Resolve, Directing the Department of Health and Human Services To Develop a Bus Pass Program

Sec. 1. Department of Health and Human Services to develop a bus pass program. Resolved: That, by January 1, 2016, the Department of Health and Human Services shall develop and implement a bus pass program to provide monthly bus passes to individuals who live in geographical areas of the State served by transit systems that offer monthly bus passes and who use those transit systems to attend medical appointments reimbursed by MaineCare under the nonemergency transportation program within the MaineCare program and participate in state or municipal programs that aim to foster independence and economic security such as the Additional Support for People in Retraining and Employment - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program as established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 22, chapter 1054-A, work programs within other public assistance programs and other educational programs. The Department of Health and Human Services shall leverage federal and state funds, including any funding from the nonemergency transportation program within the MaineCare program and possible resources from the Department of Labor and the Department of Education that are targeted to employment that could be used as part of the bus pass program. The Department of Health and Human Services shall report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by March 1, 2016 on the bus pass program including the number of bus passes issued, the number of individuals being served and the sources of the funding.

SUMMARY

This resolve requires the Department of Health and Human Services to develop and implement a bus pass program by January 1, 2016 to serve individuals who live in areas served by public bus systems and who use those transport systems to attend medical appointments reimbursed by MaineCare under the nonemergency transportation program within the MaineCare program and participate in other programs that are aimed at fostering independence and economic security such as the ASPIRE-TANF program. The department must identify funding sources that could be leveraged, including funding currently used for the nonemergency transportation program within the MaineCare program and possible Department of Labor and Department of Education resources targeted toward employment. The department must report to the Joint Standing Committee on Health and Human Services by March 1, 2016 on the status of the bus pass program including the number of passes issued and individuals being served and sources of funding.