Ch. 112                                    2004 LAWS OF MARYLAND

7-1002.

(A)     THERE IS A MARYLAND SENIOR RIDES DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM IN THE
ADMINISTRATION.

(B)     THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO ENCOURAGE REGIONAL
PROVIDERS TO PROVIDE DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION FOR LOW-INCOME TO
MODERATE-INCOME SENIORS.

(C)     THE ADMINISTRATION SHALL AWARD A GRANT GRANTS TO QUALIFIED
PROGRAM APPLICANTS, AS PROVIDED IN § 7-1003 OF THIS SUBTITLE, FOR THE
OPERATION OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES AS SPECIFIED IN THIS SECTION.

(D)     TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR A GRANT UNDER § 7-1003 OF THIS SUBTITLE, A
PROGRAM APPLICANT SHALL:

(1)      PROVIDE DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION FOR LOW-INCOME TO
MODERATE-INCOME SENIORS WHO HAVE DIFFICULTY ACCESSING OR USING OTHER
EXISTING TRANSPORTATION SYSTEMS;

(2)      USE PRIMARILY VOLUNTEER DRIVERS WHO DRIVE THEIR OWN
VEHICLES;

(3)      USE A DISPATCHER SYSTEM TO RESPOND QUICKLY TO REQUESTS
FROM LOW-INCOME TO MODERATE-INCOME SENIORS FOR DOOR-TO-DOOR
TRANSPORTATION TO AND FROM APPOINTMENTS; AND

(4)      DEFINE A GEOGRAPHIC AREA FOR WHICH DOOR-TO-DOOR
TRANSPORTATION IS PROVIDED.

(E)     A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT MAY PROVIDE DOOR-TO-DOOR
TRANSPORTATION TO AN ELIGIBLE SENIOR WHO DOES NOT RESIDE IN THE
GEOGRAPHIC AREA DEFINED BY THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT UNDER SUBSECTION
(D)(4) OF THIS SECTION WHEN APPLYING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAM, SO
LONG AS SERVICE IS NOT DIMINISHED TO AN ELIGIBLE SENIOR WHO DOES RESIDE IN
THE DEFINED GEOGRAPHIC AREA.

(F)     A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT SHALL EXPEND A MATCHING FUND OF AT
LEAST 25% OF THE TOTAL CAPITAL OR OPERATING COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH
PROVIDING DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME TO
MODERATE-INCOME SENIORS.

(G)     (1) A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT MAY NOT RECEIVE MORE THAN ONE
GRANT ANNUALLY AND MAY NOT RECEIVE A TOTAL OF MORE THAN FOUR GRANTS.

(2) THE ADMINISTRATION MAY NOT AWARD MORE THAN $400,000 IN
GRANTS PER YEAR

(H) A PROGRAM PARTICIPANT MAY CHARGE REASONABLE FEES FOR
DOOR-TO-DOOR TRANSPORTATION PROVIDED BY THE PROGRAM PARTICIPANT.

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