SOCIAL SERVICES TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY COUNCIL

99238. Each transportation planning agency shall provide for the establishment of a social services transportation advisory council for each county, or counties operating under a joint powers agreement, which is not subject to the apportionment restriction established in Section 99232.

(a) The social services transportation advisory council shall consist of the following members:

(1) One representative of potential transit users who is 60 years of age or older.

(2) One representative of potential transit users who is handicapped.

(3) Two representatives of the local social service providers for seniors, including one representative of a social service transportation provider, if one exists.

(4) Two representatives of local social service providers for the handicapped, including one representative of a social service transportation provider, if one exists.

(5) One representative of a local social service provider for persons of limited means.

(6) Two representatives from the local consolidated transportation service agency, designated pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 15975 of the Government Code, if one exists, including one representative from an operator, if one exists.

(7) The transportation planning agency may appoint additional members in accordance with the procedure prescribed in subdivision (b).

(b) Members of the social services transportation advisory council shall be appointed by the transportation planning agency which shall recruit candidates for appointments from a broad representation of social service and transit providers representing the elderly, the handicapped, and persons of limited means. In appointing council members the transportation planning agency shall strive to attain geographic and minority representation among council members. Of the initial appointments to the council, one-third of them shall be for a one-year term, one-third shall be for a two-year term, and one-third shall be for a three-year term. Subsequent to the initial appointment, the term of appointment shall be for three years, which may be renewed for an additional three-year term. The transportation planning agency may, at its discretion, delegate its responsibilities for appointment pursuant to this subdivision to the board of supervisors.

(c) The social services transportation advisory council shall have the following responsibilities:

(1) Annually participate in the identification of transit needs in the jurisdiction, including unmet transit needs in the jurisdiction, including unmet transit needs that may exist within the jurisdiction of the council and that may be reasonable to meet by establishing or contracting for new public transportation or specialized transportation services or by expanding existing services.

(2) Annually review and recommend action by the transportation planning agency for the area within the jurisdiction of the council which finds by resolution, the (A) there are no unmet transit needs, (B) there are no unmet transit needs that are reasonable to meet, or (C) there are unmet transit needs, including needs that are reasonable to meet.

(3) Advise the transportation planning agency on any other major transit issues, including the coordination and consolidation of specialized transportation services.

(d) It is the intent of the Legislature that duplicative advisory councils shall not be established where transit advisory councils currently exist and that those existing advisory councils shall, instead, become part of the social services transportation advisory council and shall assume any responsibilities pursuant to this section.