Section 73-D. Interagency coordinating committee on rural public transportation

1. There is hereby created a committee to  be  known  as
  the "interagency coordinating committee on rural public transportation",
  to  be  comprised  of  nineteen  members. The commissioner or his or her
  designee shall serve as chairperson. Twelve of such members shall be the
  following or his or her duly designated representative: the director  of
  the   office   for   the  aging;  the  commissioner  of  education;  the
  commissioner of labor; the commissioner of health; the  commissioner  of
  the  office  of  mental health; the commissioner of the office of mental
  retardation and developmental disabilities; the commissioner  of  social
  services;   state   advocate  for  the  disabled;  secretary  of  state;
  commissioner of agriculture and markets; the director of the  office  of
  rural affairs and the director of the division for youth. Six additional
  members,  all  of  whom  shall  be transportation providers or consumers
  representing rural counties shall be appointed to serve a term of  three
  years as follows: two by the president pro-tempore of the senate, two by
  the  speaker  of the assembly, one by the minority leader of the senate,
  and one by the minority leader of the assembly. Efforts shall be made to
  provide  a  broad  representation  of   consumers   and   providers   of
  transportation services in rural counties when making such appointments.
  Members of the committee shall receive no salary.
    The   commissioner   shall  cause  the  department  to  provide  staff
  assistance necessary for the efficient and effective  operation  of  the
  committee.
    2. The committee shall:
    identify  programs  and  the  annual amounts and sources of funds from
  such programs that are eligible to be  used  to  support  a  coordinated
  public  transportation  service,  and  the annual amounts and sources of
  such funds that are actually  used  for  client  transportation  or  for
  transportation  of persons in connection with agency-affiliated programs
  or services; such data shall be provided on a county basis;
    b. identify restrictions on existing programs that inhibit funds  from
  such  programs being used to pay for a coordinated public transportation
  service in rural counties;
    c. recommend changes in state or local laws or regulations that  would
  improve the coordination of funds, facilities, vehicles or equipment and
  other resources used for transportation at the local level;
    d.  upon  request, compile and forward to the commissioner any data or
  other information required by this section.