Bill Text: NJ S1026 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires DHS to employ Transportation Planning Coordinator to manage and oversee transportation services provided to DHS clients.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-01-31 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee [S1026 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-S1026-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator TROY SINGLETON
District 7 (Burlington)
SYNOPSIS
Requires DHS to employ Transportation Planning Coordinator to manage and oversee transportation services provided to DHS clients.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning transportation services provided to individuals receiving certain services through the Department of Human Services and supplementing Title 30 of the Revised Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Commissioner of Human Services shall designate an employee to be the Transportation Planning Coordinator.
b. The Transportation Planning Coordinator shall be qualified by training and experience, as necessary to perform the duties of the position which training and experience may include relevant experience in the transportation industry or in coordinating, supervising, or overseeing transportation services. The commissioner shall determine the requisite qualifications for the position.
c. The duties of the Transportation Planning Coordinator shall include:
(1) overseeing the transportation providers who are contracted by or have otherwise entered into an agreement with the department;
(2) monitoring and reporting, as appropriate, driver or vehicle issues, such as accidents, safety issues, or licensing concerns as such information is made available to the coordinator;
(3) soliciting new transportation providers to serve applicable individuals receiving transportation services, as appropriate;
(4) ensuring that transportation providers provide timely services as provided in any applicable contract or agreement with the department;
(5) maintaining records of all transportation services provided to individuals under the department's purview;
(6) receiving, reviewing, investigating, and resolving complaints filed with respect to applicable transportation services;
(7) conducting internal reviews and investigations to identify inefficiencies or other problems occurring within the department's transportation system, and instituting revised procedures to address identified concerns or issues;
(8) analyzing the costs of transportation services offered through the department, and recommending more cost effective methods of transportation, where appropriate; and
(9) any other appropriate duties assigned by the department.
d. On at least an annual basis, the Transportation Planning Coordinator shall submit a written report to the commissioner describing the coordinator's relevant activities over the prior year and providing a summary of transportation-related complaints received during the reporting period, including an indication of the extent to which and manner in which such complaints were resolved.
e. As used in this section:
"Commissioner" means the Commissioner of Human Services.
"Department" means the Department of Human Services.
2. The Commissioner of Human Services may adopt rules and regulations, pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
3. This act shall take effect on the first day of the 10th month next following the date of enactment, except that the Commissioner of Human Services may take anticipatory administrative action in advance as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this act.
STATEMENT
This bill requires the Commissioner of Human Services (commissioner) to designate an employee as a Transportation Planning Coordinator to oversee the provision of transportation services provided through the Department of Human Services (department).
The bill requires the Transportation Planning Coordinator to be qualified by training and experience, as necessary to perform the duties of the position. The commissioner would have the authority to determine qualifications for the position.
The duties of the Transportation Planning Coordinator will include: (1) overseeing the transportation providers who are contracted by or have otherwise entered into an agreement with the department; (2) monitoring and reporting driver or vehicle issues, such as accidents, safety issues, or licensing concerns as that information is made available to the coordinator; (3) soliciting new transportation providers to serve applicable individuals; (4) ensuring that transportation providers provide timely services as provided by contract or agreement; (5) maintaining records of all transportation services provided to individuals under the department's purview; (6) receiving, reviewing, investigating, and resolving complaints filed with respect to applicable transportation services; (7) conducting internal reviews and investigations to identify inefficiencies or other problems occurring within the transportation system, and instituting revised procedures to address identified concerns or issues; (8) analyzing the costs of transportation services offered through the department and recommending more cost effective methods of transportation, where appropriate; and (9) any other appropriate duties assigned by the department.
Each year, the Transportation Planning Coordinator is required to submit a written report to the commissioner describing the coordinator's activities over the prior year. The coordinator is also required to summarize the public complaints received during the reporting period and indicate the extent to which and manner in which such complaints were resolved.
The bill would take effect on the first day of the 10th month following enactment.
