SENIOR SENATE PROPOSAL NO. 9

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR SENATOR MANNIA

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST

SP 9: TRANSPORTATION.

EXISTING LAW PROVIDES THAT THE LEGISLATURE FINDS AND DECLARES THAT ELDERLY PERSONS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES HAVE THE SAME RIGHTS AS OTHERS TO UTILIZE MASS TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES AND SERVICES, AND THAT SPECIFIED FUNDING IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING SPECIAL TRANSPORTATION FOR ELDERLY PERSONS AND PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN ALL AREAS OF THE STATE.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD ESTABLISH, AS SPECIFIED, A LOW-COST CONTINUUM OF COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO INCREASE SENIORS' KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION, AND DEVELOP AWARENESS OF EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WITHIN COMMUNITIES.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

SP 9: RELATING TO TRANSPORTATION

WHEREAS, IF TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS ARE UNAVAILABLE OR INACCESSIBLE, SENIORS' INDEPENDENCE IN THE COMMUNITY WILL DECREASE, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN SENIORS' INSTITUTIONALIZATION.  INSTITUTIONALIZATION NOT ONLY SEVERELY LIMITS SENIORS' QUALITY OF LIFE, BUT ALSO IS A HUGE COST TO THE GOVERNMENT; AND

WHEREAS, BY CREATING AND IMPROVING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS, MORE SENIORS WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL OPTIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL WITHIN AND AROUND THEIR COMMUNITIES, THEREBY MAINTAINING THEIR INDEPENDENCE AND QUALITY OF LIFE.  CURRENTLY, ONLY 3 PERCENT OF SURVEYED SENIORS IN SAN MATEO COUNTY REGULARLY USE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION; AND

WHEREAS, LOW DENSITIES AND LONG DISTANCES, ESPECIALLY IN NONMETROPOLITAN AREAS WHERE 23 PERCENT OP THOSE PEOPLE OVER 60 YEARS OLD LIVE, PRESENT PARTICULAR CHALLENGES TO SENIORS WHO CANNOT REACH ESSENTIAL SERVICES AND FACE ISOLATION FROM THEIR COMMUNITIES; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT

RESOLVED, BY THE SENIOR SENATE AND THE SENIOR ASSEMBLY JOINTLY, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AT ITS 2004 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT A LOW-COST CONTINUUM OF COORDINATED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES, WHICH INCLUDE A RICH VARIETY OF MOBILITY OPTIONS, CITY OR SENIOR CENTER SHUTTLES, FEEDER SERVICES IN LESS POPULATED AREAS, AND VOLUNTEER DRIVERS, BE ESTABLISHED; AMD BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT A STRATEGY TO INCREASE SENIORS' KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION BE DEVELOPED BY PILOTING AND TARGETING PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION DEMONSTRATIONS, INCLUDING HOW TO USE THE BUS, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE AARP DRIVER SAFETY MENTOR PROGRAM AND OTHER EXISTING PROGRAMS AT SENIOR CENTERS AND LOCAL AREA AGENCIES ON AGING; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT AN AWARENESS OF EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SERVICES WITHIN COMMUNITIES BE DEVELOPED BY ENHANCED MARKETING AND PUBLIC AWARENESS AND TRAINING CAMPAIGNS, THE PROVISION OF SHORT TERM FREE-RIDE TICKETS FROM PUBLIC TRANSIT AGENCIES, INCREASED USE OF TRAVEL TRAINING, INCLUDING RAIL SERVICE AND INTER AND INTRA COUNTY TRAVEL, AND DEVELOPMENT OF A MENTOR PROGRAM FOR NEW USERS OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION; AND BE IT FURTHER

RESOLVED, THAT THE SENIOR LEGISLATURE OF THE  STATE OF CALIFORNIA RESPECTFULLY MEMORIALIZES THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA TO ENACT APPROPRIATE LEGISLATION THAT 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.