§ 73-d. Interagency coordinating committee on rural public transportation. 1. There is hereby created a committee to be known as the "interagency coordinating committee on rural public transportation", to be comprised of nineteen members. The commissioner or his or her designee shall serve as chairperson. Twelve of such members shall be the following or his or her duly designated representative: the director of the office for the aging; the commissioner of education; the commissioner of labor; the commissioner of health; the commissioner of the office of mental health; the commissioner of the office of addiction services and supports; the commissioner of the office for people with developmental disabilities; the commissioner of the office for temporary and disability assistance; the executive director of the New York state justice center for the protection of people with special needs; secretary of state; the commissioner of agriculture and markets and the commissioner of the office of children and family services. Six additional members, five of whom shall be transportation providers or consumers representing rural counties and one of whom shall be a representative of a labor union affiliated with rural public transportation systems receiving mass transportation operating assistance pursuant to section eighteen-b of this chapter, shall be appointed to serve a term of three years as follows: two by the temporary president of the senate, two by the speaker of the assembly, one by the minority leader of the senate, and one by the minority leader of the assembly. Efforts shall be made to provide a broad representation of consumers and providers of transportation services in rural counties when making such appointments. Members of the committee shall receive no salary. Any vacancies on the committee shall be filled in the manner provided for in the initial appointment. Beginning January first, two thousand twenty-two, the committee shall meet at least once every three months and, beginning January first, two thousand twenty-four, the committee shall meet at least once every four months.

The commissioner shall cause the department to provide staff assistance necessary for the efficient and effective operation of the committee.

2. The committee shall:

a. identify programs and the annual amounts and sources of funds from such programs that are eligible to be used to support a coordinated public transportation service, and the annual amounts and sources of such funds that are actually used for client transportation or for transportation of persons in connection with agency-affiliated programs or services; such data shall be provided on a county basis;

b. identify restrictions on existing programs that inhibit funds from such programs being used to pay for a coordinated public transportation service in rural counties;

c. recommend changes in state or local laws or regulations that would improve the coordination of funds, facilities, vehicles or equipment and other resources used for transportation at the local level;

d. upon request, compile and forward to the commissioner any data or other information required by this section;

e. conduct a study, in consultation with the department, of the availability of public transportation services in rural counties. Such study shall identify, examine and review the following: the efficiency, effectiveness, quality and availability of public transportation services in rural counties; the current and projected operating and capital costs, revenues, subsidies, and ridership and service area data of each public transportation system operating within rural counties; the barriers and financial challenges to providing and operating public transportation services in rural counties; and the demographics of the populations which have, and those which lack, access to public transportation services in rural counties. Such study shall include findings and recommendations to expand the level and availability of public transportation services in rural counties. On or before January first, two thousand twenty-three, the committee shall deliver such study to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the chairs of the senate and assembly transportation committees; and

f. beginning June first, two thousand twenty-four and on the same date in each succeeding year, submit an annual report to the governor, the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, and the chairs of the senate and assembly transportation committees on the level and availability of public transportation services in rural counties.