Trans 2.015 (7) is repealed.
Trans 2.015 (8) and (9) are created to read:
Trans 2.015 (8) “Program cycle” means a one or two year period, whose start and end dates are specified by the department, for which the department accepts applications and issues awards for projects authorized under s. 85.22, Stats. Trans 2.015 (9) “Project” means operation of a transportation service for seniors or individuals with disabilities, or purchase of capital equipment for use in a service.
Trans 2.02 (title) and Trans 2.02 (1) are amended to read:
Trans 2.02 Eligible Applicants Program eligibility.
Trans 2.02 (1) An eligible applicant may apply for capital project assistance under s. 85.22, Stats. All applicants shall comply with federal regulations governing the federal sec. 5310 program. Trans 2.02 (2) is repealed and recreated to read:
Trans 2.02 (2) Applicants may request assistance for any operating projects or capital acquisitions that are consistent with the specialized transportation program purpose specified in s. 85.22 (1), Stats. Trans 2.03 is amended to read:
Trans 2.03 Capital costs Aid allocation. Commencing with the highest ranking application as determined under s. Trans 2.06 and to the extent that federal and state moneys are available, the department shall offer to each eligible applicant an amount of state aid such that the sum of federal and state aid received by an applicant does not exceed 80% of estimated capital the proportion of project costs permitted under the federal sec. 5310 program. Trans 2.04 (intro.) and 2.04 (4) are amended to read:
Trans 2.04 Coordination. It is the department's policy to encourage the coordination of elderly and disabled transportation for seniors and individuals with disabilities among providers of such services. To that end, each eligible applicant receiving aids under this chapter shall:
Trans 2.04 (4) Include in its application evidence that the transportation service proposed for the general elderly and disabled public seniors and individuals with disabilities was designed with the cooperation of the appropriate county committees or commissions on aging and boards created under ss. 51.42 and 51.437, Stats. Trans 2.045 is amended to read:
Trans 2.045 Private provider participation Provider notification. Every application shall include evidence that all other transportation providers in the applicant's service area have been afforded an opportunity to comment on the service for which an applicant proposes to furnish with the vehicles to be purchased with requests assistance under this chapter. This evidence shall include copies of all correspondence between the applicant and other transportation providers, except that the evidence shall include one copy of the notice required under s. Trans 2.05 (1) (d) and a certified list of all other transportation providers to which the notice was mailed rather than copies of all the notices actually mailed and any additional evidence the department specifies in its application instructions. The department may reject an application for failure to comply with this requirement. Trans 2.05 (title) is repealed and recreated to read:
Trans 2.05 Application schedule.
Trans 2.05 (1) (intro.) is amended to read:
Trans 2.05 (1) (intro.) Each application for capital assistance under this chapter shall be considered valid only during for the program cycle in for which it is submitted. Except as provided in s. Trans 2.06 (3), an applicant for capital assistance shall prepare an application according to the following schedule:
Trans 2.05 (1) (a), (b), (c), and (d) are repealed.
Trans 2.05 (2) is repealed and recreated to read:
Trans 2.05 (2) The department shall specify the duration of the upcoming program cycle in the corresponding application guidelines. The department shall notify all known potential applicants when the application period begins. The application period shall last not less than 45 days.
Trans 2.05 (3) is repealed.
Trans 2.055 (1), (2), (3), (7) (8) and (9) are amended to read:
Trans 2.055 (1) A person An applicant adversely affected by a violation of s. Trans 2.045, 2.05 or 2.10 may request the department to review an whose application for capital assistance under this chapter is not awarded funding may request that the department review the process by which it reviewed the application.
(2) A request for department review under sub. (1) shall be made in writing and shall be filed with the department within 10 14 days of the application filing deadline in s. Trans 2.05 (1) (a) the department’s notification of non-award.
(3) If the department receives a request for review of an application for capital assistance under this chapter, the chief of the specialized transit section shall conduct the department review.
(7) In conducting its review, the department may request ask interested parties to provide additional written information. The failure of any interested party to provide information requested by the department, or to cooperate with the department in its review, may result in dismissal of a request for review or denial of an application for capital assistance.
(8) The chief of the specialized transit section shall submit a written recommendation to the director of the bureau of transit and local roads, transit, local roads, railroads and harbors, who shall issue a written decision. A copy of the director’s decision shall be provided to the applicant and to the person requesting the department review.
(9) The decision of the director of the bureau of transit and local roads, transit, local roads, railroads and harbors, shall be the final decision of the department and is not subject to further appeals or judicial review.
Trans 2.06 (1) and (2) are repealed and recreated to read:
Trans 2.06 (1) The department shall assess whether all applications are consistent with the program purpose set forth in s. 85.22 (1), Stats. Any application determined to be inconsistent with the program purpose shall be excluded from further consideration for award of aids administered under this chapter. (2) The following evaluation criteria, derived from the federal sec. 5310 program, shall be used:
(2) (a) The extent of service coordination.
(2) (b) The extent that service can be provided to seniors and individuals with disabilities.
(2) (c) The extent to which transportation needs of seniors and individuals with disabilities are identified.
(2) (d) The extent to which financial and technical capabilities are identified.
Trans 2.06 (3) is amended to read:
Trans 2.06 (3) If available state and federal aids exceed the amount requested by applications receiving scores at or above the minimum, the department may accept for evaluation and funding consideration additional applications or revised applications for the remaining aids. The department may waive the schedule specified in s. Trans 2.05 (1) and establish alternative deadlines as it determines to be appropriate for applications submitted under this subsection.
Trans 2.07 is repealed.
Trans 2.09 is amended to read:
Trans 2.09 Vehicle registration. A recipient of federal sec. 5310 funds or s. 85.22, Stats. funds shall at all times maintain human service vehicle, school bus, or municipal registration, as appropriate, on every vehicle purchased in part with assistance under this chapter whether the vehicles are vehicle is operated by the recipient or by other transportation providers. If a recipient fails to comply with this registration requirement, the department may reassign the vehicles any vehicle not properly registered to other eligible applicants specified in s. Trans 2.02 (1) and may reject pending or future applications of the recipient for assistance under this chapter. Trans 2.10 (1) (b) (intro.), 1., 2. and 4. are amended to read:
Trans 2.10 (1) (b) (intro.) Has at least the following duties:
(1) (b) 1. Monitor the expenditures of transportation funds being expended on transportation services for the elderly seniors and disabled individuals with disabilities in the service area;
(1) (b) 2. Review passenger transportation plans for the service area;
(1) (b) 4. Review and comment on capital assistance applications under s. 85.22, Stats.; Trans 2.10 (1) (b) 5. is repealed.
Trans 2.10 (2) (a) and (b) are amended to read:
Trans 2.10 (2) (a) Is determined by the department to be eligible for assistance under the federal sec. 5310 program after first certifying to the department that no private, nonprofit organizations as specified in s. Trans 2.015 (2m) are readily available to provide transportation services to elderly seniors and disabled persons individuals with disabilities in a proposed service area and providing all of the following or similar documentation supporting such certification: 1. Copies of letters sent to all known private, nonprofit organizations specified in s. Trans 2.015 (2m), both within the county wherein such organizations are situated and in adjacent counties, soliciting interest in providing transportation services for elderly seniors and disabled persons individuals with disabilities in the proposed service area, along with copies of any resulting correspondence.
2. A certified copy of a public notice published in the appropriate official county newspaper soliciting responses from private, nonprofit organizations as specified in s. Trans 2.015 (2m), both within the county wherein such organizations are situated and in adjacent counties, interested in providing transportation services to elderly seniors and disabled persons individuals with disabilities in the proposed service area, along with copies of any resulting correspondence.
Trans 2.10 (2) (b) Is approved by the department to be the coordinator of transportation services to elderly seniors and disabled persons individuals with disabilities in the proposed service area. A local public body shall be approved by the county board and a transportation coordinating committee which satisfies the membership requirements in sub. (1) (a). The department may waive the membership requirements in sub. (1) (a) if the county board provides satisfactory evidence that the county board made a reasonable attempt to include members of all groups identified in sub. (1) (a). The applicant shall provide all of the following or similar documentation to the department verifying such approval:
1. Copies of documentation showing that a transportation coordinating committee approved the local public body as the coordinator of transportation services for elderly seniors and disabled persons individuals with disabilities in the proposed service area.
2. A certified copy of the resolution, passed by the county board, approving the local public body as the coordinator of transportation services for elderly seniors and disabled persons individuals with disabilities in the proposed service area.
