Today's Law As Amended


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AB-970 California Department of Aging: grants: transportation.(2019-2020)



As Amends the Law Today


SECTION 1.

 Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 9580) is added to Division 8.5 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, to read:

CHAPTER  8.5. Transportation for Medical Services
9580.
 (a) For purposes of this section, “near-zero-emission vehicle” and “zero-emission vehicle” have the same meanings as those terms are defined in Section 44258 of the Health and Safety Code.
(b) Grant awards for projects to provide transportation to and from nonemergency medical services for older individuals, as defined in Section 9018, and persons with disabilities, as defined in Section 9653, shall be available under the State Air Resources Board’s Clean Mobility Options program for disadvantaged communities and low-income communities for the purpose of reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
(c) Eligible applicants who may apply for grants pursuant to this section shall include, but not be limited to, all of the following:
(1) Local or regional transportation agencies that provide transportation services to seniors and persons with disabilities.
(2) Area agencies on aging.
(3) Counties.
(4) Public transit operators.
(d) An applicant that has been awarded a grant shall use the funds to provide transportation services as described in subdivision (e).
(e) (1) Eligible transportation includes transportation to and from nonemergency medical services for older individuals and persons with disabilities, as described in subdivision (b).
(2) Eligible transportation shall be made available using the purchase, lease, operation, or maintenance of zero-emission vehicles with a capacity for 7 to 15 passengers, inclusive. Near-zero-emission vehicles shall be eligible if zero-emission options are not available.
(f) An applicant that has been awarded a grant may use grant moneys to cover reasonable administrative costs incurred by the applicant under this section.
9581.
 Moneys from the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, created pursuant to Section 16428.8 of the Government Code may be allocated, upon appropriation by the Legislature, to fund the grant program described in Section 9580.
SEC. 2.
 (a) On or before July 1, 2020, the California Department of Aging shall hold a public workshop devoted to the topic of overcoming barriers to providing transportation to and from nonemergency medical services for older individuals and persons with disabilities. The workshop shall include, at a minimum, an identification of existing funding sources for these transportation purposes, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
(1) A presentation from the State Air Resources Board on existing state clean transportation incentive programs that could fund these transportation purposes.
(2) A presentation from public transit agencies on all existing funding options available to them that could fund these transportation purposes.
(3) A discussion of strategies and options that could be employed to better utilize existing funding sources to fund these transportation purposes.
(b) The results of the workshop held pursuant to subdivision (a) may be considered for inclusion in the Master Plan for Aging established pursuant to Executive Order N-14-19.
(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2021, and as of that date is repealed.