Connecticut Seal

General Assembly

 

Raised Bill No. 386

February Session, 2018

 

LCO No. 1827

 

*01827_______TRA*

Referred to Committee on TRANSPORTATION

 

Introduced by:

 

(TRA)

 

AN ACT CONCERNING LEGISLATIVE APPROVAL BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION INCREASES RAILROAD FARE OR DECREASES SERVICES.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 13b-38h of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2018):

(a) The Department of Transportation shall provide for changes in fares or reduction in services for mass transportation by land in accordance with the provisions of this section and shall not be required to conform to the procedures in chapter 54.

(b) Prior to adopting any change in fares or reduction in services 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, or proposed reduction in services, 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 or proposed reduction in services, 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 or proposed reduction in services 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 or proposed reduction in services 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. If the regular session adjourns prior to such thirtieth day and the proposed increase has not been acted upon, the request for approval shall be deemed filed on the first day of the next regular session. For the purposes of this subsection, 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

October 1, 2018

13b-38h

Statement of Purpose:

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

[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.]