_____________ bill NO. _____________

INTRODUCED BY _________________________________________________

By Request of the ****

A BILL FOR AN ACT ENTITLED: "AN ACT revising allowed uses of the senior citizen and persons with disabilities transportation services account; AMENDING SECTION 7-14-112, MCA."

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

Section 1. Section 7-14-112, MCA, is amended to read:

"7-14-112. Senior citizen and persons with disabilities transportation services account -- use. (1) There is a senior citizen and persons with disabilities transportation services account in the state special revenue fund. Money must be deposited in the account pursuant to 15-68-820(2).

(2) The account must be used to provide operating funds, or matching funds for operating grants, or matching funds for capital grants pursuant to 49 U.S.C. 5311 to counties, incorporated cities and towns, tribal governments, urban transportation districts, or nonprofit organizations for transportation services for persons 60 years of age or older and for persons with disabilities.

(3) (a) Subject to the conditions of subsection (3)(b), the department of transportation is authorized to award grants to counties, incorporated cities and towns, tribal governments, urban transportation districts, and nonprofit organizations for transportation services using guidelines established in the state management plan for the purposes described in 49 U.S.C. 5310 and 5311.

(b) Priority for awarding grants must be determined according to the following factors:

(i) the most recent census or federal estimate of persons 60 years of age or older and persons with disabilities in the area served by a county, incorporated city or town, tribal government, urban transportation district, or nonprofit organization;

(ii) the annual number of trips provided by the transportation provider to persons 60 years of age or older and to persons with disabilities in the transportation service area; and

(iii) the coordination of services as required in subsection (4).

(4) In awarding grants, the department of transportation shall give preference to proposals that:

(a) include participation in a local transportation advisory committee;

(b) address and document the transportation needs within the community, county, and service area or region;

(d) explain how services are going to be coordinated with the other transportation providers in the service area or region by creating a locally developed transportation coordination plan;

(e) indicate how services are going to be expanded to meet the unmet needs of senior citizens and disabled persons within the community, county, and service area or region who are dependent upon public transit;

(f) include documentation of coordination with other local transportation programs within the community, county, and service area or region, including:

(i) utilization of existing resources and equipment to maximize the delivery of service; and

(ii) the projected increase in ridership and expansion of service;

(g) invite school districts to participate or be included in the transportation coordination efforts within the community, county, and service area or region; and

(h) at a minimum, comply with the provisions in subsections (4)(b) through (4)(f)."