| 88 | | - | entities providing paratransit service include, at a minimum, 51 |
|---|
| 89 | | - | the following provisions: 52 |
|---|
| 90 | | - | (a) Performance requirements for the delivery of services, 53 |
|---|
| 91 | | - | including clear penalties for rep eated or continuing violations. 54 |
|---|
| 92 | | - | (b) Minimum liability insurance requirements for all 55 |
|---|
| 93 | | - | transportation services purchased, provided, or coordinated for 56 |
|---|
| 94 | | - | the transportation disadvantaged, as defined in s. 427.011, 57 |
|---|
| 95 | | - | through the contracted vendor or subcontracto r thereof. 58 |
|---|
| 96 | | - | (c) Complaint and grievance processes for paratransit 59 |
|---|
| 97 | | - | users, including a requirement that all reported complaints, 60 |
|---|
| 98 | | - | grievances, and resolutions are reported to the department on a 61 |
|---|
| 99 | | - | quarterly basis. 62 |
|---|
| 100 | | - | (d) A requirement that the provisions of para graphs (a)-63 |
|---|
| 101 | | - | (c) must be included in any agreement between the entity 64 |
|---|
| 102 | | - | receiving the grant or agreement from the department and such 65 |
|---|
| 103 | | - | entity's contractors or subcontractors who provide paratransit 66 |
|---|
| 104 | | - | service. 67 |
|---|
| 105 | | - | Section 2. Section 427.011, Florida Statutes, is a mended 68 |
|---|
| 106 | | - | to read: 69 |
|---|
| 107 | | - | 427.011 Definitions. —For the purposes of ss. 427.011-70 |
|---|
| 108 | | - | 427.02 ss. 427.011-427.017: 71 |
|---|
| 109 | | - | (1)(3) "Agency" means an official, officer, commission, 72 |
|---|
| 110 | | - | authority, council, committee, department, division, bureau, 73 |
|---|
| 111 | | - | board, section, or any other unit or e ntity of the state or of a 74 |
|---|
| 87 | + | transportation disadvantaged population in a designated service 50 |
|---|
| 88 | + | area. 51 |
|---|
| 89 | + | (3)(7) "Coordinating board" means an advisory entity in 52 |
|---|
| 90 | + | each designated service area comp osed of representatives 53 |
|---|
| 91 | + | appointed by the metropolitan planning organization or 54 |
|---|
| 92 | + | designated official planning agency, to provide assistance to 55 |
|---|
| 93 | + | the community transportation coordinator relative to the 56 |
|---|
| 94 | + | coordination of transportation services. 57 |
|---|
| 95 | + | (4)(11) "Coordination" means the arrangement for the 58 |
|---|
| 96 | + | provision of transportation services to the transportation 59 |
|---|
| 97 | + | disadvantaged in a manner that is cost -effective, efficient, and 60 |
|---|
| 98 | + | reduces fragmentation and duplication of services. 61 |
|---|
| 99 | + | (5) "Immediate family member" means a spo use, child, 62 |
|---|
| 100 | + | parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin of a 63 |
|---|
| 101 | + | person or the person's spouse or a person who resides in the 64 |
|---|
| 102 | + | primary residence of the person. 65 |
|---|
| 103 | + | (6)(2) "Metropolitan planning organization" means the 66 |
|---|
| 104 | + | organization responsible for c arrying out transportation 67 |
|---|
| 105 | + | planning and programming in accordance with the provisions of 23 68 |
|---|
| 106 | + | U.S.C. s. 134, as provided in 23 U.S.C. s. 104(f)(3). 69 |
|---|
| 107 | + | (7)(12) "Nonsponsored transportation disadvantaged 70 |
|---|
| 108 | + | services" means transportation disadvantaged services tha t are 71 |
|---|
| 109 | + | not sponsored or subsidized by any funding source other than the 72 |
|---|
| 110 | + | Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund. 73 |
|---|
| 124 | | - | city, town, municipality, county, or other local governing body 75 |
|---|
| 125 | | - | or a private nonprofit transportation service -providing agency. 76 |
|---|
| 126 | | - | (2)(5) "Community transportation coordinator" means a 77 |
|---|
| 127 | | - | transportation entity recommended by a metrop olitan planning 78 |
|---|
| 128 | | - | organization, or by the appropriate designated official planning 79 |
|---|
| 129 | | - | agency as provided for in ss. 427.011 -427.017 in an area outside 80 |
|---|
| 130 | | - | the purview of a metropolitan planning organization, to ensure 81 |
|---|
| 131 | | - | that coordinated transportation services are pr ovided to the 82 |
|---|
| 132 | | - | transportation disadvantaged population in a designated service 83 |
|---|
| 133 | | - | area. 84 |
|---|
| 134 | | - | (3)(7) "Coordinating board" means an advisory entity in 85 |
|---|
| 135 | | - | each designated service area composed of representatives 86 |
|---|
| 136 | | - | appointed by the metropolitan planning organization or 87 |
|---|
| 137 | | - | designated official planning agency, to provide assistance to 88 |
|---|
| 138 | | - | the community transportation coordinator relative to the 89 |
|---|
| 139 | | - | coordination of transportation services. 90 |
|---|
| 140 | | - | (4)(11) "Coordination" means the arrangement for the 91 |
|---|
| 141 | | - | provision of transportation services to the transportation 92 |
|---|
| 142 | | - | disadvantaged in a manner that is cost -effective, efficient, and 93 |
|---|
| 143 | | - | reduces fragmentation and duplication of services. 94 |
|---|
| 144 | | - | (5) "Immediate family member" me ans a spouse, child, 95 |
|---|
| 145 | | - | parent, sibling, grandparent, aunt, uncle, or first cousin of a 96 |
|---|
| 146 | | - | person or the person's spouse or a person who resides in the 97 |
|---|
| 147 | | - | primary residence of the person. 98 |
|---|
| 123 | + | (8)(9) "Paratransit" means those elements of public 74 |
|---|
| 124 | + | transit which provide service between specific origins and 75 |
|---|
| 125 | + | destinations selected by the in dividual user with such service 76 |
|---|
| 126 | + | being provided at a time that is agreed upon by the user and 77 |
|---|
| 127 | + | provider of the service. Paratransit service is provided by 78 |
|---|
| 128 | + | taxis, limousines, "dial -a-ride," buses, and other demand -79 |
|---|
| 129 | + | responsive operations that are characterized by their 80 |
|---|
| 130 | + | nonscheduled, nonfixed route nature. 81 |
|---|
| 131 | + | (9)(8) "Purchasing agency" means a department or agency 82 |
|---|
| 132 | + | whose head is an ex officio, nonvoting adviser to the 83 |
|---|
| 133 | + | commission, or an agency that purchases transportation services 84 |
|---|
| 134 | + | for the transportation disadvantag ed. 85 |
|---|
| 135 | + | (10) "Request for service" means a request made to a 86 |
|---|
| 136 | + | transportation service provider by a person with a disability, 87 |
|---|
| 137 | + | or by such person's immediate family member, for paratransit 88 |
|---|
| 138 | + | service. 89 |
|---|
| 139 | + | (11)(1) "Transportation disadvantaged" means those persons 90 |
|---|
| 140 | + | who because of physical or mental disability, income status, or 91 |
|---|
| 141 | + | age are unable to transport themselves or to purchase 92 |
|---|
| 142 | + | transportation and are, therefore, dependent upon others to 93 |
|---|
| 143 | + | obtain access to health c are, employment, education, shopping, 94 |
|---|
| 144 | + | social activities, or other life -sustaining activities, or 95 |
|---|
| 145 | + | children who are handicapped or high -risk or at-risk as defined 96 |
|---|
| 146 | + | in s. 411.202. 97 |
|---|
| 267 | | - | (e) Two county managers or administrators, one from a 170 |
|---|
| 268 | | - | rural county and one from a county with a population of more 171 |
|---|
| 269 | | - | than 150,000 according to the last state census. 172 |
|---|
| 270 | | - | (f) Five members who have experience in transportation, 173 |
|---|
| 271 | | - | workforce development, transit services, manageme nt, insurance, 174 |
|---|
| 272 | | - | or service of persons with disabilities or who have a disability 175 |
|---|
| 273 | | - | and use transportation for the transportation disadvantaged. 176 |
|---|
| 274 | | - | (3) A member appointed under paragraph (2)(e) or paragraph 177 |
|---|
| 275 | | - | (2)(f) shall serve a 4 -year term and may be reappointe d for one 178 |
|---|
| 276 | | - | additional 4-year term. A member appointed under paragraph 179 |
|---|
| 277 | | - | (2)(e) or paragraph (2)(f) whose term has expired shall continue 180 |
|---|
| 278 | | - | to serve on the commission until such time as a replacement is 181 |
|---|
| 279 | | - | appointed. 182 |
|---|
| 280 | | - | (4) Each member must be a resident of the stat e. 183 |
|---|
| 281 | | - | (a) Five of the members must have significant experience 184 |
|---|
| 282 | | - | in the operation of a business, and it is the intent of the 185 |
|---|
| 283 | | - | Legislature that, when making an appointment, the Governor 186 |
|---|
| 284 | | - | select persons who reflect the broad diversity of the business 187 |
|---|
| 285 | | - | community in this state, as well as the racial, ethnic, 188 |
|---|
| 286 | | - | geographical, and gender diversity of the population of this 189 |
|---|
| 287 | | - | state. 190 |
|---|
| 288 | | - | (b) Two of the members must have a disability and use the 191 |
|---|
| 289 | | - | transportation disadvantaged system. 192 |
|---|
| 290 | | - | (c) Each member shall represent the needs of the 193 |
|---|
| 291 | | - | transportation disadvantaged throughout the state. A member may 194 |
|---|
| 270 | + | (e) Each member must be a resident of the state and a 173 |
|---|
| 271 | + | registered voter. 174 |
|---|
| 272 | + | (f) At any given time, at least one member must be at 175 |
|---|
| 273 | + | least 65 years of age. 176 |
|---|
| 274 | + | (g) The Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of 177 |
|---|
| 275 | + | Children and Families, the Secretary of Economic Opportunity, 178 |
|---|
| 276 | + | the executive director of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, 179 |
|---|
| 277 | + | the Secretary of Elderly Affairs, the Secretary of Health Care 180 |
|---|
| 278 | + | Administration, the director of the Agency for Persons with 181 |
|---|
| 279 | + | Disabilities, and a county manager or administrator who is 182 |
|---|
| 280 | + | appointed by the Governor, or a senior management level 183 |
|---|
| 281 | + | representative of each , shall serve as ex officio, nonvoting 184 |
|---|
| 282 | + | advisors to the commission. 185 |
|---|
| 283 | + | (h) A member may not, within the 5 years immediately 186 |
|---|
| 284 | + | before his or her appointment, or during his or her term on the 187 |
|---|
| 285 | + | commission, have or have had a financial relationship with, or 188 |
|---|
| 286 | + | represent or have represented as a lobbyist as defined in s. 189 |
|---|
| 287 | + | 11.045, the following: 190 |
|---|
| 288 | + | 1. A transportation operator; 191 |
|---|
| 289 | + | 2. A community transportation coordinator; 192 |
|---|
| 290 | + | 3. A metropolitan planning organization; 193 |
|---|
| 291 | + | 4. A designated official planning agency; 194 |
|---|
| 292 | + | 5. A purchaser agency; 195 |
|---|
| 293 | + | 6. A local coordinating board; 196 |
|---|
| 294 | + | 7. A broker of transportation; or 197 |
|---|
| 341 | | - | 3. A metropolitan planning organization; 220 |
|---|
| 342 | | - | 4. A designated official planning agency; 221 |
|---|
| 343 | | - | 5. A purchaser agency; 222 |
|---|
| 344 | | - | 6. A local coordinating board; 223 |
|---|
| 345 | | - | 7. A broker of transportation; or 224 |
|---|
| 346 | | - | 8. A provider of transportation services. 225 |
|---|
| 347 | | - | (5)(2) The chair of the commission chairperson shall be 226 |
|---|
| 348 | | - | appointed by the Governor, and the vice chair chairperson of the 227 |
|---|
| 349 | | - | commission shall be elected annually from the membership of the 228 |
|---|
| 350 | | - | commission. 229 |
|---|
| 351 | | - | (6)(3) Members of the commission shall serve without 230 |
|---|
| 352 | | - | compensation but shall be allowed per diem and travel expenses , 231 |
|---|
| 353 | | - | as provided in s. 112.061. 232 |
|---|
| 354 | | - | (7)(4) The commission shall meet at least quarterly, or 233 |
|---|
| 355 | | - | more frequently at the call of the chair chairperson. Six Four 234 |
|---|
| 356 | | - | members of the commission constitute a quorum, and a majority 235 |
|---|
| 357 | | - | vote of the members present is necessary for any action taken by 236 |
|---|
| 358 | | - | the commission. A commission member's participation in a meeting 237 |
|---|
| 359 | | - | via telephone, real-time videoconferencing, or similar real -time 238 |
|---|
| 360 | | - | telephonic, electronic, or video communication counts toward a 239 |
|---|
| 361 | | - | quorum, and such member may vote as if physically present. 240 |
|---|
| 362 | | - | (8)(5) The Governor may remove any member of the 241 |
|---|
| 363 | | - | commission for cause. 242 |
|---|
| 364 | | - | (6) Each candidate for appointment to the commission must, 243 |
|---|
| 365 | | - | before accepting the appointment, undergo background screening 244 |
|---|
| 344 | + | screening standards. A candidate who has not met level 2 223 |
|---|
| 345 | + | screening standards may not be appointed to the commission. T he 224 |
|---|
| 346 | + | cost of the background screening may be borne by the Department 225 |
|---|
| 347 | + | of Transportation or the candidate. 226 |
|---|
| 348 | + | (9)(7) The commission shall appoint an executive director 227 |
|---|
| 349 | + | who shall serve under the direction, supervision, and control of 228 |
|---|
| 350 | + | the commission. The executiv e director, with the consent of the 229 |
|---|
| 351 | + | commission, shall employ such personnel as may be necessary to 230 |
|---|
| 352 | + | perform adequately the functions of the commission within 231 |
|---|
| 353 | + | budgetary limitations. Employees of the commission are exempt 232 |
|---|
| 354 | + | from the Career Service System. 233 |
|---|
| 355 | + | (10)(8) The commission shall appoint a technical working 234 |
|---|
| 356 | + | group that includes representatives of private paratransit 235 |
|---|
| 357 | + | providers. The technical working group shall advise the 236 |
|---|
| 358 | + | commission on issues of importance to the state, including 237 |
|---|
| 359 | + | information, advice, and dir ection regarding the coordination of 238 |
|---|
| 360 | + | services for the transportation disadvantaged. The commission 239 |
|---|
| 361 | + | may appoint other technical working groups whose members may 240 |
|---|
| 362 | + | include representatives of community transportation 241 |
|---|
| 363 | + | coordinators; metropolitan planning organiza tions; regional 242 |
|---|
| 364 | + | planning councils; experts in insurance, marketing, economic 243 |
|---|
| 365 | + | development, or financial planning; and persons who use 244 |
|---|
| 366 | + | transportation for the transportation disadvantaged, or their 245 |
|---|
| 367 | + | relatives, parents, guardians, or service professionals who t end 246 |
|---|
| 368 | + | to their needs. 247 |
|---|
| 378 | | - | under s. 435.04 by filing with the Department of Transportation 245 |
|---|
| 379 | | - | a complete set of fingerprints taken by an authorized law 246 |
|---|
| 380 | | - | enforcement agency. The fingerprints must be submitted to the 247 |
|---|
| 381 | | - | Department of Law Enforcement for state processing, and that 248 |
|---|
| 382 | | - | department shall submit the fingerprints to the Federal Bureau 249 |
|---|
| 383 | | - | of Investigation for federal processing. The Department of 250 |
|---|
| 384 | | - | Transportation shall screen the background results and inform 251 |
|---|
| 385 | | - | the commission of any c andidate who does not meet level 2 252 |
|---|
| 386 | | - | screening standards. A candidate who has not met level 2 253 |
|---|
| 387 | | - | screening standards may not be appointed to the commission. The 254 |
|---|
| 388 | | - | cost of the background screening may be borne by the Department 255 |
|---|
| 389 | | - | of Transportation or the candidate. 256 |
|---|
| 390 | | - | (9)(7) The commission shall appoint an executive director 257 |
|---|
| 391 | | - | who shall serve under the direction, supervision, and control of 258 |
|---|
| 392 | | - | the commission. The executive director, with the consent of the 259 |
|---|
| 393 | | - | commission, shall employ such personnel as may be necessary to 260 |
|---|
| 394 | | - | perform adequately the functions of the commission within 261 |
|---|
| 395 | | - | budgetary limitations. Employees of the commission are exempt 262 |
|---|
| 396 | | - | from the Career Service System. 263 |
|---|
| 397 | | - | (8) The commission shall appoint a technical working group 264 |
|---|
| 398 | | - | that includes representatives of private paratr ansit providers. 265 |
|---|
| 399 | | - | The technical working group shall advise the commission on 266 |
|---|
| 400 | | - | issues of importance to the state, including information, 267 |
|---|
| 401 | | - | advice, and direction regarding the coordination of services for 268 |
|---|
| 402 | | - | the transportation disadvantaged. The commission may appo int 269 |
|---|
| 381 | + | (11)(9) The commission is assigned to the office of the 248 |
|---|
| 382 | + | secretary of the Department of Transportation for administrative 249 |
|---|
| 383 | + | and fiscal accountability purposes, but it shall otherwise 250 |
|---|
| 384 | + | function independently of the control, supervision, an d 251 |
|---|
| 385 | + | direction of the department. 252 |
|---|
| 386 | + | (12)(10) The commission shall develop a budget pursuant to 253 |
|---|
| 387 | + | chapter 216. The budget is not subject to change by the 254 |
|---|
| 388 | + | department staff after it has been approved by the commission, 255 |
|---|
| 389 | + | but it shall be transmitted to the Governor, as head of the 256 |
|---|
| 390 | + | department, along with the budget of the department. 257 |
|---|
| 391 | + | Section 3. Subsections (8) through (29) of section 258 |
|---|
| 392 | + | 427.013, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (10) 259 |
|---|
| 393 | + | through (31), respectively, subsection (5) and present 260 |
|---|
| 394 | + | subsections (13), (20), and (28) are amended, and new 261 |
|---|
| 395 | + | subsections (8) and (9) are added to that section, to read: 262 |
|---|
| 396 | + | 427.013 The Commission for the Transportation 263 |
|---|
| 397 | + | Disadvantaged; purpose and responsibilities. —The purpose of the 264 |
|---|
| 398 | + | commission is to accomplish the coordination o f transportation 265 |
|---|
| 399 | + | services provided to the transportation disadvantaged. The goal 266 |
|---|
| 400 | + | of this coordination is to assure the cost -effective provision 267 |
|---|
| 401 | + | of transportation by qualified community transportation 268 |
|---|
| 402 | + | coordinators or transportation operators for the transpo rtation 269 |
|---|
| 403 | + | disadvantaged without any bias or presumption in favor of 270 |
|---|
| 404 | + | multioperator systems or not -for-profit transportation operators 271 |
|---|
| 415 | | - | other technical working groups whose members may include 270 |
|---|
| 416 | | - | representatives of community transportation coordinators; 271 |
|---|
| 417 | | - | metropolitan planning organizations; regional planning councils; 272 |
|---|
| 418 | | - | experts in insurance, marketing, economic development, or 273 |
|---|
| 419 | | - | financial planning; and persons who use transportation for the 274 |
|---|
| 420 | | - | transportation disadvantaged, or their relatives, parents, 275 |
|---|
| 421 | | - | guardians, or service professionals who tend to their needs. 276 |
|---|
| 422 | | - | (10)(9) The commission is assigned to the office of the 277 |
|---|
| 423 | | - | secretary of the Department o f Transportation for administrative 278 |
|---|
| 424 | | - | and fiscal accountability purposes, but it shall otherwise 279 |
|---|
| 425 | | - | function independently of the control, supervision, and 280 |
|---|
| 426 | | - | direction of the department. 281 |
|---|
| 427 | | - | (11)(10) The commission shall develop a budget pursuant to 282 |
|---|
| 428 | | - | chapter 216. The budget is not subject to change by the 283 |
|---|
| 429 | | - | department staff after it has been approved by the commission, 284 |
|---|
| 430 | | - | but it shall be transmitted to the Governor, as head of the 285 |
|---|
| 431 | | - | department, along with the budget of the department. 286 |
|---|
| 432 | | - | Section 4. Section 427.013, Florida Statutes, is amended 287 |
|---|
| 433 | | - | to read: 288 |
|---|
| 434 | | - | 427.013 The Commission for the Transportation 289 |
|---|
| 435 | | - | Disadvantaged; purpose and responsibilities. —The purpose of the 290 |
|---|
| 436 | | - | commission is to accomplish the coordination of transportation 291 |
|---|
| 437 | | - | services provided to the transportation disadvanta ged. The goal 292 |
|---|
| 438 | | - | of this coordination is to assure the cost -effective provision 293 |
|---|
| 439 | | - | of transportation by qualified community transportation 294 |
|---|
| 417 | + | over single operator systems or for -profit transportation 272 |
|---|
| 418 | + | operators. In carrying out this purpose, the commission shall: 273 |
|---|
| 419 | + | (5) Serve as a clearinghouse for information about 274 |
|---|
| 420 | + | transportation disadvantaged services, training, funding 275 |
|---|
| 421 | + | sources, innovations, and coordination efforts and provide best 276 |
|---|
| 422 | + | practices, latest technology innovations, and preferential 277 |
|---|
| 423 | + | vendors lists to county tra nsportation disadvantaged program 278 |
|---|
| 424 | + | managers. 279 |
|---|
| 425 | + | (8) Annually review and conduct a performance audit of 280 |
|---|
| 426 | + | each coordinator contract and transportation operator contract 281 |
|---|
| 427 | + | in each county. 282 |
|---|
| 428 | + | (9) Establish a system for the filing, receipt, and 283 |
|---|
| 429 | + | resolution of complain ts regarding the transportation 284 |
|---|
| 430 | + | disadvantaged system. 285 |
|---|
| 431 | + | (15)(13) Make an annual report to the Governor, the 286 |
|---|
| 432 | + | President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of 287 |
|---|
| 433 | + | Representatives by January 1 of each year. The report shall 288 |
|---|
| 434 | + | summarize for each county the n umber of complaints filed 289 |
|---|
| 435 | + | regarding the transportation disadvantaged system, contract 290 |
|---|
| 436 | + | satisfaction, a breakdown of the total cost of services, the 291 |
|---|
| 437 | + | amount of funds provided by the commission, and the results of 292 |
|---|
| 438 | + | annual performance audits. 293 |
|---|
| 439 | + | (22)(20) Ensure that drivers of motor vehicles used to 294 |
|---|
| 440 | + | provide paratransit service attend Design and develop 295 |
|---|
| 489 | | - | (6)(7) Unless otherwise provided by state or federal law, 320 |
|---|
| 490 | | - | ensure that all contracts, procedures, guidelines, and 321 |
|---|
| 491 | | - | directives issued by the commission, participating state agency, 322 |
|---|
| 492 | | - | or community transportation coordinator purchasing agencies are 323 |
|---|
| 493 | | - | conducive to the coordination of transportation services. 324 |
|---|
| 494 | | - | (7) Develop by rule standards for comm unity transportation 325 |
|---|
| 495 | | - | coordinators and any transportation operator or coordination 326 |
|---|
| 496 | | - | contractor from whom service is purchased or arranged by the 327 |
|---|
| 497 | | - | community transportation coordinator covering coordination, 328 |
|---|
| 498 | | - | operation, safety, insurance, eligibility for service , costs, 329 |
|---|
| 499 | | - | and utilization of transportation disadvantaged services. These 330 |
|---|
| 500 | | - | standards and rules must include, but are not limited to: 331 |
|---|
| 501 | | - | (a) Minimum performance standards for the delivery of 332 |
|---|
| 502 | | - | services. These standards must be included in community 333 |
|---|
| 503 | | - | transportation coordinator contracts and transportation operator 334 |
|---|
| 504 | | - | contracts, with clear penalties for repeated or continuing 335 |
|---|
| 505 | | - | violations. Any subcontract must also include similar 336 |
|---|
| 506 | | - | provisions. 337 |
|---|
| 507 | | - | (b) Minimum liability insurance requirements for all 338 |
|---|
| 508 | | - | transportation services purchased, provided, or coordinated for 339 |
|---|
| 509 | | - | the transportation disadvantaged through the contracted vendor 340 |
|---|
| 510 | | - | or subcontractor thereof. 341 |
|---|
| 511 | | - | (c) Required complaint and grievance processes, including 342 |
|---|
| 512 | | - | a requirement that all reported complaints, grievances, and 343 |
|---|
| 513 | | - | resolutions are reported to the commission on a quarterly basis. 344 |
|---|
| 489 | + | transportation disadvantaged funds, as defined in s. 427.011 s. 320 |
|---|
| 490 | + | 427.011(10). 321 |
|---|
| 491 | + | Section 5. Section 427.02, Florida Statutes, is created to 322 |
|---|
| 492 | + | read: 323 |
|---|
| 493 | + | 427.02 Transportation services for persons with 324 |
|---|
| 494 | + | disabilities.— 325 |
|---|
| 495 | + | (1) A transportation service provider must: 326 |
|---|
| 496 | + | (a) Provide training to each driver of a motor vehicle 327 |
|---|
| 497 | + | used to provide paratransit service to persons with disabilities 328 |
|---|
| 498 | + | which, at a minimum, meets requirements established by the 329 |
|---|
| 499 | + | Agency for Persons with Disabilities for training and 330 |
|---|
| 500 | + | professional development of staff providing direct services to 331 |
|---|
| 501 | + | clients of the agency. 332 |
|---|
| 502 | + | (b)1. Install an interior video camera monitoring system 333 |
|---|
| 503 | + | in each motor vehicle used to provide paratransit service to 334 |
|---|
| 504 | + | persons with disabilities. Each component of the interior video 335 |
|---|
| 505 | + | camera monitoring system must be mounted securely inside the 336 |
|---|
| 506 | + | motor vehicle, must be located outside the head protection zone 337 |
|---|
| 507 | + | as described in 49 C.F.R. s. 571.222, must be located in an area 338 |
|---|
| 508 | + | in which the component is not likely to cause injury, and must 339 |
|---|
| 509 | + | have no sharp edges or projections. 340 |
|---|
| 510 | + | 2. Upon request, provide access to foota ge captured by an 341 |
|---|
| 511 | + | interior video camera monitoring system to the local government, 342 |
|---|
| 512 | + | the Department of Transportation, the Agency for Persons with 343 |
|---|
| 513 | + | Disabilities, or a parent, legal guardian, caretaker, or 344 |
|---|
| 526 | | - | These standards must be included in coordinator contracts and 345 |
|---|
| 527 | | - | transportation operator contracts, including any subcontract, 346 |
|---|
| 528 | | - | with clear penalties for repeated or continuing violations. 347 |
|---|
| 529 | | - | (8)(a) Ensure that purchasing agencies purchase all trips 348 |
|---|
| 530 | | - | within the coordinated system, unless they have fulfilled the 349 |
|---|
| 531 | | - | requirements of s. 427.0135(3) and use a more cost -effective 350 |
|---|
| 532 | | - | alternative provider that meets comparable quality and 351 |
|---|
| 533 | | - | standards. 352 |
|---|
| 534 | | - | (b) Unless the purc hasing agency has negotiated with the 353 |
|---|
| 535 | | - | commission pursuant to the requirements of s. 427.0135(3), 354 |
|---|
| 536 | | - | provide, by rule, criteria and procedures for purchasing 355 |
|---|
| 537 | | - | agencies to use if they wish to use an alternative provider. 356 |
|---|
| 538 | | - | Agencies must demonstrate that the propos ed alternative provider 357 |
|---|
| 539 | | - | can provide a trip of comparable quality and standards for the 358 |
|---|
| 540 | | - | clients at a lower cost than that provided within the 359 |
|---|
| 541 | | - | coordinated system, or that the coordinated system cannot 360 |
|---|
| 542 | | - | accommodate the agency's clients. 361 |
|---|
| 543 | | - | (9) Unless the purcha sing agency has negotiated with the 362 |
|---|
| 544 | | - | commission pursuant to the requirements of s. 427.0135(3), 363 |
|---|
| 545 | | - | develop by rule standards for community transportation 364 |
|---|
| 546 | | - | coordinators and any transportation operator or coordination 365 |
|---|
| 547 | | - | contractor from whom service is purchased or arranged by the 366 |
|---|
| 548 | | - | community transportation coordinator covering coordination, 367 |
|---|
| 549 | | - | operation, safety, insurance, eligibility for service, costs, 368 |
|---|
| 550 | | - | and utilization of transportation disadvantaged services. These 369 |
|---|
| 526 | + | immediate family member of a person who receives parat ransit 345 |
|---|
| 527 | + | service from the transportation service provider. 346 |
|---|
| 528 | + | (c) Offer Internet-based, application-based, and 347 |
|---|
| 529 | + | smartphone-based ride booking and vehicle tracking services. 348 |
|---|
| 530 | + | Each of these services must be provided in accessible formats. 349 |
|---|
| 531 | + | (d) Regularly maintain and upgrade all technology -based 350 |
|---|
| 532 | + | services. 351 |
|---|
| 533 | + | (e) Offer both pre-booking and on-demand service to 352 |
|---|
| 534 | + | paratransit service users. 353 |
|---|
| 535 | + | (2) A transportation service provider, in collaboration 354 |
|---|
| 536 | + | with the local government with which the provider contracts, 355 |
|---|
| 537 | + | shall establish: 356 |
|---|
| 538 | + | (a) Reasonable time periods between a request for service 357 |
|---|
| 539 | + | and the arrival of the transportation service provider at the 358 |
|---|
| 540 | + | location specified in the request, taking into account the 359 |
|---|
| 541 | + | number of persons requesting paratransit service on the same 360 |
|---|
| 542 | + | date, the distance between locations, usual or expected traffic 361 |
|---|
| 543 | + | conditions during the provision of paratransit service, and any 362 |
|---|
| 544 | + | other factor deemed necessary by the provider or the local 363 |
|---|
| 545 | + | government. If a transportation service provider exhibits a 364 |
|---|
| 546 | + | pattern of late arrivals based on such established reasonable 365 |
|---|
| 547 | + | time periods, the local government may authorize another 366 |
|---|
| 548 | + | provider to provide such paratransit service, including the 367 |
|---|
| 549 | + | acceptance of any prepaid vouchers for future paratransit 368 |
|---|
| 550 | + | service, notwithstanding the terms of the contract with the 369 |
|---|
| 600 | | - | (a) A consolidated report of each state agency's actual 395 |
|---|
| 601 | | - | expenditures, together with the actual expenditures of each 396 |
|---|
| 602 | | - | local government and directly federally funded agency and the 397 |
|---|
| 603 | | - | amounts collected by each official planning agency. 398 |
|---|
| 604 | | - | (b) Updates to a strategic plan addressin g challenges and 399 |
|---|
| 605 | | - | opportunities in serving the transportation disadvantaged to 400 |
|---|
| 606 | | - | ensure that the most cost -effective and efficient method of 401 |
|---|
| 607 | | - | providing transportation to the transportation disadvantaged is 402 |
|---|
| 608 | | - | programmed for development. 403 |
|---|
| 609 | | - | (14) Consolidate, for ea ch state agency, the amounts of 404 |
|---|
| 610 | | - | each agency's actual expenditures, together with the actual 405 |
|---|
| 611 | | - | expenditures of each local government and directly federally 406 |
|---|
| 612 | | - | funded agency and the amounts collected by each official 407 |
|---|
| 613 | | - | planning agency. 408 |
|---|
| 614 | | - | (15) Prepare a statewide 5 -year transportation 409 |
|---|
| 615 | | - | disadvantaged plan which addresses the transportation problems 410 |
|---|
| 616 | | - | and needs of the transportation disadvantaged, which is fully 411 |
|---|
| 617 | | - | coordinated with local transit plans, compatible with local 412 |
|---|
| 618 | | - | government comprehensive plans, and which ensures t hat the most 413 |
|---|
| 619 | | - | cost-effective and efficient method of providing transportation 414 |
|---|
| 620 | | - | to the disadvantaged is programmed for development. 415 |
|---|
| 621 | | - | (13)(16) Review and approve memorandums of agreement for 416 |
|---|
| 622 | | - | the provision of coordinated transportation services. 417 |
|---|
| 623 | | - | (14)(17) Review, monitor, and coordinate all 418 |
|---|
| 624 | | - | transportation disadvantaged local government, state, and 419 |
|---|
| 625 | | - | |
|---|
| 626 | | - | CS/CS/HB 1673 2024 |
|---|
| 627 | | - | |
|---|
| 628 | | - | |
|---|
| 629 | | - | |
|---|
| 630 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
|---|
| 631 | | - | hb1673-02-c2 |
|---|
| 632 | | - | Page 18 of 26 |
|---|
| 633 | | - | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 634 | | - | |
|---|
| 635 | | - | |
|---|
| 636 | | - | |
|---|
| 637 | | - | federal fund requests and plans for conformance with commission 420 |
|---|
| 638 | | - | policy, without delaying the application process. Such funds 421 |
|---|
| 639 | | - | shall be available only to those entitie s participating in an 422 |
|---|
| 640 | | - | approved coordinated transportation system or entities which 423 |
|---|
| 641 | | - | have received a commission -approved waiver to obtain all or part 424 |
|---|
| 642 | | - | of their transportation through another means. This process 425 |
|---|
| 643 | | - | shall identify procedures for coordinating with the state's 426 |
|---|
| 644 | | - | intergovernmental coordination and review procedures and s. 427 |
|---|
| 645 | | - | 216.212(1) and any other appropriate grant review process. 428 |
|---|
| 646 | | - | (15)(18) Maintain Develop an interagency uniform 429 |
|---|
| 647 | | - | contracting and billing and accounting system that shall be used 430 |
|---|
| 648 | | - | by all community transportation coordinators and their 431 |
|---|
| 649 | | - | transportation operators. 432 |
|---|
| 650 | | - | (16)(19) Develop and maintain a transportation 433 |
|---|
| 651 | | - | disadvantaged manual for use by community transportation 434 |
|---|
| 652 | | - | coordinators and transportation operators . 435 |
|---|
| 653 | | - | (17) Develop a need -based quality assurance and management 436 |
|---|
| 654 | | - | review program to monitor, based upon approved commission 437 |
|---|
| 655 | | - | standards, services contracted for by an agency and those 438 |
|---|
| 656 | | - | provided by a community transportation operator pursuant to s. 439 |
|---|
| 657 | | - | 427.0155. This must include a biennial audit of eac h contract 440 |
|---|
| 658 | | - | maintained or approved by the commission. 441 |
|---|
| 659 | | - | (20) Design and develop transportation disadvantaged 442 |
|---|
| 660 | | - | training programs. 443 |
|---|
| 661 | | - | (21) Coordinate all transportation disadvantaged programs 444 |
|---|
| 662 | | - | |
|---|
| 663 | | - | CS/CS/HB 1673 2024 |
|---|
| 664 | | - | |
|---|
| 665 | | - | |
|---|
| 666 | | - | |
|---|
| 667 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
|---|
| 668 | | - | hb1673-02-c2 |
|---|
| 669 | | - | Page 19 of 26 |
|---|
| 670 | | - | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 671 | | - | |
|---|
| 672 | | - | |
|---|
| 673 | | - | |
|---|
| 674 | | - | with appropriate state, local, and federal agencies and public 445 |
|---|
| 675 | | - | transit agencies to ensure compatibility with existing 446 |
|---|
| 676 | | - | transportation systems. 447 |
|---|
| 677 | | - | (18)(22) Designate the official planning agency in areas 448 |
|---|
| 678 | | - | outside of the purview of a metropolitan planning organization. 449 |
|---|
| 679 | | - | (23) Develop need-based criteria that must be used by all 450 |
|---|
| 680 | | - | community transportation coordinators to prioritize the delivery 451 |
|---|
| 681 | | - | of nonsponsored transportation disadvantaged services that are 452 |
|---|
| 682 | | - | purchased with Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund moneys. 453 |
|---|
| 683 | | - | (24) Establish a review procedure to compare the rates 454 |
|---|
| 684 | | - | proposed by alternate transportation operators with the rates 455 |
|---|
| 685 | | - | charged by a community transportation coordinator to determine 456 |
|---|
| 686 | | - | which rate is more cost -effective. 457 |
|---|
| 687 | | - | (25) Conduct a cost -comparison study of single -458 |
|---|
| 688 | | - | coordinator, multicoordinator, and brokered community 459 |
|---|
| 689 | | - | transportation coordinator networks to ensure that the most 460 |
|---|
| 690 | | - | cost-effective and efficient method of providing transportation 461 |
|---|
| 691 | | - | to the transportation disadvantaged is programmed for 462 |
|---|
| 692 | | - | development. 463 |
|---|
| 693 | | - | (26) Develop a quality assurance and management review 464 |
|---|
| 694 | | - | program to monitor, based upon approved commission standards, 465 |
|---|
| 695 | | - | services contracted for by an agency, and those provided by a 466 |
|---|
| 696 | | - | community transportation operator pursuant to s. 427.0155. 467 |
|---|
| 697 | | - | (19)(27) Ensure that local community transportation 468 |
|---|
| 698 | | - | coordinators work cooperatively with local workforce development 469 |
|---|
| 699 | | - | |
|---|
| 700 | | - | CS/CS/HB 1673 2024 |
|---|
| 701 | | - | |
|---|
| 702 | | - | |
|---|
| 703 | | - | |
|---|
| 704 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
|---|
| 705 | | - | hb1673-02-c2 |
|---|
| 706 | | - | Page 20 of 26 |
|---|
| 707 | | - | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 708 | | - | |
|---|
| 709 | | - | |
|---|
| 710 | | - | |
|---|
| 711 | | - | boards established in chapter 445 to provide assistance in the 470 |
|---|
| 712 | | - | development of innovative transportation services for 471 |
|---|
| 713 | | - | individuals seeking or seekin g to maintain employment who may be 472 |
|---|
| 714 | | - | served by other state programs participants in the welfare 473 |
|---|
| 715 | | - | transition program. 474 |
|---|
| 716 | | - | (28) In consultation with the Agency for Health Care 475 |
|---|
| 717 | | - | Administration and the Department of Transportation, develop an 476 |
|---|
| 718 | | - | allocation methodology that equitably distributes all 477 |
|---|
| 719 | | - | transportation funds under the control of the commission to 478 |
|---|
| 720 | | - | compensate counties, community transportation coordinators, and 479 |
|---|
| 721 | | - | other entities providing transportation disadvantaged services. 480 |
|---|
| 722 | | - | The methodology shall separately acc ount for Medicaid 481 |
|---|
| 723 | | - | beneficiaries. The methodology shall consider such factors as 482 |
|---|
| 724 | | - | the actual costs of each transportation disadvantaged trip based 483 |
|---|
| 725 | | - | on prior-year information, efficiencies that a provider might 484 |
|---|
| 726 | | - | adopt to reduce costs, results of the rate and co st comparisons 485 |
|---|
| 727 | | - | conducted under subsections (24) and (25), as well as cost 486 |
|---|
| 728 | | - | efficiencies of trips when compared to the local cost of 487 |
|---|
| 729 | | - | transporting the general public. This subsection does not 488 |
|---|
| 730 | | - | supersede the authority of the Agency for Health Care 489 |
|---|
| 731 | | - | Administration to distribute Medicaid funds. 490 |
|---|
| 732 | | - | (29) Incur expenses for the purchase of advertisements, 491 |
|---|
| 733 | | - | marketing services, and promotional items. 492 |
|---|
| 734 | | - | Section 5. Subsection (4) of section 427.0159, Florida 493 |
|---|
| 735 | | - | Statutes, is amended to read: 494 |
|---|
| 736 | | - | |
|---|
| 737 | | - | CS/CS/HB 1673 2024 |
|---|
| 738 | | - | |
|---|
| 739 | | - | |
|---|
| 740 | | - | |
|---|
| 741 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
|---|
| 742 | | - | hb1673-02-c2 |
|---|
| 743 | | - | Page 21 of 26 |
|---|
| 744 | | - | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 745 | | - | |
|---|
| 746 | | - | |
|---|
| 747 | | - | |
|---|
| 748 | | - | 427.0159 Transportation Disadvan taged Trust Fund.— 495 |
|---|
| 749 | | - | (4) A purchasing agency may deposit funds into the 496 |
|---|
| 750 | | - | Transportation Disadvantaged Trust Fund for the commission to 497 |
|---|
| 751 | | - | implement, manage, and administer the purchasing agency's 498 |
|---|
| 752 | | - | transportation disadvantaged funds, as defined in s. 427.011 s. 499 |
|---|
| 753 | | - | 427.011(10). 500 |
|---|
| 754 | | - | Section 6. Section 427.02, Florida Statutes, is created to 501 |
|---|
| 755 | | - | read: 502 |
|---|
| 756 | | - | 427.02 Transportation services for persons with 503 |
|---|
| 757 | | - | disabilities.— 504 |
|---|
| 758 | | - | (1) For contracts entered into or renewed with a 505 |
|---|
| 759 | | - | transportation service provider on or after October 1, 202 4, a 506 |
|---|
| 760 | | - | transportation service provider must: 507 |
|---|
| 761 | | - | (a) Provide training to each driver of a motor vehicle 508 |
|---|
| 762 | | - | used to provide paratransit service to persons with disabilities 509 |
|---|
| 763 | | - | which, at a minimum, meets requirements established by the 510 |
|---|
| 764 | | - | Agency for Persons with Disabili ties for training and 511 |
|---|
| 765 | | - | professional development of staff providing direct services to 512 |
|---|
| 766 | | - | clients of the agency. 513 |
|---|
| 767 | | - | (b) Offer Internet-based, application-based, and 514 |
|---|
| 768 | | - | smartphone-based ride booking and vehicle tracking services. 515 |
|---|
| 769 | | - | Each of these services must be prov ided in accessible formats. 516 |
|---|
| 770 | | - | (c) Regularly maintain and upgrade all technology -based 517 |
|---|
| 771 | | - | services. 518 |
|---|
| 772 | | - | |
|---|
| 773 | | - | CS/CS/HB 1673 2024 |
|---|
| 774 | | - | |
|---|
| 775 | | - | |
|---|
| 776 | | - | |
|---|
| 777 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
|---|
| 778 | | - | hb1673-02-c2 |
|---|
| 779 | | - | Page 22 of 26 |
|---|
| 780 | | - | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 781 | | - | |
|---|
| 782 | | - | |
|---|
| 783 | | - | |
|---|
| 784 | | - | (d) Offer both pre-booking and on-demand service to 519 |
|---|
| 785 | | - | paratransit service users. 520 |
|---|
| 786 | | - | (2) For contracts entered into or renewed with a 521 |
|---|
| 787 | | - | transportation service provi der on or after October 1, 2024, a 522 |
|---|
| 788 | | - | transportation service provider, in collaboration with the local 523 |
|---|
| 789 | | - | government with which the provider contracts, shall establish: 524 |
|---|
| 790 | | - | (a) Reasonable time periods between a request for service 525 |
|---|
| 791 | | - | and the arrival of the transporta tion service provider at the 526 |
|---|
| 792 | | - | location specified in the request, taking into account the 527 |
|---|
| 793 | | - | number of persons requesting paratransit service on the same 528 |
|---|
| 794 | | - | date, the distance between locations, usual or expected traffic 529 |
|---|
| 795 | | - | conditions during the provision of paratran sit service, and any 530 |
|---|
| 796 | | - | other factor deemed necessary by the provider or the local 531 |
|---|
| 797 | | - | government. If a transportation service provider exhibits a 532 |
|---|
| 798 | | - | pattern of late arrivals based on such established reasonable 533 |
|---|
| 799 | | - | time periods, the local government may authorize anoth er 534 |
|---|
| 800 | | - | provider to provide such paratransit service, including the 535 |
|---|
| 801 | | - | acceptance of any prepaid vouchers for future paratransit 536 |
|---|
| 802 | | - | service, notwithstanding the terms of the contract with the 537 |
|---|
| 803 | | - | original provider. 538 |
|---|
| 804 | | - | (b) Best practices for limiting the duration of travel 539 |
|---|
| 805 | | - | times for persons receiving paratransit service. To avoid 540 |
|---|
| 806 | | - | unreasonably long travel times, the provider and the local 541 |
|---|
| 807 | | - | government shall consider the level of service offered to 542 |
|---|
| 808 | | - | persons without disabilities by a public entity operating a 543 |
|---|
| 809 | | - | |
|---|
| 810 | | - | CS/CS/HB 1673 2024 |
|---|
| 811 | | - | |
|---|
| 812 | | - | |
|---|
| 813 | | - | |
|---|
| 814 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
|---|
| 815 | | - | hb1673-02-c2 |
|---|
| 816 | | - | Page 23 of 26 |
|---|
| 817 | | - | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 818 | | - | |
|---|
| 819 | | - | |
|---|
| 820 | | - | |
|---|
| 821 | | - | fixed route as compa red to the level of paratransit service 544 |
|---|
| 822 | | - | offered by the transportation service provider in accordance 545 |
|---|
| 823 | | - | with 49 C.F.R. s. 37.121. 546 |
|---|
| 824 | | - | (c) Transparency regarding the quality of paratransit 547 |
|---|
| 825 | | - | service provided by the transportation service provider, 548 |
|---|
| 826 | | - | including, but not limited to, data relating to the timeliness 549 |
|---|
| 827 | | - | of paratransit service provided and the handling of complaints. 550 |
|---|
| 828 | | - | (d) An efficient system for the reporting of adverse 551 |
|---|
| 829 | | - | incidents occurring during the provision of paratransit service 552 |
|---|
| 830 | | - | to persons with disabiliti es. Such system may include the 553 |
|---|
| 831 | | - | assignment of a quick -response code to each motor vehicle used 554 |
|---|
| 832 | | - | to provide such service for the purpose of reporting adverse 555 |
|---|
| 833 | | - | incidents with a smartphone or other mobile device. Reports of 556 |
|---|
| 834 | | - | adverse incidents received by the loc al government or the 557 |
|---|
| 835 | | - | transportation service provider shall be submitted on a 558 |
|---|
| 836 | | - | quarterly basis to the Commission for the Transportation 559 |
|---|
| 837 | | - | Disadvantaged. 560 |
|---|
| 838 | | - | (3) The Commission for the Transportation Disadvantaged 561 |
|---|
| 839 | | - | shall establish requirements for the investigatio n of adverse 562 |
|---|
| 840 | | - | incidents reported pursuant to paragraph (2)(d), including 563 |
|---|
| 841 | | - | periodic review of ongoing investigations and documentation of 564 |
|---|
| 842 | | - | final outcomes thereof. The investigation of a reported adverse 565 |
|---|
| 843 | | - | incident must commence within 48 hours after receipt of t he 566 |
|---|
| 844 | | - | report by the commission. 567 |
|---|
| 845 | | - | |
|---|
| 846 | | - | CS/CS/HB 1673 2024 |
|---|
| 847 | | - | |
|---|
| 848 | | - | |
|---|
| 849 | | - | |
|---|
| 850 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
|---|
| 851 | | - | hb1673-02-c2 |
|---|
| 852 | | - | Page 24 of 26 |
|---|
| 853 | | - | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 854 | | - | |
|---|
| 855 | | - | |
|---|
| 856 | | - | |
|---|
| 857 | | - | (4) Contracts entered into or renewed on or after October 568 |
|---|
| 858 | | - | 1, 2024, with transportation service providers for the provision 569 |
|---|
| 859 | | - | of paratransit service to persons with disabilities must be 570 |
|---|
| 860 | | - | competitively procured pursuant to s. 287. 057. The procurement 571 |
|---|
| 861 | | - | must use competitive sealed bids, competitive sealed proposals, 572 |
|---|
| 862 | | - | or competitive sealed replies. The contract may not be awarded 573 |
|---|
| 863 | | - | using an exceptional purchase provision provided for in s. 574 |
|---|
| 864 | | - | 287.057(3). 575 |
|---|
| 865 | | - | Section 7. (1) By January 1, 202 5, the Department of 576 |
|---|
| 866 | | - | Transportation must provide to the Governor, the President of 577 |
|---|
| 867 | | - | the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives a 578 |
|---|
| 868 | | - | comprehensive report on the services provided by the Commission 579 |
|---|
| 869 | | - | for the Transportation Disadvantaged which incl udes, at a 580 |
|---|
| 870 | | - | minimum, the following: 581 |
|---|
| 871 | | - | (a) A review of services rendered by community 582 |
|---|
| 872 | | - | transportation coordinators or transportation operators 583 |
|---|
| 873 | | - | coordinated by the commission, specifically outlining: 584 |
|---|
| 874 | | - | 1. Timeliness of services. 585 |
|---|
| 875 | | - | 2. Quality of services. 586 |
|---|
| 876 | | - | 3. Training programs for drivers and customer service 587 |
|---|
| 877 | | - | representatives. 588 |
|---|
| 878 | | - | 4. Timeliness of the resolution of complaints. 589 |
|---|
| 879 | | - | 5. Adherence to performance measures by service providers. 590 |
|---|
| 880 | | - | |
|---|
| 881 | | - | CS/CS/HB 1673 2024 |
|---|
| 882 | | - | |
|---|
| 883 | | - | |
|---|
| 884 | | - | |
|---|
| 885 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
|---|
| 886 | | - | hb1673-02-c2 |
|---|
| 887 | | - | Page 25 of 26 |
|---|
| 888 | | - | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 889 | | - | |
|---|
| 890 | | - | |
|---|
| 891 | | - | |
|---|
| 892 | | - | (b) A review of transportation delivery models 591 |
|---|
| 893 | | - | administered by contract by the commission and a review of 592 |
|---|
| 894 | | - | potential alternative methods. 593 |
|---|
| 895 | | - | (c) The role of paratransit service as used by providers 594 |
|---|
| 896 | | - | of services for the transportation disadvantaged and the 595 |
|---|
| 897 | | - | differences between paratransit service and the services 596 |
|---|
| 898 | | - | provided by the commi ssion. In its review, the department must 597 |
|---|
| 899 | | - | also consider how the use of paratransit service can be 598 |
|---|
| 900 | | - | leveraged to improve services coordinated by the commission. 599 |
|---|
| 901 | | - | (d) The role of health care transportation services as 600 |
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| 902 | | - | used by the users of services for the tr ansportation 601 |
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| 903 | | - | disadvantaged and how the coordination of services can be 602 |
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| 904 | | - | leveraged to improve services administered by the commission. 603 |
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| 905 | | - | (e) Breakdowns of funding provided by the commission on a 604 |
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| 906 | | - | contractual level. The report must also include a breakdown of 605 |
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| 907 | | - | how the funds are used by delivery model, including both fixed 606 |
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| 908 | | - | route, on-demand, hybrid models, and through an innovation grant 607 |
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| 909 | | - | outlined in the General Appropriations Act. 608 |
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| 910 | | - | (f) A review of the eligibility criteria by each 609 |
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| 911 | | - | coordinating entity, including an y relevant demographic 610 |
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| 912 | | - | information by coordinating entity. 611 |
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| 913 | | - | (g) A review of the challenges and potential opportunities 612 |
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| 914 | | - | to better support rural counties in administering such programs. 613 |
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| 915 | | - | (h) Recommendations on efficiencies and challenges that 614 |
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| 916 | | - | may result from adopting an alternative format of delivering 615 |
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| 917 | | - | |
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| 918 | | - | CS/CS/HB 1673 2024 |
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| 919 | | - | |
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| 920 | | - | |
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| 921 | | - | |
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| 922 | | - | CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. |
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| 923 | | - | hb1673-02-c2 |
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| 924 | | - | Page 26 of 26 |
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| 925 | | - | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 926 | | - | |
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| 927 | | - | |
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| 928 | | - | |
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| 929 | | - | commission services to improve services for individuals seeking 616 |
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| 930 | | - | to thrive in community -based settings, including in a workplace 617 |
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| 931 | | - | setting, who currently receive services provided by the 618 |
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| 932 | | - | commission. 619 |
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| 933 | | - | (i) Any additional recommendations relating to areas of 620 |
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| 934 | | - | review required by paragraphs (a) –(g). 621 |
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| 935 | | - | (2) The definitions in s. 427.011, Florida Statutes, apply 622 |
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| 936 | | - | to subsection (1) unless the context clearly indicates 623 |
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| 937 | | - | otherwise. 624 |
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| 938 | | - | (3) The department may conduct the report required under 625 |
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| 939 | | - | subsection (1) independently or by contract. 626 |
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| 940 | | - | Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 627 |
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| 600 | + | establish requirements for the investigation of adverse 395 |
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| 601 | + | incidents reported pursuant to paragraph (2)(d), including 396 |
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| 602 | + | periodic review of ongoing investig ations and documentation of 397 |
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| 603 | + | final outcomes thereof. The investigation of a reported adverse 398 |
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| 604 | + | incident must commence within 48 hours after receipt of the 399 |
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| 605 | + | report by the agency and the department. 400 |
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| 606 | + | (4) The provisions of s. 287.057 which exempt the purchase 401 |
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| 607 | + | of contractual services from competitive bidding requirements do 402 |
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| 608 | + | not apply to contracts entered into by local governments and 403 |
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| 609 | + | transportation service providers for the provision of 404 |
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| 610 | + | paratransit service to persons with disabilities under this 405 |
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| 611 | + | section. 406 |
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| 612 | + | Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 407 |
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