SJR142

A Joint Resolution establishing the “Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizen Transportation Services Task Force.”

Be It Resolved by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is established the “Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizen Transportation Services Task Force.”

a. The task force shall consist of the following seven members:

(1) the Commissioner of Transportation, ex officio, or a designee;

(2) the Commissioner of Human Services, ex officio, or a designee;

(3) the Executive Director of the New Jersey Transit Corporation, ex officio, or a designee;

(4) a representative from the New Jersey Association of Counties, who shall be appointed by the Governor;

(5) a representative from an organization whose members advocate for persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities, who shall be appointed by the Governor;

(6) a representative from an organization whose members advocate for persons with physical disabilities, who shall be appointed by the President of the Senate; and

(7) a representative from an organization whose members advocate for senior citizens, who shall be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly.

b. The members of the task force shall serve without compensation, but may be reimbursed for necessary and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties to the extent that funds are made available for that purpose.

2. a. The task force shall organize within 30 days of the appointment of its members. The task force shall elect a chairperson from among its members and the chairperson shall select a secretary who need not be a member of the task force.

b. The task force may meet at the call of its chairperson at times and in the places determined by the chairperson, and may conduct public hearings at any place designated by the task force.

c. The task force may request at these hearings the appearance of officials of any State agency or political subdivision of the State and may solicit testimony from interested groups and the general public.

d. The task force shall be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission, or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes, and to employ stenographic and clerical assistance and incur traveling and other miscellaneous expenses necessary to perform its duties, within the limits of funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it for its purposes.

e. Four members of the task force shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

3. The task force shall examine ways to improve transportation services for persons with disabilities and senior citizens. The task force shall specifically consider the following issues and services:

a. transportation obstacles for persons with disabilities and senior citizens and solutions for mitigating those obstacles;

b. ways to improve infrastructure and technology and to coordinate and connect transportation systems to create seamless mobility;

c. ways to improve independent travel training;

d. ways to improve real-time transit technology in order to inform passengers of delays or cancellations; and

e. ways in which automated and connected vehicle technology can improve transportation accessibility for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

4. The task force shall prepare and submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including legislative proposals, to the Governor and, pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), the Legislature no later than 18 months after the organizational meeting of the task force. The task force shall expire upon submission of this report.

5. This joint resolution shall take effect immediately and shall expire when the report required by section 4 of this resolution is issued.

STATEMENT

This joint resolution establishes the “Persons with Disabilities and Senior Citizen Transportation Services Task Force” to study and make recommendations concerning ways to improve transportation services for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

Specifically, the task force is required to consider the following issues and services: 1) transportation obstacles for persons with disabilities and senior citizens and solutions for mitigating those obstacles; 2) ways to improve infrastructure and technology and to coordinate and connect transportation systems to create seamless mobility; 3) ways to improve independent travel training; 4) ways to improve real-time transit technology in order to inform passengers of delays or cancellations; and 5) ways in which automated and connected vehicle technology can improve transportation accessibility for persons with disabilities and senior citizens.

The task force is required to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including legislative proposals, to the Governor and the Legislature within 18 months of its organizational meeting. The commission will expire upon submission of the report.