By: Allen, Riddle (Senate Sponsor - Ellis) H.B. No. 1545
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 29, 2013;
  April 30, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Transportation; May 14, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0;
  May 14, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1545 By:  Ellis
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to a study regarding the use of certain public
  transportation services by persons with disabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  (a)  In this Act, "providers" and "services" have
  the meanings assigned by Section 461.009, Transportation Code.
         (b)  The Governor's Committee on People with Disabilities,
  in coordination with providers located in rural and urban areas of
  the state, and paratransit advocacy groups, shall conduct a study
  to determine:
               (1)  the feasibility of standardizing the process of
  certifying an individual's eligibility for services in the state;
  and
               (2)  whether the current 21-day provision of services
  by a provider is adequate to meet the needs of visitors with
  disabilities to locations served by the provider.
         (c)  Not later than January 1, 2015, the Governor's Committee
  on People with Disabilities shall submit a report on the findings of
  the study performed under this section to the governor, lieutenant
  governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and standing
  committees of the senate and house of representatives that have
  jurisdiction over issues related to transportation.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
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