Section 73-E. Rural public transportation coordination assistance program

1. Program established. There  is  hereby  established  a  rural  public
  transportation coordination assistance program which shall:
    a.  enhance  the  access  of  people in rural counties to health care,
  shopping, education, employment, public services and recreation services
  and opportunities;
    b. assist in the establishment, maintenance, development,  improvement
  and use of public transportation services in rural counties;
    c.  encourage  and facilitate the most efficient and economical use of
  all  federal,  state  and  local  funds  used   to   provide   passenger
  transportation   in  rural  counties  through  the  establishment  of  a
  coordinated public transportation service in each county;  and  seek  to
  increase  the  productivity of existing programs used for transportation
  by increasing the hours of vehicle operation and by  expanding  services
  and  service  eligibility  in  such manner as to transport more persons,
  especially those in need of transportation  but  who  do  not  typically
  receive transportation services;
    d.  provide for the participation of public and private for profit and
  not-for-profit transportation providers, school districts and volunteers
  in coordinated public transportation services in rural counties  to  the
  maximum extent feasible.
    2.   Eligible  expenses  and  services.    The  department  shall,  in
  consultation with the interagency coordinating committee on rural public
  transportation, define and determine the categories or types of expenses
  or services that will  be  eligible  for  financial  assistance.  Public
  transportation  services funded under this article should be designed to
  maximize usage by the  public,  including  transportation  disadvantaged
  persons.  Rail,  air, water, freight, emergency medical, charter or tour
  transportation services shall not be eligible for assistance provided by
  this article. No payment of  financial  assistance  under  this  section
  shall  be  made  for  any  expenses  incurred  by  a rural county or its
  subcontractors prior to the date it receives  written  notice  from  the
  commissioner that it shall be awarded a grant under this article.
    3.  Technical  assistance and transportation management services.  The
  department may, at  the  request  of  a  services  coordinator,  provide
  technical  transportation  assistance  to  said  coordinator to help the
  coordinator comply with program standards and guidelines issued  by  the
  commissioner.    Additionally,  the  department  may  arrange to sponsor
  training programs which will enable services coordinators to perform the
  duties required by this article.  The  department  may  furnish  to  and
  periodically  update  for  services coordinators information relating to
  existing rural transportation services in the  state.  Such  information
  may include but not be limited to:
    a.  a  brief  description  of  the  nature and scope of existing rural
  public transportation services, including a  listing  of  transportation
  providers and services coordinators;
    b.   the   identification   of  unique  operating  circumstances,  and
  innovative management or transportation services delivery techniques.
    4. Transportation services coordination between counties and  regions.
  The  department  may  identify  and  attempt  to  coordinate  the use of
  transportation services outside of individual rural counties and between
  counties in order to enable persons to be transported outside  a  county
  and  or outside a region and the department may identify and promote the
  intercounty use of transportation facilities.
    5. Coordination of federal, state, local and private aid; report.  The
  department may compile and maintain current information on available and
  pending  federal,  state,  local  and  private aid affecting coordinated
  public transportation services in rural counties.   The  department  may

  request and shall be entitled to receive information from state or local
  agencies  regarding  the amount of federal, state and local aid received
  by public and private nonprofit organizations providing  or  contracting
  for  transportation  services  and  the  purpose  for  which  the aid is
  received. The commissioner may, in  consultation  with  the  interagency
  coordinating committee on rural public transportation, use the following
  criteria  to recommend policies to the governor and the legislature that
  would or could promote compliance with the purposes of this subdivision:
    a. elimination of duplicative and  inefficient  administrative  costs,
  policies and management;
    b.  greater  utilization  of  resources  for  providing  effective and
  efficient transportation services;
    c. elimination of duplicative and inefficient transportation services;
    d. development of transportation services which meet the needs of  the
  general   public   and   insure   services  adequate  to  the  needs  of
  transportation disadvantaged persons;
    e.  protection  of   the   rights   of   privately   operated   public
  transportation providers;
    f.  coordination  of  transportation services providers, in order that
  individual providers, when participating  within  a  coordinated  public
  transportation   services   program,  together  provide  an  integrated,
  comprehensive service;
    g. management of equipment and facilities purchased with public  funds
  in  order  that  efficient  and  routine  maintenance and replacement is
  accomplished.