AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Under current law, public transportation providers that offer transportation services for people with disabilities do not have a uniform system of procedures and have varying eligibility requirements. This hinders the ability of people with disabilities to move freely across the state. H.B. 1545 allows eligible residents to obtain services from any provider in the state upon certification of eligibility by the service provider in the area in which they reside.

 

H.B. 1545 requires that a public transportation provider of services for people with disabilities to provide written certification of an individual who is eligible to use the provider’s services upon request. Once an individual has obtained proof of certification, H.B. 1545 entitles the individual to obtain services from any such provider in Texas for no more than 60 days during a 365-day period beginning with the individual's first use of a provider's service outside of the service area in which the individual resides.

 

H.B. 1545 amends current law relating to the eligibility of persons with disabilities to use certain public transportation services.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 461.009, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c), as follows:

 

(c)  Requires a public transportation provider that provides public transportation services designed for people with disabilities who are unable to use the provider’s bus or rail services (provider), at the request of an individual who resides in a provider's service area and is eligible to use the provider's services, to provide written certification that the individual is eligible to use the provider's services.  Provides that proof of certification made under this subsection entitles the individual to obtain services from any provider in the state for not more than 60 days during a 365-day period that begins with the individual's first use of a provider's service outside of the service area in which the individual resides.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2013.