SECTION 1. Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, for the purposes of this act, the following terms will have these meanings:
(a) "Patient" shall mean any person receiving medical care from a Veterans' Administration Hospital, Outpatient Clinic, or Vet Center.
(b) "Caregiver" shall mean a family member, legal guardian, personal care attendant or other person approved by the Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority accompanying a patient to a medical appointment.
SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, the Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority created under Section 3 of Chapter 161B may not charge a fare to a patient or their caregiver using public transportation services to travel to or return from a medical appointment at a Veterans' Administration Hospital, Outpatient Clinic, or Vet Center within the cities of Chicopee, Holyoke, Northampton, Springfield, Westfield, and the towns of Agawam, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Hadley, Longmeadow, Ludlow, South Hadley, West Springfield, Wilbraham and Amherst.
SECTION 3. The Pioneer Valley Transportation Authority will adopt regulations and procedures to carry out section two within 60 days of passage.
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