(1) The Community Transportation Coordinator, shall ensure compliance with the minimum liability insurance requirement of $200,000 per person and $300,000 per incident, which are comparable to Florida Statutes § 768.28(5), limits, for all transportation services purchased or provided for the transportation disadvantaged through the Community Transportation Coordinator. The Community Transportation Coordinator will indemnify and hold harmless the Local, State, and Federal governments and their entities, departments, and the Commission from any liabilities arising out of or due to an accident or negligence on the part of the Community Transportation Coordinator and all Transportation Operators under contract to them.
    (2) Each Community Transportation Coordinator, and any Transportation Operators from whom transportation service is purchased with local government, state or federal transportation disadvantaged funds, shall ensure the purchaser that their operations and services are in compliance with the safety requirements as specified in section 341.061(2)(a), F.S. and chapter 14-90, F.A.C.
    (3) Each Community Transportation Coordinator, and any Transportation Operators from whom service is purchased or funded by local government, state or federal transportation disadvantaged funds shall assure the purchaser of their continuing compliance with the applicable state or federal laws relating to drug testing.
    (4) The Community Transportation Coordinator and any Transportation Operator from whom service is purchased or arranged by the Community Transportation Coordinator shall adhere to Commission approved standards. These standards include:
    (a) Drug and alcohol testing for safety sensitive job positions within the coordinated system regarding pre-employment, randomization, post-accident, and reasonable suspicion as required by the Federal Highway Administration and the Federal Transit Administration;
    (b) An escort of a passenger and dependent children are to be transported as locally negotiated and identified in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan;
    (c) Use of child restraint devices shall be determined locally as to their responsibility, and cost of such device in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan;
    (d) Passenger property that can be carried by the passenger and/or driver in one trip and can safely be stowed on the vehicle, shall be allowed to be transported with the passenger at no additional charge. Additional requirements may be negotiated for carrying and loading rider property beyond this amount. Passenger property does not include wheelchairs, child seats, stretchers, secured oxygen, personal assistive devices, or intravenous devices;
    (e) Vehicle transfer points shall provide shelter, security, and safety of passengers;
    (f) A local toll free phone number for complaints or grievances shall be posted inside the vehicle. The TD Helpline phone number 1(800)983-2435 shall also be posted inside all vehicles of the coordinated system. The local complaint process shall be outlined as a section in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan including, advising the dissatisfied person about the Commission’s Ombudsman Program as a step within the process as approved by the local Coordinating Board. All rider information/materials (brochures, user’s guides, etc.) will include the TD Helpline phone number;
    (g) Out of service area trips shall be provided when determined locally and approved by the local Coordinating Board, except in instances where local ordinances prohibit such trips;
    (h) Interior of all vehicles shall be free from dirt, grime, oil, trash, torn upholstery, damaged or broken seats, protruding metal or other objects or materials which could soil items placed in the vehicle or provide discomfort for the passenger;
    (i) Billing requirements of the Community Transportation Coordinator to subcontractors shall be determined locally by the local Coordinating Board and provided in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan. All bills shall be paid within 7 working days to subcontractors, after receipt of said payment by the Community Transportation Coordinator, in accordance with Florida Statutes § 287.0585;
    (j) Passenger/trip data base must be maintained or accessible by the Community Transportation Coordinator on each rider being transported within the system;
    (k) Adequate seating for paratransit services shall be provided to each rider and escort, child, or personal care attendant, and no more passengers than the registered passenger seating capacity shall be scheduled or transported in a vehicle at any time. For transit services provided by transit vehicles, adequate seating or standing space will be provided to each rider and escort, child, or personal care attendant, and no more passengers than the registered passenger seating or standing capacity shall be scheduled or transported in a vehicle at any time;
    (l) Drivers for paratransit services, including coordination contractors, shall be required to announce and identify themselves by name and company in a manner that is conducive to communications with the specific passenger, upon pickup of each rider, group of riders, or representative, guardian, or associate of the rider, except in situations where the driver regularly transports the rider on a recurring basis. Each driver must have photo identification that is in view of the passenger. Name patches, inscriptions or badges that affix to driver clothing are acceptable. For transit services, the driver photo identification shall be in a conspicuous location in the vehicle;
    (m) The paratransit driver shall provide the passenger with boarding assistance, if necessary or requested, to the seating portion of the vehicle. The boarding assistance shall include opening the vehicle door, fastening the seat belt or utilization of wheel chair securement devices, storage of mobility assistive devices, and closing the vehicle door. In the door-through-door paratransit service category, the driver shall be required to open and close doors to buildings, except in situations in which assistance in opening/closing building doors would not be safe for passengers remaining on the vehicle. Assisted access must be in a dignified manner. Drivers may not assist wheelchair up or down more than one step, unless it can be performed safely as determined by the passenger, guardian, and driver;
    (n) Smoking is prohibited in any vehicle. Requirements for drinking and eating on board the vehicle will be addressed in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan;
    (o) The Community Transportation Coordinator and the local Coordinating Board shall jointly develop a policy on passenger no-shows. Assessing fines to passengers for no-shows is acceptable but such policy and process shall be identified in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan;
    (p) All vehicles providing service within the coordinated system, shall be equipped with two-way communications in good working order and audible to the driver at all times to the base;
    (q) All vehicles providing service within the coordinated system, shall have working air conditioners and heaters in each vehicle. Vehicles that do not have a working air conditioner or heater will be scheduled for repair or replacement as soon as possible;
    (r) First Aid policy shall be determined locally and provided in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan;
    (s) Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation policy shall be determined locally and provided in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan;
    (t) Driver background screening shall be determined locally, dependent upon purchasing agencies’ requirements, and provided in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan;
    (u) In areas where fixed route transportation is available, the Community Transportation Coordinator should jointly establish with the Local Coordinating Board (LCB) a percentage of total trips that will be placed on the fixed route system;
    (v) The Community Transportation Coordinator should establish and address the passenger pick-up windows in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan. This policy should also be communicated to contracted operators, drivers, purchasing agencies and passengers;
    (w) The Community Transportation Coordinator and the LCB should jointly establish and address the percentage of trips that will be on-time in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan. This performance measure should be communicated to contracted operators, drivers, purchasing agencies, and passengers. This measure should also be included as a part of the Community Transportation Coordinator’s evaluation of its contracted operators, and the LCB’s evaluation of the Community Transportation Coordinator;
    (x) The Community Transportation Coordinator should establish and address in the local Transportation Disadvantaged Service Plan a minimum 24 hour advanced notification time to obtain services. This policy should be communicated to contracted operators, purchasing agencies and passengers;
    (y) The Community Transportation Coordinator and the LCB should jointly establish and address in the service plan a performance measure to evaluate the safety of the coordinated system. This measure should be used in the Community Transportation Coordinator’s evaluation of the contracted operators, and the LCB’s evaluation of the Community Transportation Coordinator;
    (z) The Community Transportation Coordinator and the LCB should jointly establish and address in the local service plan a performance measure to evaluate the reliability of the vehicles utilized in the coordinated system. This measure should be used in the Community Transportation Coordinator’s evaluation of the contracted operators, and the LCB’s evaluation of the Community Transportation Coordinator;
    (aa) This performance measure can be used to address the accessibility of the service. The Community Transportation Coordinator and the LCB should jointly determine if a standard for a call hold time is needed in the coordinated system and address this in the local service plan. If determined to be necessary, this standard should be included in the LCB’s evaluation of the Community Transportation Coordinator;
    (bb) The Community Transportation Coordinator and the LCB should jointly establish and address in the local service plan a performance measure to evaluate the quality of service provided within the coordinated system. The measure should be used in the Community Transportation Coordinator’s evaluation of the contracted operators, and the LCB’s evaluation of the Community Transportation Coordinator.
Rulemaking Authority Florida Statutes § 427.013(9). Law Implemented 287.0585, 427.011(11), 427.013, 427.0155, 427.0157, 768.28 FS. History-New 5-2-90, Amended 6-17-92, 5-1-96, 10-1-96, 3-10-98, 6-3-01, 7-3-03, 9-3-18.