Chapter 239-B: State Coordinating Council (scc) for Community Transportation in New Hampshire

There is hereby established a state coordinating council (SCC) for community transportation in New Hampshire.

In this chapter "community transportation" means services that address all transit needs of a community, including general and special populations, such as persons with disabilities and seniors.

I. The SCC shall consist of the following members:

(a) The commissioner of the department of health and human services, or designee.

(b) The commissioner of transportation, or designee.

(c) The commissioner of the department of education, or designee.

(d) The executive director of the governor's commission on disability, or designee.

(e) The chair of the New Hampshire Transit Association, or designee.

(f) A representative of a regional planning commission, appointed by the commissioner of transportation for a term of 3 years.

(g) A representative of a philanthropic organization, such as the Endowment For Health or the United Way, appointed by the commissioner of the department of health and human services for a term of 3 years.

(h) Eight representatives from transportation providers, the business community, and statewide organizations, such as Granite State Independent Living, AARP, Easter Seals, and the university of New Hampshire Institute on Disability, appointed by the governor and council for a term of 3 years.

II. Members of the SCC shall receive no compensation through the SCC when attending to the duties of the SCC.

III. The first meeting of the SCC shall be held within 45 days of the effective date of this section. The members of the SCC shall annually elect a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among the members. The SCC shall meet on a quarterly basis, or as needed. Eight members of the SCC shall constitute a quorum.

The SCC shall:

I. Develop, implement, and provide guidance for the coordination of community transportation options within New Hampshire so that the general public, in particular citizens in need of access to essential services and activities, can access local and regional transportation services and municipalities, human service agencies, and other organizations can purchase shared ride coordinated transportation services for their citizens, clients, and customers.

II. Set statewide coordination policies for community transportation, establish community transportation regions, encourage the development of regional coordination councils, assist other regional efforts as needed, and monitor the results of statewide coordination.

III. Approve the formation of regional coordination councils and the selection of regional transportation coordinators, according to such criteria and guidelines as the SCC may establish.

IV. Solicit and accept donations for funding to implement and sustain community transportation.

There are hereby established regional coordination councils (RCC), representing regions to be defined by the SCC. The designation as an RCC must be approved by the SCC. Members of an RCC shall be immune from liability in executing the duties of the council. The duties of an RCC shall be to:

I. Facilitate the implementation of coordinated community transportation in their region.

II. Encourage the development of improved and expanded regional community transportation services.

III. Advise the SCC on the status of community transportation in their region.

The SCC shall annually report its findings, progress, and any recommendations for proposed legislation to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives, and the president of the senate by November 1 of each year. The report shall cover the state fiscal year ending June 30 of the same year.