OLR Bill Analysis

sHB 5734 (as amended by House “A”)*

AN ACT CONCERNING NEW AND EXPANDED BUS TRANSPORTATION SERVICES THROUGHOUT CONNECTICUT.

SUMMARY:

This bill establishes a program to be administered by the Department of Transportation (DOT) within available budgetary resources, called the “Buses for 21^st Century Mobility program. ” The purpose of the program is to provide new and expanded bus transportation services. DOT must begin accepting applications from publicly funded transportation providers and nonprofit community transportation service providers on July 1, 2008.

The bill also makes up to $ 5 million in bonding previously authorized by law for implementing transportation strategy projects and initiatives (i. e. , “Tier 1” strategy projects) available for purchasing vehicles for the Buses for 21^st Century Mobility program. It does this by replacing the current authorization for use of this funding for clean diesel bus retrofits.

*House Amendment “A”* significantly revises the original bill's provisions on the Buses for 21^st Century Mobility program; eliminates a new funding authorization for the program; and, instead, authorizes use of previously authorized funding for this program instead of for bus retrofits.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 2008, except for the change in the bonding authorization, which is effective upon passage

BUSES FOR THE 21^ST CENTURY PROGRAM

Program Scope

The bill specifies that the new and expanded services include:

COMMITTEE ACTION

Transportation Committee

Joint Favorable

Appropriations Committee

Joint Favorable Substitute

Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee

Joint Favorable