SENATE FLOOR AMENDMENT

 

FLOOR AMENDMENT NO.   13 Date 04-13-04

TO: HB 2291, H.D. 2 S.D. 2

SECTION 1. HB 2291, H.D. 2 S.D. 2 is amended by deleting sections 1-4.

SECTION 2. HB 2291, H.D. 2 S.D. 2 is amended by inserting the following:

"SECTION 1. The legislature finds that persons with disabilities and many seniors are unable to use public transportation, such as buses. Although the city and county of Honolulu currently complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 by providing "handi-cab" and "handi-van" services to the disabled and elderly, additional, alternative transit services are needed to enable this population to get necessary medical services, such as to and from medical appointments, in a timely fashion.

A number of cities and municipalities have supplemented their public transportation services for certain seniors and disabled residents with taxicab companies to provide transportation programs. For example, Montgomery County, Maryland has a discount taxi coupon program for persons with limited incomes who are elderly or who have a disability. Program participants can purchase up to $100 worth of coupons per month at a substantially reduced rate, based on a sliding scale. The program requires an application and verification process to determine eligible individuals.

The purpose of this Act is to require the department of human services to develop and implement a discount taxi program to assist Hawaii residents who are elderly or disabled and have limited incomes.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of human services shall develop and implement a discount taxicab pilot program for the city and county of Honolulu, to be administered by the Oahu transit services, by contracting with interested private taxicab services to provide transportation to eligible residents to fulfill their transportation needs. Transportation provided by the program shall be demand-responsive and available throughout the city and county of Honolulu. The taxi discount program shall include performance-based incentives and disincentives that include consideration of on-time performance, accidents, missed trips, program participant complaints, and vehicle cleanliness.

(b) The department, with assistance from the executive office of aging and the disability and communication access board, shall develop standards to determine eligibility that shall include program participation by seniors and disabled individuals who have limited incomes not to exceed an amount to be determined by the department.

(c) The department, with assistance from the executive office of aging and the disability and communication access board, shall determine the method of identifying program participants and payment system.

(d) The taxi discount pilot program shall be funded by legislative appropriations and federal funds, when available. The department shall use its best efforts to obtain federal funds to enable the development, implementation, and maintenance of the discount taxi pilot program.

(e) The department shall adopt rules in accordance with chapter 91.

(f) The department shall submit a status report on the discount taxi pilot program to the legislature twenty days before the convening of each regular session beginning with the regular session of 2005 and ending with the regular session of 2009.

SECTION 3. There is appropriated out of the general revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $ , or so much thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2004-2005, for the establishment and implementation of a medical discount taxi pilot program in the city and county of Honolulu for elderly and disabled residents of limited incomes who are not

wheelchair-bound.

SECTION 4. The sum appropriated shall be expended by the department of human services for the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 5. This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2004, and shall be repealed on June 30, 2009."

 

 

Offered by:

( ) Carried

 

( ) Failed to Carry

 

( ) Withdrawn