BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2651

By: Allen

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, public providers of transportation services designed for people with disabilities may require individuals who reside outside of the provider's service area but are visiting in the provider's service area to submit certain documents before services can be rendered.  Concerned parties report that, because there is little uniformity in processing such documents, visitors may have to wait days or weeks to obtain access to such transportation services.  This can hinder a visiting person's ability to move freely in the state.  C.S.H.B. 2651 seeks to address this issue by requiring public providers of transportation services designed for people with disabilities to determine a visitor's eligibility to use those services within a specified period.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2651 amends the Transportation Code to require a provider of public transportation services designed for people with disabilities who are unable to use the provider's bus or rail services, not later than two business days after the date the individual gives the provider the appropriate notice and submits any required documentation, to determine if an individual who resides outside of the provider's service area and who seeks to use the provider's services while visiting the provider's service area is eligible to use the services.  The bill defines "provider" and "services."

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2651 differs from the original, in a provision requiring a provider of public transportation services designed for people with disabilities who are unable to use the provider's bus or rail services to determine if an individual who resides outside of the provider's service area and who seeks to use the provider's services while visiting the provider's service area is eligible to use the services, by requiring the provider to make that determination not later than two business days after the date the individual gives the provider appropriate notice and submits the required documentation, whereas the original requires the determination to be made not later than 48 hours after the individual gives that notice and submits the documentation.