(1) The agency council on coordinated transportation is created. The purpose of the council is to advance and improve accessibility to and coordination of special needs transportation services statewide. The council is composed of fourteen voting members and four nonvoting, legislative members.

     (2) The fourteen voting members are the superintendent of public instruction or a designee, the secretary of transportation or a designee, the secretary of the department of social and health services or a designee, and eleven members appointed by the governor as follows:

     (a) One representative from the office of the governor;

     (b) Three persons who are consumers of special needs transportation services, which must include:

     (i) One person designated by the executive director of the governor's committee on disability issues and employment; and

     (ii) One person who is designated by the executive director of the developmental disabilities council;

     (c) One representative from the Washington association of pupil transportation;

     (d) One representative from the Washington state transit association;

     (e) One of the following:

     (i) A representative from the community transportation association of the Northwest; or

     (ii) A representative from the community action council association;

     (f) One person who represents regional transportation planning organizations and metropolitan planning organizations;

     (g) One representative of brokers who provide nonemergency, medically necessary trips to persons with special transportation needs under the medicaid program administered by the department of social and health services;

     (h) One representative from the Washington state department of veterans affairs; and

     (i) One representative of the state association of counties.

     (3) The four nonvoting members are legislators as follows:

     (a) Two members from the house of representatives, one from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, including at least one member from the house transportation policy and budget committee or the house appropriations committee; and

     (b) Two members from the senate, one from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the president of the senate, including at least one member from the senate transportation committee or the senate ways and means committee.

     (4) Gubernatorial appointees of the council will serve two-year terms. Members may not receive compensation for their service on the council, but will be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as members as set forth in RCW 43.03.220.

     (5) The council shall vote on an annual basis to elect one of its voting members to serve as chair. The position of chair must rotate among the represented agencies, associations, and interest groups at least every two years. If the position of chair is vacated for any reason, the secretary of transportation or the secretary's designee shall serve as acting chair until the next regular meeting of the council, at which time the members will elect a chair.

     (6) The council shall periodically assess its membership to ensure that there exists a balanced representation of persons with special transportation needs and providers of special transportation needs services. Recommendations for modifying the membership of the council must be included in the council's biennial report to the legislature as provided in RCW 47.06B.050.

     (7) The department of transportation shall provide necessary staff support for the council.

     (8) The council may receive gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources that are made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the council and spend gifts, grants, or endowments or income from the public or private sources according to their terms, unless the receipt of the gifts, grants, or endowments violates RCW ((42.17.710)) 42.17A.560.

     (9) The meetings of the council must be open to the public, with the agenda published in advance, and minutes kept and made available to the public. The public notice of the meetings must indicate that accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made available upon request.

     (10) All meetings of the council must be held in locations that are readily accessible to public transportation, and must be scheduled for times when public transportation is available.

     (11) The council shall make an effort to include presentations by and work sessions including persons with special transportation needs.

[2011 c 60 § 45; 2009 c 515 § 4; 2007 c 421 § 2; 1998 c 173 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Effective date -- 2011 c 60: See RCW 42.17A.919.

RCW 47.06B.020
Agency council on coordinated transportation -- Creation, purpose, membership, staff, meetings (as amended by 2011 1st sp.s. c 15). (Effective until June 30, 2012.)

(1) The agency council on coordinated transportation is created. The purpose of the council is to advance and improve accessibility to and coordination of special needs transportation services statewide. The council is composed of fourteen voting members and four nonvoting, legislative members.

     (2) The fourteen voting members are the superintendent of public instruction or a designee, the secretary of transportation or a designee, the ((secretary of the department of social and health services)) director of the health care authority or a designee, and eleven members appointed by the governor as follows:

     (a) One representative from the office of the governor;

     (b) Three persons who are consumers of special needs transportation services, which must include:

     (i) One person designated by the executive director of the governor's committee on disability issues and employment; and

     (ii) One person who is designated by the executive director of the developmental disabilities council;

     (c) One representative from the Washington association of pupil transportation;

     (d) One representative from the Washington state transit association;

     (e) One of the following:

     (i) A representative from the community transportation association of the Northwest; or

     (ii) A representative from the community action council association;

     (f) One person who represents regional transportation planning organizations and metropolitan planning organizations;

     (g) One representative of brokers who provide nonemergency, medically necessary trips to persons with special transportation needs under the medicaid program administered by the ((department of social and health services)) health care authority;

     (h) One representative from the Washington state department of veterans affairs; and

     (i) One representative of the state association of counties.

     (3) The four nonvoting members are legislators as follows:

     (a) Two members from the house of representatives, one from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, including at least one member from the house transportation policy and budget committee or the house appropriations committee; and

     (b) Two members from the senate, one from each of the two largest caucuses, appointed by the president of the senate, including at least one member from the senate transportation committee or the senate ways and means committee.

     (4) Gubernatorial appointees of the council will serve two-year terms. Members may not receive compensation for their service on the council, but will be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in performing their duties as members as set forth in RCW 43.03.220.

     (5) The council shall vote on an annual basis to elect one of its voting members to serve as chair. The position of chair must rotate among the represented agencies, associations, and interest groups at least every two years. If the position of chair is vacated for any reason, the secretary of transportation or the secretary's designee shall serve as acting chair until the next regular meeting of the council, at which time the members will elect a chair.

     (6) The council shall periodically assess its membership to ensure that there exists a balanced representation of persons with special transportation needs and providers of special transportation needs services. Recommendations for modifying the membership of the council must be included in the council's biennial report to the legislature as provided in RCW 47.06B.050.

     (7) The department of transportation shall provide necessary staff support for the council.

     (8) The council may receive gifts, grants, or endowments from public or private sources that are made from time to time, in trust or otherwise, for the use and benefit of the purposes of the council and spend gifts, grants, or endowments or income from the public or private sources according to their terms, unless the receipt of the gifts, grants, or endowments violates RCW 42.17A.560.

     (9) The meetings of the council must be open to the public, with the agenda published in advance, and minutes kept and made available to the public. The public notice of the meetings must indicate that accommodations for persons with disabilities will be made available upon request.

     (10) All meetings of the council must be held in locations that are readily accessible to public transportation, and must be scheduled for times when public transportation is available.

     (11) The council shall make an effort to include presentations by and work sessions including persons with special transportation needs.

[2011 1st sp.s. c 15 § 73; 2011 c 60 § 45; 2009 c 515 § 4; 2007 c 421 § 2; 1998 c 173 § 2.]

NOTES:

     Reviser's note: Section 73, chapter 15, Laws of 2011 1st sp.s. amended section 45, chapter 60, Laws of 2011 without cognizance of its effective date, January 1, 2012. Chapter 15, Laws of 2011 1st sp.s. takes effect July 1, 2011.

     Expiration date -- 2011 1st sp.s. c 15 §§ 73-75: "Sections 73 through 75 of this act expire June 30, 2012." [2011 1st sp.s. c 15 § 128.]

     Effective date -- Findings -- Intent -- Report -- Agency transfer -- References to head of health care authority -- Draft legislation -- 2011 1st sp.s. c 15: See notes following RCW 74.09.010.