S.B. 300

127th General Assembly

(As Introduced)

 

Sens.      Cafaro, Mason, Morano, R. Miller, D. Miller, Kearney, Boccieri, Roberts, Smith, Sawyer, Stivers

BILL SUMMARY

·        Creates the Public Transit Funding Task Force to study Ohio's public transportation funding and issue a report.

CONTENT AND OPERATION

The bill creates the Public Transit Funding Task Force, which is required to review public transportation funding in Ohio with the goal of improving the efficiency and productivity of transportation services in Ohio through the coordination of transportation services and funding for the long-term stability of Ohio's public transportation system.  The Task Force is required to study the adequacy of Ohio's public transportation funding and the need for a stable, dedicated source of funding for public transportation in Ohio and to evaluate the state funds being expended by state agencies that provide transportation services.

The bill requires the Task Force to issue a report of its findings to the General Assembly and the Governor on June 30, 2008 (see COMMENT).  Upon issuing its report, the Task Force ceases to exist.

The Task Force consists of the following members:

(1)  Three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, not more than two of whom may be from the same political party as the Speaker;

(2)  Three members of the Senate appointed by the President of the Senate, not more than two of whom may be from the same political party as the President;

(3)  The Director of Transportation or the Director's designee;

(4)  The Director of Budget and Management or the Director's designee;

(5)  The Director of Job and Family Services or the Director's designee;

(6)  The person appointed by the Director of Job and Family Services to serve as the state's Medicaid Director, or that person's designee;

(7)  The Director of Aging or the Director's designee;

(8)  The Director of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities or the Director's designee;

(9)  One person appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives to represent the general public;

(10)  One person appointed by the President of the Senate to represent the general public;

(11)  The President of the Ohio Chamber of Commerce or the President's designee;

(12)  A representative of an older adults advocacy group designated by the Director of Aging;

(13)  A representative of a disability advocacy group designated by the Director of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities;

(14)  Three members jointly appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the President of the Senate from lists of individuals recommended by the Ohio Public Transit Association, one of whom must represent a large urban public transit system, one of whom must represent a small urban public transit system, and one of whom must represent a rural public transit system.  The Ohio Public Transit Association must include three public transit professionals from each of those three types of public transit systems in its recommendations.

From their appointees, the Speaker and the President must designate a representative and a senator, respectively, to serve as co-chairpersons of the Task Force.  The co-chairpersons must call the first meeting of the Task Force within 30 days after the last member is appointed. The bill directs the Legislative Service Commission to provide staff services for the Task Force.

COMMENT

The date of the Task Force report may need adjustment to accommodate the likely effective date of the bill.

HISTORY

ACTION

DATE

 

 

Introduced

03-04-08

 

 

 

s0300-i-127.doc/kl