Resolve, To Implement the Recommendations of the Commission To Strengthen and Align the Services Provided to Maine's Veterans by Establishing a Pilot Project To Inform the Development of a Long-term Transportation Policy To Assist Veterans

Sec. 1. Veterans transportation pilot project. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor, shall develop and establish a pilot project in a location served by a regional transportation network to provide transportation for veterans; and be it further

Sec. 2. Pilot project purpose and limits. Resolved: That the purpose of the pilot project is to improve access to essential programs and services for veterans, including, but not limited to, employment or employment-related services, medical appointments, mental health services, social services and community activities. The Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor, shall conduct an analysis of the pilot project to inform potential future development of a long-term transportation policy designed to enable the delivery of cost-effective, sustainable and veteran-focused transportation services to meet the current and future needs of veterans in the State. The pilot project must be limited to a finite number of veterans determined by the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, Bureau of Maine Veterans' Services and may last no longer than 2 years; and be it further

Sec. 3. Participants. Resolved: That the Department of Transportation shall invite the participation of various stakeholders in developing the pilot project, including, but not limited to, the Public Transit Advisory Council, established in the Maine Revised Statutes, Title 23, section 4209-A; and be it further

Sec. 4. Reports. Resolved: That by February 1, 2017 the Department of Transportation shall submit an initial written report on the progress of the pilot project and by January 15, 2018 the Department of Transportation shall submit a final written report, including findings and recommendations, to the joint standing committees of the Legislature having jurisdiction over transportation, health and human services and labor matters and veterans and legal affairs. The joint standing committees may each submit a bill to the Second Regular Session of the 128th Legislature relating to the subject matter of the final report.

SUMMARY

This resolve is submitted pursuant to Resolve 2015, chapter 48 by the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs to implement the recommendations of the Commission To Strengthen and Align the Services Provided to Maine's Veterans. It requires the Department of Transportation, in conjunction with the Department of Defense, Veterans and Emergency Management, the Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Labor, to develop and establish a pilot project to provide transportation for veterans in order to improve access to essential programs and services for veterans and to inform potential future development of a long-term transportation policy designed to enable the delivery of cost-effective, sustainable and veteran-focused transportation services to meet the current and future needs of veterans in the State.