Budget Amendment ID: FY2022-S3-9-R1

Redraft TRP 9

Human Services Transportation

Ms. Moran, Messrs. Hinds, Tarr and Cyr moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting, after section 46, the following section:-

"SECTION 46A. (a) There shall be a task force on non-emergency human services transportation to explore ways to better collaborate, improve service and achieve operational and cost efficiencies through the brokerage system and provide the highest quality outcomes for consumers utilizing these services.

(b) The task force shall consist of: the director of the human service transportation office or a designee, who shall serve as chair; 1 member appointed by the senate president; 1 member appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the house of representatives; the secretary of transportation or a designee; 3 members appointed by the regional transit authority administrators, all of whom shall be regional transit authority administrators who administered human services transportation in fiscal year 2021; 1 member appointed by the governor who shall be an expert in human services transportation planning; 1 members appointed by the Association of Developmental Disability Providers; and the 6 members serving consumers of the transportation program with disabilities, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Boston Center for Independent Living, Inc., 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Massachusetts statewide independent living council, 2 of whom shall be appointed by The Arc of Massachusetts, 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Disability Law Center, Inc. and 1 of whom shall be appointed by the Massachusetts developmental disabilities council.

(c) The task force shall study and make recommendations and propose guidelines on non-emergency human services transportation brokerage services with the goal of examining and better understanding the human services transportation brokerage program and identifying opportunities for improved service and productivity that provide a strong safety net for vulnerable populations in both rural and urban areas. The study shall include, but not be limited to, an analysis of: (i) consumers’ use of existing routes when available; (ii) the provision of bus passes to eligible consumers; and (iii) the importance of having strong, transparent and consistent cost allocation systems in place to ensure that the capital and operating costs for both the brokerage and public transit systems are assigned to the appropriate cost center for reimbursement.

The recommendations and guidelines shall be used by the office of human services transportation to improve non-emergency human services transportation brokerage services.

(d) The task force shall submit a report of its study and recommendations  to the clerks of the senate and house of representatives, the joint committee on transportation, the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, the senate and house committees on ways and means, the secretary of health and human services and the secretary of transportation not later than December 1, 2022; provided, however, that the task force may make a draft report available to the public for comment before filing its final version.