HB-5375, As Passed House, February 3, 2004                                  

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                              SUBSTITUTE FOR                                    

                                                                                

                           HOUSE BILL NO. 5375                                  

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                

                                                                                 A bill to amend 1951 PA 51, entitled                                              

                                                                                

    "An act to provide for the classification of all public roads,              

    streets, and highways in this state, and for the revision of that           

    classification and for additions to and deletions from each                 

    classification; to set up and establish the Michigan                        

    transportation fund; to provide for the deposits in the Michigan            

    transportation fund of specific taxes on motor vehicles and motor           

    vehicle fuels; to provide for the allocation of funds from the              

    Michigan transportation fund and the use and administration of              

    the fund for transportation purposes; to set up and establish the           

    truck safety fund; to provide for the allocation of funds from              

    the truck safety fund and administration of the fund for truck              

    safety purposes; to set up and establish the Michigan truck                 

    safety commission; to establish certain standards for road                  

    contracts for certain businesses; to provide for the continuing             

    review of transportation needs within the state; to authorize the           

    state transportation commission, counties, cities, and villages             

    to borrow money, issue bonds, and make pledges of funds for                 

    transportation purposes; to authorize counties to advance funds             

    for the payment of deficiencies necessary for the payment of                

    bonds issued under this act; to provide for the limitations,                

    payment, retirement, and security of the bonds and pledges; to              

    provide for appropriations and tax levies by counties and                   

    townships for county roads; to authorize contributions by                   

    townships for county roads; to provide for the establishment and            

    administration of the state trunk line fund, critical bridge                

    fund, comprehensive transportation fund, and certain other funds;           

    to provide for the deposits in the state trunk line fund,                   


                                                                                

    critical bridge fund, comprehensive transportation fund, and                

    certain other funds of money raised by specific taxes and fees;             

    to provide for definitions of public transportation functions and           

    criteria; to define the purposes for which Michigan                         

    transportation funds may be allocated; to provide for Michigan              

    transportation fund grants; to provide for review and approval of           

    transportation programs; to provide for submission of annual                

    legislative requests and reports; to provide for the                        

    establishment and functions of certain advisory entities; to                

    provide for conditions for grants; to provide for the issuance of           

    bonds and notes for transportation purposes; to provide for the             

    powers and duties of certain state and local agencies and                   

    officials; to provide for the making of loans for transportation            

    purposes by the state transportation department and for the                 

    receipt and repayment by local units and agencies of those loans            

    from certain specified sources; and to repeal acts and parts of             

    acts,"                                                                      

                                                                                

    by amending section 10e (MCL 247.660e), as amended by 1998 PA               

                                                                                

    87.                                                                         

                                                                                

                THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:                      

                                                                                

1       Sec. 10e.  (1) The comprehensive transportation fund is                     

                                                                                

2   appropriated for each fiscal year in the following order of                 

                                                                                

3   priority.                                                                   

                                                                                

4       (2) The first priority is to pay, but only from money                       

                                                                                

5   restricted as to use by section 9 of article IX of the state                

                                                                                

6   constitution of 1963, the principal and interest on bonds or                

                                                                                

7   notes issued under section 18b for comprehensive transportation             

                                                                                

8   purposes as defined by law.  A sufficient portion of the                    

                                                                                

9   comprehensive transportation fund is irrevocably appropriated to            

                                                                                

10  pay, when due, the principal and interest on those bonds and                

                                                                                

11  notes.                                                                      

                                                                                

12      (3) After making or setting aside payments required by                      

                                                                                

13  subsection (2), the second priority of the comprehensive                    

                                                                                

14  transportation fund is the payment of the department's cost in              

                                                                                

15  administering the comprehensive transportation fund.  The amount            


     House Bill No. 5375 (H-1) as amended February 3, 2004

   

1   to be expended pursuant to this subsection shall not exceed the             

                                                                                

2   costs appropriated for the administration of the fund in the                

                                                                                

3   fiscal year ending September 30, 1987, as adjusted annually on              

                                                                                

4   October 1, by the change for the preceding 12 months in the                 

                                                                                

5   Detroit consumer price index for urban wage earners and shall be            

                                                                                

6   appropriated annually by the legislature.                                   

                                                                                

7       (4) After making or setting aside payments required by                      

                                                                                

8   subsections (2) and (3), the balance of the comprehensive                   

                                                                                

9   transportation fund shall be expended each fiscal year as                   

                                                                                

10  appropriated annually by the legislature [pursuant to the state             

                                                                                

11  transportation program approved by the commission] as follows:              

                                                                                

12      (a) The third priority shall be the payment of operating                    

                                                                                

13  grants to eligible authorities and eligible governmental agencies           

                                                                                

14  according to the following formulations and subject to the                  

                                                                                

15  following requirements:                                                     

                                                                                

16                                                                               (i) For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and for                          

                                                                                

17  each fiscal year thereafter, each eligible authority and eligible           

                                                                                

18  governmental agency which provides public transportation services           

                                                                                

19  in urbanized areas under  Public Law 103-272, 49 U.S.C. 5307  49            

                                                                                

20  USC 5307, with a Michigan population greater than 100,000 shall             

                                                                                

21  receive a grant of up to 50% of their eligible operating expenses           

                                                                                

22  as defined by the state transportation department.                          

                                                                                

23      (ii) For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and each                 

                                                                                

24  fiscal year thereafter, each eligible authority and eligible                

                                                                                

25  governmental agency which provides public transportation services           

                                                                                

26  in urbanized areas with a Michigan population less than or equal            

                                                                                

27  to 100,000 and nonurbanized areas under  Public Law 103-272, 49             


                                                                                

1   U.S.C. 5311  49 USC 5311, shall receive a grant of up to 60% of             

                                                                                

2   their eligible operating expenses as defined by the state                   

                                                                                

3   transportation department.  For purposes of receiving a grant               

                                                                                

4   under this subparagraph in nonurbanized areas, eligible costs of            

                                                                                

5   services provided by water vehicle shall be reimbursed at not               

                                                                                

6   less than 50% of the portion of the costs not eligible for                  

                                                                                

7   reimbursement by the federal government.                                    

                                                                                

8       (iii) Funds shall not be distributed to an eligible authority                

                                                                                

9   or eligible governmental agency under this act unless the                   

                                                                                

10  eligible authority or eligible governmental agency provides or              

                                                                                

11  agrees to provide preferential fares for public transportation              

                                                                                

12  services to persons 65 years of age or over or persons with                 

                                                                                

13  disabilities riding in off peak periods of service.  As used in             

                                                                                

14  this section, "person with disabilities" means an individual with           

                                                                                

15  a disability as that term is defined in  61 F.R.P.  56424  61 FR            

                                                                                

16  56424 (November 1, 1996) and  49 C.F.R.  49 CFR part 27.  The               

                                                                                

17  preferential fares shall not be higher than 50% of the regular              

                                                                                

18  1-way single fare.                                                          

                                                                                

19      (iv) Eligible authorities and eligible governmental agencies                 

                                                                                

20  shall not engage in charter service using vehicles, facilities,             

                                                                                

21  or equipment funded under this act except on an incidental basis            

                                                                                

22  as defined by  49 C.F.R.  49 CFR part 604.                                  

                                                                                

23      (v)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection,                

                                                                                

24  for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, each eligible                

                                                                                

25  authority and eligible governmental agency shall receive a                  

                                                                                

26  distribution from the comprehensive transportation fund not less            

                                                                                

27  than the distribution received for eligible operating expenses              


                                                                                

1   for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997.  Beginning with              

                                                                                

2   the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998 and each fiscal year              

                                                                                

3   thereafter, each eligible authority and eligible governmental               

                                                                                

4   agency shall receive a distribution from the comprehensive                  

                                                                                

5   transportation fund for eligible operating expenses not less than           

                                                                                

6   the distribution received for the fiscal year ending                        

                                                                                

7   September 30, 1997.  As it relates to this subsection the ratio             

                                                                                

8   between comprehensive transportation funds and local funds in the           

                                                                                

9   fiscal year ending September 30, 1989 shall be maintained for all           

                                                                                

10  fiscal years by the eligible authority and eligible governmental            

                                                                                

11  agency.  Reductions in this ratio shall require a proportionate             

                                                                                

12  reduction in the comprehensive transportation funds provided for            

                                                                                

13  any fiscal year.                                                            

                                                                                

14      (vi) Each eligible authority and eligible governmental agency                

                                                                                

15  receiving comprehensive transportation funds shall prepare and              

                                                                                

16  submit to the department a quarterly report of the progress made            

                                                                                

17  in carrying out its local transportation program within 40 days             

                                                                                

18  after the end of each fiscal year quarter.  The progress report             

                                                                                

19  shall be made on forms authorized by the United States department           

                                                                                

20  of transportation under  the provisions of  the surface                     

                                                                                

21  transportation and uniform relocation assistance act of 1987,               

                                                                                

22  Public Law 100-17, 101 Stat. 132.                                           

                                                                                

23      (vii) The department shall periodically adjust or                            

                                                                                

24  redistribute comprehensive transportation funds previously                  

                                                                                

25  distributed under this subdivision.                                         

                                                                                

26      (b) For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and each                 

                                                                                

27  fiscal year thereafter, not less than 10% shall be distributed by           


                                                                                

1   the department for intercity passenger and intercity freight                

                                                                                

2   transportation purposes.                                                    

                                                                                

3       (c) For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and each                 

                                                                                

4   fiscal year thereafter, funds remaining in the fund after payment           

                                                                                

5   of the amounts required by subdivisions (a) and (b) shall be                

                                                                                

6   distributed by the department for public transportation                     

                                                                                

7   purposes.  For the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, and               

                                                                                

8   each fiscal year thereafter, funds shall be made available to               

                                                                                

9   match all projects for eligible authorities and eligible                    

                                                                                

10  governmental agencies that are approved for federal funding as              

                                                                                

11  provided by federal law and for which an approved transportation            

                                                                                

12  improvement program (TIP) and state transportation improvement              

                                                                                

13  plan (STIP) exist.  Funds distributed under this subdivision                

                                                                                

14  shall be expended pursuant to specific line item appropriation              

                                                                                

15  for, but are not limited to, the following public transportation            

                                                                                

16  purposes:                                                                   

                                                                                

17                                                                               (i) The specialized services assistance program.  The                               

                                                                                

18  specialized services assistance program shall be funded with not            

                                                                                

19  less than $3,600,100.00 from funds distributed under this                   

                                                                                

20  subdivision.  Funds shall be distributed according to guidelines            

                                                                                

21  developed by the department based upon the following                        

                                                                                

22  considerations:                                                             

                                                                                

23      (A) Proposals for coordinated specialized services assistance               

                                                                                

24  funding shall be developed jointly between existing eligible                

                                                                                

25  authorities or eligible governmental agencies that provide public           

                                                                                

26  transportation services and the area agencies on aging or any               

                                                                                

27  other organization representing specialized services interests,             


                                                                                

1   as defined in this subdivision.  Plans shall be reviewed and                

                                                                                

2   approved by the bureau of urban and public transportation of the            

                                                                                

3   department.  Upon approval, the department shall release the                

                                                                                

4   funds to the eligible authority or eligible governmental agency             

                                                                                

5   which shall then allocate the funds to the area agency on aging             

                                                                                

6   or any other organization representing specialized services                 

                                                                                

7   interests, as defined in this subdivision for the purchase of               

                                                                                

8   services as approved in the plan by the department.                         

                                                                                

9       (B) If an eligible authority or eligible governmental agency                

                                                                                

10  does not exist to provide public transportation service in a                

                                                                                

11  county, coordinated proposals for specialized services assistance           

                                                                                

12  funding may be submitted by the area agency on aging or any other           

                                                                                

13  organization representing specialized services interests, as                

                                                                                

14  defined in this subdivision.  The proposals shall be reviewed and           

                                                                                

15  approved by the bureau of urban and public transportation of the            

                                                                                

16  department.  Upon approval, the department shall release the                

                                                                                

17  funds to the area agency on aging or any other organization                 

                                                                                

18  representing specialized services interests, as defined in this             

                                                                                

19  subdivision for the purchase of services as approved in the plan            

                                                                                

20  by the department.                                                          

                                                                                

21      (C) For the purposes of this program, "specialized services"                

                                                                                

22  means public transportation primarily designed for persons with             

                                                                                

23  disabilities or persons who are 65 years of age or older.                   

                                                                                

24      (ii) Local bus capital.  For the fiscal year ending                          

                                                                                

25  September 30, 1998 and each fiscal year thereafter, not less than           

                                                                                

26  $8,000,000.00 will be distributed for either matching federal               

                                                                                

27  funds for local bus capital or 100% capital projects for eligible           


                                                                                

1   authorities and eligible governmental agencies that are not                 

                                                                                

2   eligible to receive federal capital formula funds under section             

                                                                                

3   5307 of the federal intermodal surface transportation efficiency            

                                                                                

4   act,  Public Law 102-240, or any successor act  49 USC 5307.                

                                                                                

5       (iii) Local bus new services.                                                

                                                                                

6       (iv) Not less than $2,000,000.00 in each fiscal year for the                 

                                                                                

7   credit program established under section 10l.                               

                                                                                

8       (v) Public transportation development.                                      

                                                                                

9       (vi) Other public transportation programs approved by the                    

                                                                                

10  commission.                                                                 

                                                                                

11      (d) The unappropriated and unencumbered balance of the                      

                                                                                

12  comprehensive transportation fund lapses at the end of each                 

                                                                                

13  fiscal year and reverts to the comprehensive transportation fund            

                                                                                

14  for appropriation in the following fiscal year.                             

                                                                                

15      (5) Eligible authorities and eligible governmental agencies                 

                                                                                

16  shall receive capital grants each fiscal year by the annual                 

                                                                                

17  process described in this section.  Amounts received by an                  

                                                                                

18  eligible authority or eligible governmental agency pursuant to              

                                                                                

19  this subsection shall be expended by that authority or agency               

                                                                                

20  solely for capital projects which have been approved by the state           

                                                                                

21  transportation commission.  Any funds approved by distribution to           

                                                                                

22  an eligible authority or eligible governmental agency pursuant to           

                                                                                

23  this section which have not been encumbered by that agency or               

                                                                                

24  authority for an approved capital project by the end of the                 

                                                                                

25  following fiscal year in which the funds were approved shall not            

                                                                                

26  be expended by the authority or agency and be available for                 

                                                                                

27  distribution from the comprehensive transportation fund for the             


                                                                                

1   purposes described in this section.                                         

                                                                                

2       (6) The department, in carrying out the policy of the state                 

                                                                                

3   transportation commission, shall annually prepare and distribute            

                                                                                

4   by December 1, instructions to eligible governmental agencies,              

                                                                                

5   eligible authorities, and intercity carriers to enable the                  

                                                                                

6   preparation of a local transportation program.  Eligible                    

                                                                                

7   governmental agencies, eligible authorities, and intercity                  

                                                                                

8   carriers shall give public notice of their intent to apply for              

                                                                                

9   money in the comprehensive transportation fund to the residents             

                                                                                

10  of the counties, townships, villages, and cities affected by the            

                                                                                

11  local transportation program and shall make their application               

                                                                                

12  available for a period of 30 days.  All comments received by the            

                                                                                

13  eligible governmental agency, eligible authority, or intercity              

                                                                                

14  carrier shall be transmitted to the department.                             

                                                                                

15      (7) On or before March 1 of each year, each intercity                       

                                                                                

16  carrier, eligible authority, and eligible governmental agency               

                                                                                

17  shall submit to the department its local transportation program             

                                                                                

18  for the next succeeding fiscal year.  The format for each local             

                                                                                

19  transportation program shall be as prescribed by the federal                

                                                                                

20  transportation improvement program insofar as practical and shall           

                                                                                

21  include project descriptions, funding sources, and justification            

                                                                                

22  for each line item, and summary budgets based on distributions              

                                                                                

23  anticipated under subsection (4).  The program shall contain at a           

                                                                                

24  minimum the contemplated routes, hours of service, estimated                

                                                                                

25  transit vehicle miles, costs of public transportation services,             

                                                                                

26  and projected capital improvements or projects as exclusively               

                                                                                

27  determined by the eligible authority or eligible governmental               


                                                                                

1   agency.  The costs of service and capital improvements or                   

                                                                                

2   projects shall be in sufficient detail to permit the state                  

                                                                                

3   transportation department to evaluate and approve the annual                

                                                                                

4   public transportation program.  Determination of individual                 

                                                                                

5   projects to be included in the local transportation programs                

                                                                                

6   other than those provided in this subsection shall be made by the           

                                                                                

7   governing body of the eligible authority or eligible governmental           

                                                                                

8   agency.                                                                     

                                                                                

9       (8)  On or before March 1 of each year  As required under 23                

                                                                                

10  USC 134, 23 USC 135, and 49 USC 5303 through 5305, the department           

                                                                                

11  shall, on a biennial basis, prepare and file for public                     

                                                                                

12  inspection and review the  department  state transportation                 

                                                                                

13  improvement program.  The  department  state transportation                 

                                                                                

14  improvement program shall be prepared on similar format to the              

                                                                                

15  local transportation programs, and shall include a  summary                 

                                                                                

16  description of projects, with funding sources and project                   

                                                                                

17  justifications for each line item for the fiscal year immediately           

                                                                                

18  succeeding the fiscal year in which the program is submitted.  In           

                                                                                

19  addition, the department transportation program shall include               

                                                                                

20  summary, nondetailed budget information and project descriptions            

                                                                                

21  and justifications excluding projects contained in a local                  

                                                                                

22  transportation program.                                                     

                                                                                

23      (9)  On or before April 1 of each year  Within 30 days after                

                                                                                

24  receiving approval of the state transportation improvement                  

                                                                                

25  program prepared and filed pursuant to subsection (8) and 23 USC            

                                                                                

26  135, the department shall  prepare and  file with the commission            

                                                                                

27  the  proposed  state transportation improvement program.  for the           


                                                                                

1   next succeeding fiscal year.  The  proposed  state transportation           

                                                                                

2   improvement program shall contain the local transportation                  

                                                                                

3   programs of each intercity carrier, eligible authority and                  

                                                                                

4   eligible governmental agency, the department transportation                 

                                                                                

5   program, and the programs for the expenditure of the state trunk            

                                                                                

6   line fund as they may have been supplemented, amended, or                   

                                                                                

7   modified since their original filing.  The state transportation             

                                                                                

8   improvement program shall include the estimated amount of money             

                                                                                

9   in the funds described in this subsection by revenue source,                

                                                                                

10  project justifications, project descriptions funding sources, and           

                                                                                

11  budget summaries.                                                           

                                                                                

12      (10) On or before May 1 of each year, the state                             

                                                                                

13  transportation commission shall act on the state transportation             

                                                                                

14  program for the fiscal year commencing on the following                     

                                                                                

15  October 1.  In considering approval of the proposed projects of             

                                                                                

16  each intercity carrier, eligible authority, or eligible                     

                                                                                

17  governmental agency, other than projects which are to be funded             

                                                                                

18  pursuant to subsection (5), the state transportation commission             

                                                                                

19  shall consider whether the projects comply with state law, are              

                                                                                

20  within funds allocated in this section, whether they may be                 

                                                                                

21  funded within the approved budgets, whether there are intercity             

                                                                                

22  carriers, eligible authorities, and eligible governmental                   

                                                                                

23  agencies responsible to implement the projects, and the                     

                                                                                

24  recommendations of the department on individual projects.  Upon             

                                                                                

25  making those determinations, the state transportation commission            

                                                                                

26  shall approve the projects which best meet the criteria of this             

                                                                                

27  subsection.                                                                 


                                                                                

1       (10)  (11)  By October 1, the department and each intercity                 

                                                                                

2   carrier, eligible authority, or eligible governmental agency                

                                                                                

3   shall enter into a contractual agreement or standardized grant              

                                                                                

4   memorandum of agreement, which may cover 1 or more projects to be           

                                                                                

5   made from this section in the applicable fiscal year to the                 

                                                                                

6   intercity carrier, eligible authority, or eligible governmental             

                                                                                

7   agency from the comprehensive transportation fund.                          

                                                                                

8       (11)  (12)  After a multiyear public transportation program                 

                                                                                

9   is approved by the state transportation commission, the state               

                                                                                

10  transportation department may enter into a grant-in-aid                     

                                                                                

11  instrument with an eligible authority, intercity carrier, or                

                                                                                

12  eligible governmental agency obligating the state to a minimum              

                                                                                

13  level of funding for approved projects to be available over the             

                                                                                

14  multiyear period of the program.  This obligation shall be                  

                                                                                

15  binding upon the state transportation department as long as the             

                                                                                

16  provisions and conditions of the state transportation commission            

                                                                                

17  approved program are carried out as agreed.                                 

                                                                                

18      (12)  (13)  Contracts and grant memorandum agreements may be                

                                                                                

19  audited by the state transportation commission's office of                  

                                                                                

20  commission audits using rules promulgated by the United States              

                                                                                

21  general accounting office and the terms and conditions of the               

                                                                                

22  respective contracts and agreements.  Third party agreements are            

                                                                                

23  subject to the review and approval of the department.                       

                                                                                

24      (13)  (14)  Funds distributed by the department may pay 100%                

                                                                                

25  of the portion of the cost not eligible for reimbursement by the            

                                                                                

26  federal government for eligible capital projects authorized by              

                                                                                

27  the state transportation commission using comprehensive                     


                                                                                

1   transportation funds or the proceeds of notes and bonds issued              

                                                                                

2   under section 18b.  Priority for funding obligation shall be                

                                                                                

3   given to capital projects for which federal funds have been                 

                                                                                

4   authorized.                                                                 

                                                                                

5       (14)  (15)  All approved local bus new services initiated by                

                                                                                

6   eligible authorities and eligible governmental agencies not in              

                                                                                

7   their fourth year or beyond of funding on October 1, 1988, shall            

                                                                                

8   be funded from subsection (4)(c)(iii).  Local bus new services               

                                                                                

9   shall be funded under subsection (4)(c)(iii) in the following                

                                                                                

10  percentages of eligible operating expenses as determined by the             

                                                                                

11  department:                                                                 

                                                                                

12      (a) Startup 100%.                                                           

                                                                                

13      (b) First year 90%.                                                         

                                                                                

14      (c) Second year 80%.                                                        

                                                                                

15      (d) Third year 70%.                                                         

                                                                                

16      (e) Fourth year and each year thereafter, as determined by                  

                                                                                

17  and from funds provided under subsection (4)(a).  The balance of            

                                                                                

18  eligible operating expenses shall be met from local revenue                 

                                                                                

19  sources including farebox.  The department shall pay up to 100%             

                                                                                

20  of eligible capital expenses during the startup and first 3 years           

                                                                                

21  of service, after the third year, the department shall                      

                                                                                

22  participate in eligible capital expenses in the same percentage             

                                                                                

23  as for other eligible authorities and eligible governmental                 

                                                                                

24  agencies.  For the purposes of this subsection, eligible                    

                                                                                

25  operating and capital expenses means  those  expenses determined            

                                                                                

26  by the department  as  to be applicable to existing eligible                

                                                                                

27  authorities and eligible governmental agencies.  The department             


                                                                                

1   shall prioritize annually all requests for comprehensive                    

                                                                                

2   transportation funds to institute new services under this                   

                                                                                

3   subsection.  First priority shall be given to eligible                      

                                                                                

4   authorities and eligible governmental agencies who have not                 

                                                                                

5   completed their first 3 years of service by October 1, 1998.  New           

                                                                                

6   services initiated by eligible authorities and eligible                     

                                                                                

7   governmental agencies under this subsection shall meet all of the           

                                                                                

8   requirements of section 10.                                                 

                                                                                

9       (15)  (16)  The department shall pay up to 80% of the portion               

                                                                                

10  of the cost not eligible for reimbursement by the federal                   

                                                                                

11  government for intercity passenger operating assistance projects            

                                                                                

12  authorized by the commission for the first 2 years of new                   

                                                                                

13  services.  For the third year, eligible costs shall be reimbursed           

                                                                                

14  at up to 60% of the portion of the cost not eligible for                    

                                                                                

15  reimbursement by the federal government.  After the third year,             

                                                                                

16  eligible costs shall be reimbursed at up to 50% of the portion of           

                                                                                

17  the cost not eligible for reimbursement by the federal                      

                                                                                

18  government.  Eligible costs of services provided as of                      

                                                                                

19  September 30, 1981, shall be reimbursed at up to 50% of the                 

                                                                                

20  portion of the cost not eligible for reimbursement by the federal           

                                                                                

21  government.  However, the amount of funds from the comprehensive            

                                                                                

22  transportation fund when added to federal funds and local funds             

                                                                                

23  shall not exceed the total operating assistance project cost.               

                                                                                

24      (16)  (17)  A vehicle purchased, leased, or rented after                    

                                                                                

25  November 15, 1976, by an eligible authority or eligible                     

                                                                                

26  governmental agency with funds made available under this act,               

                                                                                

27  which funds were not already committed under a contract in                  


                                                                                

1   existence on November 15, 1976, shall not be used to provide                

                                                                                

2   service on a fixed schedule and fixed route for which a passenger           

                                                                                

3   fee is charged unless the vehicle is accessible to a person using           

                                                                                

4   a wheelchair from a roadway level or curb level, and has                    

                                                                                

5   accommodations in which 1 or more wheelchairs can be secured.               

                                                                                

6       (17)  (18)  A vehicle shall not be purchased, leased, or                    

                                                                                

7   rented by an eligible authority or eligible governmental agency             

                                                                                

8   after October 1, 1978, with funds made available under this act             

                                                                                

9   which vehicle is used to provide demand actuated service unless             

                                                                                

10  the eligible authority or eligible governmental agency has                  

                                                                                

11  submitted a plan to the state transportation department                     

                                                                                

12  describing the service to be provided by the demand actuated                

                                                                                

13  service to persons 65 years of age or older and persons with                

                                                                                

14  disabilities within the applicable service area and that plan has           

                                                                                

15  been approved by the department.  The department shall approve              

                                                                                

16  the plan as submitted or modified or shall reject the plan within           

                                                                                

17  60 days after the plan is submitted.  A plan which describes the            

                                                                                

18  service to be provided by the demand actuated service shall not             

                                                                                

19  be approved by the department unless that plan provides the                 

                                                                                

20  following:                                                                  

                                                                                

21      (a) That demand actuated service will be provided to persons                

                                                                                

22  65 years of age or older and persons with disabilities residing             

                                                                                

23  in the entire service area subject to the plan.                             

                                                                                

24      (b) That as a minimum, demand actuated service will be                      

                                                                                

25  provided to persons 65 years of age or older and persons with               

                                                                                

26  disabilities during the same hours as service is provided to all            

                                                                                

27  other persons in the service area subject to the plan.                      


                                                                                

1       (c) That the average time period required for demand actuated               

                                                                                

2   service to persons 65 years of age or older and persons with                

                                                                                

3   disabilities from the initiation of a service request to arrival            

                                                                                

4   at the destination is equal to the average time period required             

                                                                                

5   for demand actuated service provided to all other persons in the            

                                                                                

6   service area subject to the plan.                                           

                                                                                

7       (d) That the eligible authority or eligible governmental                    

                                                                                

8   agency submitting the plan has established a local advisory                 

                                                                                

9   council with not less than 50% of its membership representing               

                                                                                

10  persons 65 years of age or older and persons with disabilities              

                                                                                

11  within the service area subject to the plan and that the local              

                                                                                

12  advisory council has had an opportunity to review and comment               

                                                                                

13  upon the plan before its submission to the department.  Each                

                                                                                

14  eligible authority or eligible governmental agency jointly with             

                                                                                

15  the area agency on aging shall approve at least 1 or the                    

                                                                                

16  equivalent of 12% of the membership of the local advisory                   

                                                                                

17  council.  Each advisory council comment shall be included in the            

                                                                                

18  plan when submitted to the department.                                      

                                                                                

19      (18)  (19)  Notwithstanding subsection  (18)  (17), a plan                  

                                                                                

20  required by subsection  (18)  (17) which is not approved or                 

                                                                                

21  rejected by the state transportation department within 60 days              

                                                                                

22  after submission shall be considered approved as submitted.                 

                                                                                

23      (19)  (20)  Subsections (16), (17), and (18)  , and (19)                    

                                                                                

24  shall not apply to vehicles or facilities used to transport                 

                                                                                

25  persons by rail, air, or water or to vehicles of common carriers            

                                                                                

26  licensed by the state transportation department.                            

                                                                                

27      (20)  (21)  After January 1, 1979, the department shall                     


                                                                                

1   submit an annual report to the legislature detailing the service            

                                                                                

2   provided in the prior year for persons 65 years of age or older             

                                                                                

3   and persons with disabilities by fixed route service and demand             

                                                                                

4   actuated service.  This report shall include a record of                    

                                                                                

5   passenger usage and shall be submitted by April 1 of each year.             

                                                                                

6       (21)  (22)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this                     

                                                                                

7   section, if the unreserved balance of the comprehensive                     

                                                                                

8   transportation fund as of September 30, 1997 is greater than                

                                                                                

9   $50,000,000.00, then the entire unreserved balance minus                    

                                                                                

10  $50,000,000.00 shall be appropriated for the fiscal year ending             

                                                                                

11  September 30, 1998 only to local bus transit authorities for                

                                                                                

12  discretionary capital expenditures.  These funds shall be                   

                                                                                

13  distributed to individual authorities in the same proportion                

                                                                                

14  provided for in  the provisions of section 10e(4)(a)(i)                     

                                                                                

15  subsection (4)(a)(i) except that the costs of services provided             

                                                                                

16  by water vehicle shall not be eligible for reimbursement.