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Committee amends transit bill to add paratransit and lowers funding request; sends measure to Appropriations
Summary
The Senate Transportation Committee adopted an amendment to Senate Bill 2254 to include paratransit services and reduced a proposed appropriation from $15 million to $5 million. The committee then gave the amended bill a do-pass recommendation and referred it to Appropriations.
The Senate Transportation Committee approved amendments to Senate Bill 2254 and moved the bill, as amended, to the Appropriations Committee.
Amendment details: Senator Klein proposed and the committee adopted amendments that add paratransit services to the bill’s scope and reduce the requested funding level from $15,000,000 to $5,000,000. The amendment language also clarifies associated paratransit services and retains a required study of transit needs.
Sponsor rationale and committee discussion: Senator Klein said the amendment makes the program more inclusive of paratransit needs and reduces the initial appropriation so the measures can proceed through the appropriations process. Committee members discussed the scale of funding needed to shore up transit systems statewide and noted other potential funding streams, including legacy revenue changes under discussion in other parts of the legislature.
Vote and disposition: The committee voted by roll call to adopt the amendment and then voted to give Senate Bill 2254 a due-pass recommendation as amended and re-refer the measure to Appropriations.
Next steps: Appropriations will review the amended bill and the fiscal implications of the lower funding level and added paratransit language.
