HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                      1781

(H) A LOCALITY THAT RECEIVES FUNDS UNDER THIS SECTION MAY
NOT USE THOSE FUNDS TO REPLACE ANY MONEYS THE LOCALITY RECEIVES
FROM OTHER SOURCES FOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY AND
DISABLED POPULATION.

(I) FEDERAL FUNDS THAT ARE PROVIDED TO THE STATE FOR USE IN
TRANSPORTATION SERVICE TO THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED POPULATION MAY
NOT BE DIVERTED TO OTHER USES BY THE STATE.

(J) THE SECRETARY SHALL ENCOURAGE EACH LOCALITY TO:

(1) PRINCIPALLY FUND THE LOCALITY'S TRANSPORTATION
SERVICE FOR THE ELDERLY AND DISABLED POPULATION WITH MONEYS FROM
THE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUND, FEDERAL SMALL URBAN AND RURAL OR
OTHER APPLICABLE PROGRAMS, AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION FUNDING
SOURCES IN THE STATE'S FUND, AND

(2) ENTER INTO COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS WITH OTHER
LOCAL OR STATE RESOURCE PROVIDERS.

(K) NOTHING IN THIS SECTION PROHIBITS A LOCALITY FROM:

(1) CONTRACTING WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, AREA
AGENCIES ON AGING, PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION PROVIDERS, OR PRIVATE
CARRIERS FOR THE PROVISION OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICE TO THE
ELDERLY AND DISABLED POPULATION;

(2) MODIFYING OR EXPANDING ANY EXISTING LOCAL

TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM; OR

(3) DEVELOPING A NEW TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM WITH THE
USE OR ASSISTANCE OF SUBSIDIZED VOLUNTEERS.

(A)  (1) IN THIS SECTION, THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE
MEANINGS INDICATED.

(2) "COUNTY" INCLUDES BALTIMORE CITY.

(3) "ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED PERSON" MEANS ANY PERSON
WHO, BY REASON OF ILLNESS, INJURY, AGE, CONGENITAL MALFUNCTION,
OR OTHER PERMANENT OR TEMPORARY INCAPACITY OR DISABILITY, IS
UNABLE TO USE MASS TRANSIT FACILITIES AND SERVICES AS EFFECTIVELY
AS A PERSON WHO IS NOT SO AFFECTED.

(4) "TRANSPORTATION SERVICE" MEANS ANY TRANSPORTATION
OPTION OR MIX OF OPTIONS THAT MAY INCLUDE PARATRANSIT OR FIXED
ROUTE SERVICE, ESTABLISHED OR EMPLOYED BY A COUNTY TO ACCOMMODATE
THE TRANSPORTATION NEEDS OF ITS ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED
RESIDENTS.

(B) (1) THE SECRETARY SHALL IDENTIFY SEPARATELY WITHIN THE
DEPARTMENT'S ANNUAL BUDGET AN AMOUNT THAT THE SECRETARY DEEMS
NECESSARY TO BE USED FOR ELDERLY AND HANDICAPPED TRANSPORTATION
SERVICE IN EACH COUNTY.