ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                             Ch. 113

(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
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.

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