SB 256 — AN ACT CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INCREASE RAILROAD OR BUS FARE.

AN ACT CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INCREASE RAILRAILROAD OR BUS FARE.

General Assembly   ProposedCommittee Bill No.

256   January Session, 2017   LCO No.

28925410   *02892**05410SB00256TRA* Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION   Introduced by:

  SEN.(TRA)   AN ACT CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO INCREASE RAILROAD OR BUS FARE.

BOUCHER, 26th Dist.

  AN ACT CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL TO INCREASE RAIL OR BUS FARE.

ThatSection the1. general statutes be amended to require the approval of each chamber of the General Assembly to increase rail or bus fare.

StatementSection 13b-38h of Purpose:the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

To(a) requireThe legislativeDepartment approvalof Transportation shall provide for changes in orderfares for mass transportation by land in accordance with the provisions of this section and shall not be required to increaseconform railto orthe busprocedures fare.in chapter 54.

(b) Prior to adopting any change in fares for mass transportation by land, the department shall (1) give notice of the proposed fare change, its amount and the date it is proposed to take effect by advertising, at least once, in one or more newspapers having general circulation in all areas of the state that may be affected by such change in fares, and [(2)] in such notice, provide information on the time and place a public hearing is to be held on such proposed change, and (2) in the case of a proposed fare increase, file a request for approval of such increase in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of this section.

Such notice of the proposed fare change shall be posted at least fifteen days prior to such public hearing.

The department shall send a copy of such notice to the chairpersons and ranking members of the joint standing committees of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to transportation and to finance.

A public hearing on the proposed fare change shall be held at such time and place as will be convenient for public attendance.

(c) If a proposed fare change is a fare increase, the department shall file a request for approval of the proposed increase with the clerks of the House of Representatives and the Senate.

No proposed increase shall become effective unless approved by the General Assembly.

The General Assembly may approve the proposed increase by a majority vote of each house or may reject the proposed increase by a majority vote of either house.

If the General Assembly is in session, it shall vote to approve or reject the proposed increase not later than thirty days after the department files the request for approval with the clerks.

If the General Assembly is not in session when the request for approval is filed, it shall be submitted to the General Assembly not later than ten days after the first day of the next regular session or special session called for such purpose.

The proposed increase shall be deemed approved if the General Assembly fails to vote to approve or reject such proposed increase not later than thirty days after the department files the request for approval with the clerks.

Such thirty-day period shall not begin or expire unless the General Assembly is in regular session.

For the purposes of this subdivision, any request for approval of a proposed fare increase filed with the clerks within thirty days before the commencement of a regular session of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be filed on the first day of such session.

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:

Section 1 from passage 13b-38h Statement of Purpose:

To require legislative approval before the Department of Transportation may increase railroad or bus fare.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets.

Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.] Co-Sponsors:

SEN.

BOUCHER, 26th Dist.

S.B.

256