ASSEMBLY, No. 5341
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
219th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED JANUARY 27, 2021
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman YVONNE LOPEZ
District 19 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman ERIC HOUGHTALING
District 11 (Monmouth)
Assemblyman DANIEL R. BENSON
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Senator PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Senator LINDA R. GREENSTEIN
District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen McKnight, Vainieri Huttle, Assemblyman Mejia, Assemblywomen B.DeCroce, Jimenez, Murphy, Assemblyman Johnson, Assemblywomen Downey, Speight, Swain, Assemblymen Tully, Armato and Mazzeo
SYNOPSIS
Updates 2-1-1 telephone system information to include all current modes of public transit and information on access and usage.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on March 15, 2021, with amendments.
An Act concerning the publication and availability of certain transportation information and supplementing Title 26 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. The New Jersey Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system is the national abbreviated dialing code for free access to health and human services information and referral;
b. New Jersey’s current Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system is out of date with regards to information relating to current available modes of public transit, that mainly directs people with disabilities to use private transit services that are expensive and not feasible for routine travel;
c. New Jersey’s Statewide 2-1-1 system should include all pertinent transportation information, especially information pertaining to Access Link, county paratransit, voluntary drivers, or agencies that cater to the transportation needs of persons with disabilities; and
d. The Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system needs to be updated to include all current modes of public transit available in New Jersey, as well as updated to provide information on how to access and use the various services.
2. The New Jersey Transit Corporation and the Department of Human Services shall partner with the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system and shall be responsible for providing the appropriate information to the system so that all relevant public transit providers and information are included and available. The Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system, in conjunction with the corporation and the department, shall review, revise, and maintain information concerning the current modes of available public transit, information on accessing various modes of public transit, and information on how to use the services. Information shall be collected on all transportation services, including fixed route transportation services, and transportation network company and taxi services, with particular attention to be paid to information concerning available paratransit services and private and volunteer services.
3. The information collected and maintained by the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the Department of Human Services, and the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system shall include: a listing of all current modes of public transit available in New Jersey; a detailed description of any and all prequalification or eligibility requirements necessary before use of the public transit mode may commence; information on how each New Jersey citizen may access all current and available modes of public transit; and information on how to use the services along with each public transit 1[providers] provider’s1 contact information.
4. The information described in section 3 of P.L. , c. (C. ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill) shall be:
a. prominently displayed on the websites of both the New Jersey Transit Corporation and the Department of Human Services;
b. made available to the public through the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system; and
c. made available using any other means that the Executive Director of the 1[corporation] New Jersey Transit Corporation1 or the Commissioner of Human Services deems appropriate.
In addition, to the extent practicable, the Statewide 2-1-1 telephone system, the corporation, and the department shall disseminate information concerning public transit availability and resources using social media and any other means deemed appropriate to reach as many individuals and population groups in the State as possible.
5. This act shall take effect on the first day of the third month after enactment.