SENIOR ASSEMBLY PROPOSAL NO.27

INTRODUCED BY SENIOR ASSEMBLY MEMBER GERBRACHT

(COAUTHOR: SENIOR SENATOR WRIGHT)

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AP 27: PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: AMTRAK FEEDER BUSES.

UNDER EXISTING LAW, THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION IS AUTHORIZED TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR AMTRAK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH A MOTOR CARRIER FOR FEEDER BUS SERVICE, IF, AMONG OTHER THINGS, THE MOTOR CARRIER IS NOT A PUBLIC RECIPIENT OF GOVERNMENTAL ASSISTANCE, AS DEFINED IN FEDERAL LAW, EXCEPT AS SPECIFIED, AND THE SERVICE IS PROVIDED ONLY TO PASSENGERS CONNECTING TO OR FROM A RAIL SERVICE. EXISTING LAW ALSO AUTHORIZES THE DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR AMTRAK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH A MOTOR CARRIER FOR FEEDER BUS SERVICE IF THE BUSES ARE OPERATED BY THE MOTOR CARRIER AS PART OF A REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING CONSECUTIVELY WITHOUT AN AMTRAK CONTRACT FOR 12 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH AMTRAK.

THIS MEASURE WOULD MEMORIALIZE THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR TO ENACT LEGISLATION THAT WOULD AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR AMTRAK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH A MOTOR CARRIER FOR FEEDER BUS SERVICE TO CARRY BOTH PASSENGERS CONNECTING TO OR FROM A RAIL SERVICE AND PASSENGERS USING ONLY THE BUS SERVICE AND ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE BUSES ARE OPERATED BY THE MOTOR CARRIER AS PART OF A REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING CONSECUTIVELY WITHOUT AN AMTRAK CONTRACT FOR 12 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH AMTRAK.

VOTE: MAJORITY.

AP 27: RELATING TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION

WHEREAS, AMTRAK FEEDER BUS ROUTES SERVE AREAS THAT LACK OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION ON ALL OR PART OF THE FEEDER BUS ROUTES; AND

WHEREAS, EXISTING LAW REQUIRES A MOTOR CARRIER OPERATING FEEDER BUS SERVICES FOR AMTRAK TO BE IN CONTINUOUS SERVICE FOR 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH AMTRAK AND TO PROVIDE SERVICES ONLY TO PASSENGERS CONNECTING TO OR FROM A RAIL SERVICE, AND, IN SOME CASES, THESE RESTRICTIONS DENY TRANSPORTATION SERVICES TO POTENTIAL PASSENGERS; AND

WHEREAS, ALLOWING FEEDER BUSES TO CARRY PASSENGERS RIDING THE BUS FOR LOCAL TRAVEL WITHOUT A TRAIN SEGMENT ON A “SEAT AVAILABLE” BASIS WOULD PROVIDE ACCESS TO PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN AREAS THAT LACK OTHER PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION; AND

WHEREAS, THE COMMUNITIES OF CALIFORNIA, ESPECIALLY RURAL AND REMOTE COMMUNITIES, SHOULD BE GIVEN EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO ALL PUBLICLY-FUNDED TRANSPORTATION SERVICES; 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 2006 REGULAR SESSION, A MAJORITY OF THE MEMBERS VOTING THEREFOR, HEREBY PROPOSES THAT THE LEGISLATURE AUTHORIZE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO PROVIDE FUNDING FOR AMTRAK FOR THE PURPOSE OF ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH A MOTOR CARRIER FOR FEEDER BUS SERVICE TO CARRY BOTH PASSENGERS CONNEC1ING TO OR FROM A RAIL SERVICE AND PASSENGERS USING ONLY THE BUS SERVICE AND ELIMINATE THE REQUIREMENT THAT THE BUSES ARE OPERATED BY THE MOTOR CARRIER AS PART OF A REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE THAT HAS BEEN OPERATING CONSECUTIVELY WITHOUT AN AMTRAK CONTRACT FOR 12 MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO ENTERING INTO A CONTRACT WITH AMTRAK; 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.

RN20061898107

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