall be a
  representative  of  a  labor  union   affiliated   with   rural   public
  transportation   systems   receiving   mass   transportation   operating
  assistance pursuant to section eighteen-b  of  this  chapter,  shall  be
  appointed  to  serve  a  term  of  three  years  as  follows: two by the
  temporary president of the senate, two by the speaker of  the  assembly,
  one by the minority leader of the senate, and one by the minority leader
  of the assembly. Efforts shall be made to provide a broad representation
  of  consumers and providers of transportation services in rural counties
  when making such appointments. Members of the committee shall receive no
  salary. Any vacancies on the committee shall be  filled  in  the  manner
  provided  for  in  the initial appointment. Beginning January first, two
  thousand twenty-two, the committee shall meet at least once every  three
  months  and,  beginning  January  first,  two  thousand twenty-four, the
  committee shall meet at least once every four months.
The  commissioner  shall  cause  the  department  to   provide   staff
  assistance  necessary  for  the efficient and effective operation of the
  committee.
2. The committee shall:
a. identify programs and the annual amounts and sources of funds  from
  such  programs  that  are  eligible  to be used to support a coordinated
  public transportation service, and the annual  amounts  and  sources  of
  such  funds  that  are  actually  used  for client transportation or for
  transportation of persons in connection with agency-affiliated  programs
  or services; such data shall be provided on a county basis;
b.  identify restrictions on existing programs that inhibit funds from
  such programs being used to pay for a coordinated public  transportation
  service in rural counties;
c.  recommend changes in state or local laws or regulations that would
  improve the coordination of funds, facilities, vehicles or equipment and
  other resources used for transportation at the local level;
d. upon request, compile and forward to the commissioner any  data  or
  other information required by this section;
e.  conduct  a  study,  in  consultation  with  the department, of the
  availability of public transportation services in rural  counties.  Such
  study  shall identify, examine and review the following: the efficiency,
  effectiveness,  quality  and  availability  of   public   transportation
  services  in  rural  counties;  the  current and projected operating and
  capital costs, revenues, subsidies, and ridership and service area  data
  of  each  public  transportation system operating within rural counties;
  the barriers and financial challenges to providing and operating  public
  transportation  services  in rural counties; and the demographics of the

  populations  which  have,  and  those  which  lack,  access  to   public
  transportation  services  in  rural  counties.  Such study shall include
  findings and recommendations to expand the  level  and  availability  of
  public  transportation  services in rural counties. On or before January
  first, two thousand twenty-three, the committee shall deliver such study
  to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the  speaker  of
  the  assembly,  and the chairs of the senate and assembly transportation
  committees; and
f. beginning June first, two thousand twenty-four and on the same date
  in each succeeding year, submit an annual report to  the  governor,  the
  temporary  president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the
  chairs of the senate and assembly transportation committees on the level
  and availability of public transportation services in rural counties.