SENATE HEALTH, HUMAN SERVICES AND SENIOR CITIZENS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

ASSEMBLY, No. 5336

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  DECEMBER 6, 2021

      The Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 5336 (1R).

      This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner) to develop a payment program that provides persons with autism spectrum disorder or intellectual and development disabilities individual travel budgets.  The program is to permit individuals to use the travel budget to pay for travel on the New Jersey Transit Corporation regular route bus, rail, and light rail network, pay-per-ride trips provided through county transportation agencies, and transportation network company and taxi services with drivers that have completed Passenger Assistance, Safety, and Sensitivity (PASS) training.

      The bill also requires the commissioner to develop rules and regulations that encourage the utilization of county transportation agency services for travel to and from day programs and employment sites, and for the department to coordinate with county transportation agencies to establish service to day programs and employment sites that are not currently served by county transportation agencies.

      As reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 5336 (1R) is identical to Senate Bill No. 3441 which was also reported by the committee on this date, with amendments.