A 4761 — Authorizes funding for on-demand micro transit service under Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program.

A4761 1R [First Reprint] ASSEMBLY, No.

Assemblyman  KENYATTA STEWART District 35 (Bergen and Passaic) Assemblyman  AL ABDELAZIZ District 35 (Bergen and Passaic) Assemblyman  CLINTON CALABRESE District 36 (Bergen and Passaic)  Senator  Co-SponsoredBENJIE by:E.

AssemblymanWIMBERLY Walker,District Assemblywoman35 Haider,(Bergen Assemblymen Schaer and SampsonPassaic)  Senator   ANGELA  V.   SYNOPSIS      Authorizes funding for on-demand micro transit service under Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program.

 MCKNIGHT CURRENTDistrict VERSION31 OF(Hudson) TEXT      Co-Sponsored Asby: introduced.

Assemblyman Walker, Assemblywoman Haider, Assemblymen Schaer, Sampson, Assemblywoman Speight, Assemblyman Singh, Assemblywomen Carter, Brennan, Assemblyman Wainstein, Assemblywoman Donlon and Senator Timberlake         SYNOPSIS      Authorizes funding for on-demand micro transit service under Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program.

  CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT      As reported by the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on June 1, 2026, with amendments.

            1.   1.   Section 3 of P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-27) is amended to read as follows:            3.   3.   As used in [this act] P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-25 et seq.):            [a.] “Accessible” means a service that can be used by all individuals, including those who cannot negotiate steps or who can negotiate steps with great difficulty.

          “Board” means the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Transit Corporation.

          “Corporation” means the New Jersey Transit Corporation.

          [b.  “Board” means Board of Directors of the New Jersey Transit Corporation.

          c.] “Disabled1[“Disabled resident” means any individual who, by reason of illness, injury, age, congenital malfunction, or other permanent or temporary incapacity or disability, is unable without special facilities or special planning on design to utilize mass transportation facilities and services as effectively as persons who are not so affected.affected.]1       “Eligible counties” means counties submitting a proposal meeting the program guidelines.

          “Eligible[d.] counties”“Geographic region” means countiesone submittingof athe proposalfollowing meetingregions of the programState:  guidelines.the southern region encompassing the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem;

    the [d.]central “Geographicregion region”encompassing meansthe onecounties of theHunterdon, followingMercer, regionsMiddlesex, ofMonmouth, theOcean State:1,1 and Somerset;

 the southern region encompassing the counties of Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, and Salem;

the central region encompassing the counties of Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Ocean and Somerset;

          “New Jersey Special Services Citizen Advisory Committee” means a committee representing advocacy groups from senior citizens and [the] disabled1[disabled residentsresidents] people with disabilities1 and other interested parties appointed by the 1President and Chief1 Executive Director1[Director] Officer1 of 1the1 New Jersey Transit.Transit 1Corporation1.

          [e.  [e.  “Accessible” means a service that can be used by all individuals including those who cannot negotiate steps or who can negotiate steps with great difficulty.

          f.    f.    “Disabled” means any individual who, by reason of illness, injury, age, congenital malfunction, or other permanent or temporary incapacity or disability, is unable without special facilities or special planning on design to utilize mass transportation facilities and services as effectively as persons who are not so affected.

          g.   g.   “Geographic region” means one of the following regions of the State:

and the northern region encompassing those counties remaining in the State.]       “On-demand micro transit” means publicly-available,1[publicly-available, technology-enabled,technology-enabled,]1 shared 1public1 transportation 1services1 provided by means of a motor vehicle to individuals selecting a pick-up and drop-off location by telephone or through a mobile1[mobile] software1 application, and which transportation is provided at a time selected by the individual or as soon as possible after the individual selects pick-up and drop-off locations for such transportation.

(cf:       P.L.1983,1“People c.578,with s.3)disabilities”  means     individuals 2.   who, Sectionby 2reason of P.L.1983,illness, c.578injury, (C.27:25-26)age, iscongenital amendedmalfunction, toor readother aspermanent follows: or     temporary 2.   incapacity Theor Legislaturedisability, findsare andunable declareswithout thatspecial manyfacilities senioror citizensspecial andplanning disabledon residentsdesign into theutilize Statemass requiretransportation assistancefacilities in meeting their need for available and accessibleservices transportationas soeffectively thatas theypersons maywho obtainare the necessities of life, including, but not limitedso to,affected. employment, post-secondary education, social and recreational activities, shopping and medical service;

and      “Software application” means technology that theenables votersa ofcounty thisto Stateprovide recognizedon-demand themicro needtransit forservice.  such“Software assistanceapplication” when,shall not include a digital network as that term is defined in 1981,section they2 approvedof anP.L.2017, amendmentc.26 [of](C.39:5H-2).1 (cf:  P.L.1983, c.578, s.3)         2.   Section of P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-26) is amended to theread Stateas Constitutionfollows:  [which      provides]2.   providingThe Legislature finds and declares that Statemany revenuessenior derivedcitizens fromand the1[disabled taxationresidents] ofpeople gamblingwith establishmentsdisabilities1 in Atlanticthe CityState mayrequire beassistance used, in additionmeeting totheir theneed purposes for whichavailable and accessible transportation so that they weremay originallyobtain dedicated,the fornecessities additionalof orlife, expandedincluding, transportationbut servicesnot orlimited benefitsto, toemployment, seniorpost-secondary citizenseducation, social and [the]recreational disabledactivities, residents.shopping and medical service;

    and Thethat Legislaturethe furthervoters findsof andthis declaresState thatrecognized itthe isneed appropriatefor such assistance when, in 1981, they approved an amendment [of] to the State Constitution [which provides] providing that State revenues derived from the Newtaxation Jerseyof Transitgambling Corporation,establishments in conjunctionAtlantic withCity itsmay advisorybe bodies,used, representativesin oraddition associationsto ofthe counties,purposes andfor otherwhich interestedthey parties,were developoriginally adedicated, plan for additional or expanded transportation assistanceservices or benefits to senior citizens and [the] disabled1[disabled residents;residents] people with disabilities1.

      The Legislature further finds and declares that it is appropriate that the New Jersey Transit Corporation, in conjunction with its advisory bodies, representatives or associations of counties, and other interested parties, develop a plan for transportation assistance to senior citizens and [the] 1[disabled residents] people with disabilities1;

(cf:  P.L.1983, c.578, s.2)       3.         3.   Section 4 of P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-28) is amended to read as follows:            4.   4.   a.a.  The board shall establish and administer a program to be known as “The Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program” for the following purposes:        (1) [To] to assist counties to develop and provide accessible feeder transportation service to accessible fixed-route transportation services where such services are available, including, but not limited to, on-demand micro transit service, and accessible local transit service to senior citizens and [the] 1[disabled residents] people with disabilities1, which services may include, but shall not be limited to, door-to-door service, fixed route service, local fare subsidy, on-demand micro transit service, and user-side subsidy, which may include, but not be limited to, private ride or taxi fare subsidy;

 The board shall establish and administer a program to be known as “The Senior Citizen and Disabled Resident Transportation Assistance Program” for the following purposes:       (1)   [To] to assist counties to develop and provide accessible feeder transportation service to accessible fixed-route transportation services where such services are available, including, but not limited to, on-demand micro transit service, and accessible local transit service to senior citizens and [the] disabled residents, which services may include, but shall not be limited to, door-to-door service, fixed route service, local fare subsidy, on-demand micro transit service, and user-side subsidy, which may include, but not be limited to, private ride or taxi fare subsidy;

and           (2)  (2) [To] to enable the corporation to develop, provide, and maintain capital improvements that afford accessibility to fixed route and other transit services in order to make rail cars, rail stations, bus shelters, and other bus equipment accessible to senior citizens and [the] disabled1[disabled residents;residents] people with disabilities1;

          b.   b.   In the State fiscal year beginning July 1 following the effective date of P.L.2009, c.261, and in each fiscal year thereafter, there shall be appropriated to the corporation from the revenues deposited in the Casino Revenue Fund, established pursuant to section 145 of P.L.1977, c.110 (C.5:12-145), a sum equal to 8.5 percent of the revenues deposited in the fund during the preceding fiscal year, as determined by the State Treasurer, to effectuate the purposes and provisions of P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-25 et seq.).

          Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, for [the] State Fiscal Years 2022, 2023, and 2024, appropriations to the corporation from the revenues deposited in the Casino Revenue Fund or the Property Tax Relief Fund, as appropriate, shall be given priority to ensure that the corporation receives an amount equal to 8.5 percent of the sum of the revenues deposited in the Casino Revenue Fund during the preceding fiscal year, adding back any reductions in revenues during the preceding fiscal year that directly resulted from the temporary credit allowable under section 1 of P.L.2021, c.314 or the temporary deduction allowable under section 3 of the P.L.2021, c.314, as determined by the State Treasurer, to effectuate the purposes and provisions of P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-25 et seq.).

(cf:  P.L.2021, c.314, s.6)       4.         4.   Section 5 of P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-29) is amended to read as follows:            5.   5.   The corporation, in conjunction with the New Jersey Transit Special Services Citizen Advisory Committee, appropriate advisory committees of the corporation and with representatives or associations of counties in this State and other interested parties, as determined by the board, shall develop program guidelines to implement the program.  The guidelines shall set implementation criteria and shall be adopted by the board at a public meeting.meeting.  Commencing on the first anniversary of the effective date of [this act] P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-25 et seq.), the corporation shall annually conduct at least one public hearing in each geographic region in order to gather information from interested parties as to the efficacy of the program.  The corporation shall submit an annual report to the Legislature by October 1 of each year covering the period of the previous State fiscal year.   The report shall cover the status of this program including any recommendations concerning the general improvement of mass transit for [the] senior citizens and [the] 1[disabled residents] people with disabilities1.

 Commencing      on1The theguidelines firstshall anniversaryspecify ofthat theany effectivedriver dateproviding ofon-demand [thismicro act]transit P.L.1983,service c.578through (C.27:25-25an eton-demand seq.),micro thetransit corporationprogram shallthat annuallyreceives conductfunding atthrough least“The oneSenior publicCitizen hearingand inDisabled eachResident geographicTransportation regionAssistance inProgram,” orderestablished pursuant to gathersection information4 fromof interestedP.L.1983, partiesc.578 as(C.27:25-28), toand theis efficacyoperated ofby thea program. county, Thewhether corporationdirectly shallor submitindirectly anthrough annualcontract reportor subcontract, is required to thereceive Legislaturea byfederal OctoberInternal 1Revenue ofService eachW-2 yearform.1 covering(cf:  theP.L.1983, periodc.578, s.5)         5.   Section of theP.L.1983, previousc.578 State(C.27:25-31) fiscalis year.  amended Theto reportread shallas coverfollows:  the      status7.   ofa.  [Moneys] Monies under this program includingshall anybe recommendationsallocated concerningby the generalcorporation improvementin ofthe massfollowing transitmanner:        (1) 85 [%] percent shall be available to be allocated to eligible counties for [the]the seniorpurposes citizensspecified andunder [the]paragraph disabled(1) residents.of subsection a.

(cf:  P.L.1983, c.578, s.5)        5.    Section 7 of P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-31) is amended to read as follows:       7.    a.  [Moneys] Monies under this program shall be allocated by the corporation in the following manner:       (1)   85 [%] percent shall be available to be allocated to eligible counties for the purposes specified under paragraph (1) of subsection a.

and           (2)  (2) 15 [%] percent shall be available for use by the corporation for the purposes specified under paragraph (2) of subsection a.

          b.   b.   The amount of money [which] that each eligible county may receive shall be based upon the number of persons resident in that county of 60 years of age or older expressed as a percentage of the whole number of persons resident in this State of 60 years or older, as provided by the U.S.

[Bureau of the] Census Bureau.  As similar data become available for the1[the disabled resident population,population] people with disabilities1, such data shall be used in conjunction with the senior citizen data to determine the county allocation formula.  No eligible county shall receive less than [$150,000.00] $150,000 during a fiscal year under this program [, except that during].  However, during the first fiscal year, no county shall receive less than [$50,000.00] $50,000 nor more than [$150,000.00] $150,000.

          c.    c.   The governing body of an eligible county, or a group or groups designated as an applicant or as applicants by the county after a public hearing in which senior citizens and [the] disabled1[disabled residentsresidents] people with disabilities1 shall have the opportunity to comment on the appropriateness of such designation, may [make application] apply to the board for [moneys] monies available under subsection b.

(cf:  P.L.2009, c.261, s.2)             6.   6.   Section 8 of P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-32) is amended to read as follows:            8.   8.   a.  The board shall promulgate, in accordance with the “Administrative Procedure Act,” P.L.1968, c.

54:14B-1 et seq.), [such] rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this1[this act.act] P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-25 et seq.)1.

          b.   b.   The corporation shall be entitled to call upon the assistance, or contract for services, of any State department, board, bureau, commission 1,1 or agency as may be necessary to implement the provisions of [this act] P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-25 et seq.).

          c.    c.   Notice of any public hearing required to be held pursuant to [this act] P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-25 et seq.) shall be published at least 30 days prior to the date in at least two newspapers circulating in the specific geographic area in which the meeting is to be held.  Notice of any hearing shall also be transmitted, at least 30 days in advance thereof, to every municipal clerk within the specified geographic area where the meeting will be held.