Report Title:

Transit Pilot Program; Elderly & Disabled

Description:

Requires the department of human services to establish a medical discount taxi program for seniors and disabled individuals with limited incomes and who are not wheelchair bound; program shall provide transportation to enable participants to receive necessary medical care and such other services for which federal funds may be available.

THE SENATE

S.B. NO.

3118

TWENTY-SECOND LEGISLATURE, 2004

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 


 

A BILL FOR AN ACT

 

relating to transit services for elderly and disabled.

 

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

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 medical discount taxi program to assist Hawaii residents who are elderly or disabled, have limited incomes, and are not wheelchair bound. Initially, this discount taxi program shall be used to provide affordable transportation to allow eligible individuals to get medical services, such as transportation to and from a doctor appointment, in a timely manner and for such other services for which federal funds may be available.

SECTION 2. (a) The department of human services shall develop and implement a medical discount taxicab pilot program for the city and county of Honolulu, by contracting with interested private taxicab services to provide transportation to eligible residents who are not wheelchair bound to enable them to receive medical services, including prescription drugs, easily and dependably. Transportation provided by the program shall be demand-responsive and available throughout the city and county of Honolulu. The medical 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 shall develop standards to determine eligibility that shall include program participation by seniors and disabled individuals who are not wheelchair bound and who have limited incomes not to exceed an amount to be determined by the department.

(c) The department also shall determine the method of identifying program participants and payment system.

(d) The medical 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 medical discount taxi pilot program.

(e) The department shall submit a status report on the medical discount taxi pilot program to the legislature twenty days before convening of the regular session of 2005.

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.

INTRODUCED BY:

_____________________________