[First Reprint]
SENATE, No. 225
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION
By Senator SACCO
An Act concerning senior citizens and handicapped citizens and amending P.L.1973, c.126.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1973, c.126 (C.27:1A-64) is amended to read as follows:
1. The Legislature hereby finds and declares that:
a. Many senior citizens and handicapped citizens of this State must depend on public transportation facilities to obtain the necessities of life, such as food, clothing and medical services, and to visit their families and friends; ready access to transportation services is thus essential to their health, safety and welfare.
b. Many senior citizens and handicapped citizens live on fixed or limited incomes, and the high cost of transportation services thus makes it difficult for them to take advantage of such services 1,particularly those whose income level is low enough to meet the eligibility requirements of the "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" program, P.L.1975, c.194 (C.30:4D-20 et seq.), and who may not be able to schedule essential appointments, such as medical treatment, during offpeak travel times.1
c. [The need for transportation services for senior citizens and handicapped citizens can largely be satisfied by providing reduced fare service during off-peak times, when many public transportation services are operating below capacity.](Deleted by amendment, P.L....., c....)
d. [A reduced fare program for senior citizens and handicapped citizens will increase riding during off-peak times, thus helping to insure the continued viability of regular public transportation service during those hours.](Deleted by amendment, P.L....., c.....)
e. It is therefore a valid public purpose, and in the best interest of all the people of this State, to provide for reduced bus and rail fares for senior citizens and handicapped citizens at State expense 1during offpeak times and at all times for those meeting the eligibility requirements of the "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" program1.
(cf: P.L.1975, c.271, s.1)
2. Section 3 of P.L.1973, c.126 (C.27:1A-66) is amended to read as follows:
3. The Commissioner of Transportation is hereby authorized and directed to establish and implement within 120 days of the effective date of [this amendatory act] P.L....., c..... (C....) (now pending before the Legislature as this bill) a program to provide motor bus and rail passenger service for senior citizens and handicapped citizens [during offpeak times] at all times bus or rail service is offered, in the case of senior citizens and handicapped citizens who meet the eligibility requirements of the "Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled" program, P.L.1975, c.194 (C.30:4D-20 et seq.), and during offpeak times for other senior citizens and handicapped citizens, on regular routes of carriers within the State or between points in this State and points in adjacent states at one-half of the regular adult rates of fare 1[as set forth in the tariffs of carriers filed with the Interstate Commerce Commission, Board of Public [Utility Commissioners] Utilities or the [Commuter Operating Agency] Department of Transportation]1. The commissioner may take such action as he deems necessary to implement this program, including contracts with carriers for the provision of transportation services under this program, purchase of regular tickets and resale to eligible senior citizens and handicapped citizens at one-half the ordinary fare, or direct payments to carriers for services provided to senior citizens and handicapped citizens under this program. Where carriers may be entitled to receive or do receive funds from sources other than the [New Jersey] Department of Transportation for provision of service to senior citizens and handicapped citizens, reimbursement payments which may be made by the [New Jersey] Department of Transportation to the carriers may be adjusted accordingly.
(cf: P.L.1975, c.271, s.3)
3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Provides certain senior citizens and handicapped citizens with around-the-clock reduced bus and rail fares.