ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 112

(2001 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, Senior citizens in Maryland face unique challenges in accessing
safe, available, and affordable transportation for a variety of medical, routine, social,
and personal needs; and

WHEREAS, The federal, State, and local resources available to subsidize
transportation for seniors, and the existing transportation services offered by State,
local, and private providers, do not adequately meet the needs of seniors for
door-to-door, nonfixed-route, and on-demand transportation options; and

WHEREAS, The transportation challenges faced by seniors vary significantly
across the State depending on whether they live in urban, suburban, or rural settings;
and

WHEREAS, Senior citizens make up more than 15% of Maryland's population
and, by 2020, that percentage is expected to grow to 23%; now, therefore,

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Transportation

SUBTITLE 10. MARYLAND SENIOR RIDES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM.
7-1001.

(A)     IN THIS SUBTITLE THE FOLLOWING WORDS HAVE THE MEANINGS
INDICATED.

(B)     "DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION" MEANS PROVIDING, THROUGH
PREARRANGED APPOINTMENT, SAFE ESCORT FROM A DEPARTURE POINT, INTO AND
OUT OF A TRANSPORT VEHICLE AND TO THE DOOR OF THE DESTINATION.

(C)     "LOW-INCOME TO MODERATE-INCOME" MEANS THE HOUSEHOLD INCOME
OF AN INDIVIDUAL DOES NOT EXCEED 400% OF THE POVERTY THRESHOLD THAT IS
ESTABLISHED BY THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, BUREAU OF
STATISTICS FOR A GIVEN YEAR

(D)     "PROGRAM" MEANS THE MARYLAND SENIOR RIDES DEMONSTRATION
PROGRAM ESTABLISHED UNDER THIS SUBTITLE.

(E)     "PROGRAM APPLICANT" MEANS A GOVERNMENT AGENCY, NONPROFIT
ENTITY, OR FAITH-BASED AGENCY THAT PROVIDES TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
AND IS EXEMPT FROM TAXATION UNDER § 501 (C)(3) OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE
CODE.

(F)     "PROGRAM PARTICIPANT" MEANS A PROGRAM APPLICANT THAT HAS BEEN
APPROVED FOR PARTICIPATION IN THE PROGRAM.

(G)     "SENIOR" MEANS AN INDIVIDUAL AGE 60 OR OLDER

- 521 -