SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO. 14

INTRODUCED BY ASSEMBLY MEMBER ROTH

(COAUTHOR:  SENATOR LEVY)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

AP 14:  PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM DATABASE.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, A SPECIFIED PORTION OF THE FUNDS IN THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ACCOUNT IN THE STATE TRANSPORTATION FUND ARE TO BE APPROPRIATED TO THE CONTROLLER FOR ALLOCATION TO TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AGENCIES AND COUNTY TRANSPORTATION COMMISSIONS FOR ALLOCATION TO THE TRANSIT OPERATORS IN THE AREA OF THE AGENCY'S OR COMMISSION'S JURISDICTION, IN ADDITION, LOCAL TRANSPORTATION FUNDS ARE USED TO DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD DEVELOP A STATEWIDE DATABASE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS IN THE STATE.

VOTE:  MAJORITY.

AP 14:  RELATING TO TRANSIT SYSTEM DATABASE

WHEREAS, TRANSPORTATION IS NEEDED TO ACCOMPLISH THE ACTIVITIES THAT SUPPORT DAILY LIFE, AND PERSONS WITHOUT ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION, OR WHO ARE UNABLE TO ARRANGE TRANSPORTATION, ARE OFTEN FORCED TO NO LONGER LIVE ON THEIR OWN; AND

WHEREAS, DEVELOPMENT OF TRANSIT SYSTEMS WILL ALLOW PEOPLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND CONTINUE TO HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, MEDICAL CARE, SPIRITUAL COMFORT, ENTERTAINMENT, AND OTHER THINGS WHICH MAKE LIFE ENJOYABLE; AND

WHEREAS, THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AVAILABLE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE, EACH DEVELOPING WITHOUT PRIOR INPUT FROM EXISTING SYSTEMS; AND

WHEREAS, MANY RESIDENTS OF CALIFORNIA WANT PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, BUT SUCH TRANSPORTATION IS OFTEN NOT AVAILABLE, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL AREAS; AND

WHEREAS, THE CREATION OF A COMMON STATEWIDE DATABASE WOULD PERMIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF COMPARABLE SYSTEMS AND ALLOW ACCESS TO INFORMATION AT A MINIMAL COST; AND

WHEREAS, SUCH A DATABASE WOULD ALSO BE AVAILABLE TO ENTITIES OUTSIDE OF THE STATE FOR THE COST OF GENERATING THE INFORMATION FOR THEM; AND

WHEREAS, OTHER STATES HAVE DEVELOPED EFFECTIVE TRANSIT SYSTEMS INDEPENDENT OF GOVERNMENT FUNDS, RELYING INSTEAD ON VOLUNTEER STAFF, AS WELL AS FUNDS FROM THE USERS OF THE SYSTEM AND THE BUSINESSES THAT BENEFIT FROM THE EXISTENCE OF THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM; AND

WHEREAS, ONE OR MORE NONPROFIT AGENCIES MUST BE ESTABLISHED TO CONDUCT THE BUSINESS OF PROVIDING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION AND OTHER SERVICES SUCH AS GATEKEEPER AID FOR THE ELDERLY, THE HANDICAPPED AND OTHERS WHO CANNOT DRIVE, AND IT IS NECESSARY THAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA ENACT LAWS TO ENCOURAGE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS SYSTEM AND DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN THE DATABASE WHICH WILL ENABLE THE PROPER FUNCTIONING OF THIS SYSTEM; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY AND THE SENIOR SENATE, JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS REGULAR 2002 SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT A DATABASE BE CREATED, MAINTAINED, AND OPERATED BY THE BUSINESS, TRANSPORTATION AND HOUSING AGENCY SO THAT ANYONE IN CALIFORNIA DESIRING TO DEVELOP PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS AND GATEKEEPER SERVICES WILL HAVE THE DATA PERTAINING TO HOW SUCH A SYSTEM CAN BE ESTABLISHED AND OPERATED ECONOMICALLY AND PROFITABLY WITHOUT RESORT TO SIGNIFICANT TAX BASED SUPPORT; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD ADDRESS THE CONCERNS SET FORTH IN THIS MEASURE; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A COPY OF THIS MEASURE BE TRANSMITTED TO THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE, AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

RN0214649

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