Bill Text: PA HB2103 | 2011-2012 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: Further providing for department authorization, for fund, for application and approval process, for coordination, for asset improvement program and for programs of Statewide significance; and making repeals.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-12-20 - Referred to APPROPRIATIONS [HB2103 Detail]

Download: Pennsylvania-2011-HB2103-Introduced.html

  

 

    

PRINTER'S NO.  2929

  

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

  

HOUSE BILL

 

No.

2103

Session of

2011

  

  

INTRODUCED BY FRANKEL, DECEMBER 20, 2011

  

  

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS, DECEMBER 20, 2011  

  

  

  

AN ACT

  

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Amending Titles 74 (Transportation) and 75 (Vehicles) of the

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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, further providing for

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department authorization, for fund, for application and

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approval process, for coordination, for asset improvement

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program and for programs of Statewide significance; and

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making repeals.

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The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

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hereby enacts as follows:

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Section 1.  Section 1504(a) of Title 74 of the Pennsylvania

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Consolidated Statutes is amended to read:

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§ 1504.  Department authorization.

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(a)  General.--The department may, within the limitations

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provided in this chapter, incur costs directly and provide

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financial assistance for the purposes and activities enumerated

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in this chapter. The operation of such programs, activities and

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services by the department shall not be subject to the

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jurisdiction of the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.

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* * *

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Section 2.  Section 1506(b)(1), (c)(1) and (e) of Title 74

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are amended and the section is amended by adding a subsection to

 


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read:

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§ 1506.  Fund.

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* * *

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(a.1)  Availability of funds.--Funds not expended in the

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fiscal year they were made available shall not lapse and shall

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be available until expended.

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(b)  Deposits to fund by department.--

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(1)  The following apply:

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(i)  Except as provided under subparagraph (ii), upon

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receipt, the department shall deposit into the fund the

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revenues received by the department under 75 Pa.C.S. Ch.

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89 (relating to Pennsylvania Turnpike) and the lease

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agreement executed between the department and the

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Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission under 75 Pa.C.S. §

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8915.3 (relating to lease of Interstate 80; related

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agreements) as follows:

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(A)  For fiscal year 2007-2008, $250,000,000.

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(B)  For fiscal year 2008-2009, $250,000,000.

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(C)  For fiscal year 2009-2010, $250,000,000.

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(D)  For fiscal year 2010-2011 and each fiscal

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year thereafter, the amount calculated for the

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previous fiscal year, increased by 2.5%.

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(ii)  The deposits made to the fund under this

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subsection from the turnpike shall equal [$250,000,000]

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$450,000,000 annually for each fiscal year commencing

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[after the expiration of the conversion period if the

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conversion notice is not received by the secretary prior

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to expiration of the conversion period as set forth under 

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75 Pa.C.S. § 8915.3(3)] with fiscal year 2012-2013.

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(c)  Other deposits.--The following shall be deposited into

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the fund annually:

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(1)  [4.4%] 6.4% of the amount collected under Article II

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of the Tax Reform Code. Revenues under this paragraph shall

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be deposited into the fund by the 20th day of each month for

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the preceding month. The amount deposited under this

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paragraph is estimated to be equivalent to the money

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available to the department from the following sources:

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(i)  The Supplemental Public Transportation Account

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established under former section 1310.1 (relating to

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supplemental public transportation assistance funding).

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(ii)  The amount appropriated annually by the

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Commonwealth from the General Fund for mass transit

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programs pursuant to a General Appropriations Act.

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(2)  An amount of proceeds of Commonwealth capital bonds

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as determined annually by the Secretary of the Budget.

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(3)  Revenue in the Public Transportation Assistance Fund

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established under Article XXIII of the Tax Reform Code not

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otherwise dedicated pursuant to law.

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(4)  Other appropriations, deposits or transfers to the

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fund.

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* * *

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(e)  Program funding amounts.--Subject to available funds,

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the programs established under this chapter shall be funded

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annually as follows:

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(1)  For the program established under section 1513

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(relating to operating program), the following amounts shall

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be allocated from the fund:

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(i)  All revenues deposited in the fund under

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subsection (b)(1).

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(ii)  All revenues deposited in the fund under

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subsection (b)(2).

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(iii)  69.99% of the revenues deposited in the fund

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under subsection (c)(1).

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(iv)  All revenues deposited into the fund under

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subsection (c)(3).

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(2)  (i)  Except as provided under subparagraph (ii), for

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the program established under section 1514 (relating to asset

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improvement program):

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(A)  By the proceeds of Commonwealth capital

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bonds deposited into the fund under subsection (c)

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(2).

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(A.1)  For fiscal year 2007-2008, $50,000,000

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from the revenues received by the department under 75

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Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 and the lease agreement executed

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between the department and the Pennsylvania Turnpike

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Commission under 75 Pa.C.S. § 8915.3. The amount

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received by the department under this section shall

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be deposited into the fund prior to distribution and

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shall be in addition to the amounts received under

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subsection (b)(1).

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(B)  For fiscal year 2008-2009, $100,000,000 from

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the revenues received by the department under 75

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Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 and the lease agreement executed

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between the department and the Pennsylvania Turnpike

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Commission under 75 Pa.C.S. § 8915.3. The amount

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received by the department under this section shall

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be deposited into the fund prior to distribution and

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shall be in addition to the amounts received under

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subsection (b)(1).

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(C)  For fiscal year 2009-2010, $150,000,000 from

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the revenues received by the department under 75

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Pa.C.S. Ch. 89 and the lease agreement executed

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between the department and the Pennsylvania Turnpike

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Commission under 75 Pa.C.S. § 8915.3. The amount

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received by the department under this section shall

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be deposited into the fund prior to distribution and

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shall be in addition to the amounts received under

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subsection (b)(1).

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(D)  For fiscal year 2010-2011 and each fiscal

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year thereafter, the amount calculated for the prior

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fiscal year increased by 2.5% from the revenues

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received by the department under 75 Pa.C.S. Ch. 89

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and the lease agreement executed between the

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department and the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission

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under 75 Pa.C.S. § 8915.3. The amount received by the

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department under this section shall be deposited into

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the fund prior to distribution and shall be in

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addition to the amounts received under subsection

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(b)(1).

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(E)  95% of all revenues deposited in the fund

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under subsection (b)(1).

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(ii)  If the conversion notice is not received by the

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secretary prior to the end of the conversion period as

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set forth in 75 Pa.C.S. § 8915.3(3), no additional

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allocation shall be made under subparagraph (i).

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(3)  For the program established under section 1516

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(relating to programs of Statewide significance), [13.24%]

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20.63% of the revenues deposited in the fund under subsection

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(c)(1) shall be allocated from the fund plus 5% of all

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revenue deposited in the fund under subsection (b)(1).

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[(4)  For the program established under section 1517

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(relating to capital improvements program), 16.77% of the

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revenues deposited in the fund under subsection (c)(1).

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Additional funds for this program may be provided from the

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funds allocated but not distributed based on the limitation

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set forth under section 1513(c)(3).]

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Section 3.  Sections 1507(a) and (c) and 1512 of Title 74 are

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amended to read:

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§ 1507.  Application and approval process.

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(a)  Application.--An eligible applicant that wishes to

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receive financial assistance under this chapter shall submit a

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written application to the department on a form developed by the

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department, which shall include the following:

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(1)  The name and address of the applicant.

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(2)  The name and telephone number of a contact person

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for the applicant.

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(3)  The amount and type of financial assistance

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requested and the proposed use of the funds.

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(4)  A statement as to the particular need for the

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financial assistance.

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(5)  A certified copy of a current resolution authorizing

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submission of the application if the applicant is a governing

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body.

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(6)  Evidence satisfactory to the department of the

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commitment for matching funds required under this chapter

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sufficient to match the projected financial assistance

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payments [at the same times that the financial assistance

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payments are to be provided] no later than June 30 of the

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applicable fiscal year. If this evidence is not provided,

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subsequent funding under section 1513 (relating to operating

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program) shall be withheld.

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(7)  A statement of policy outlining basic principles for

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adjustment in fare revenue growth to meet the rate of

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inflation.

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(8)  Any other information the department deems necessary

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or desirable.

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* * *

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(c)  Restriction on use of funds.--[Financial assistance

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under this chapter shall be used only for activities set forth

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under the financial assistance agreement unless the department

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grants the award recipient a waiver allowing the funds to be

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used for a different purpose. The department's regulations shall

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describe circumstances under which it will consider waiver

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requests and shall set forth all information to be included in a

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waiver request. The maximum duration of a waiver shall be one

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year, and a waiver request shall include a plan of corrective

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action to demonstrate that the award recipient does not have an

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ongoing need to use financial assistance funds for activities

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other than those for which funds were originally awarded.]

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Financial assistance under this chapter shall be used only for

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activities set forth under the financial waiver allowing the

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funds to be used for a different purpose. The department's

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regulations shall describe circumstances under which it will

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consider waiver requests and shall set forth all information to

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be included in a waiver request. The waiver request shall

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include a plan of corrective action to demonstrate that the

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award recipient does not have an ongoing need to use financial

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assistance funds for activities other than those for which funds

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were originally awarded and the duration of the waiver cannot

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exceed the duration of the plan of corrective action. If the

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waiver request and plan are approved, the department shall

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monitor the implementation of the plan of corrective action. If

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the plan of corrective action is not implemented by the local

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transportation organization, the department shall rescind the

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waiver approval.

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§ 1512.  Coordination.

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(a)  Coordination.--Coordination is required in regions where

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two or more award recipients have services or activities for

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which financial assistance is being provided under this chapter

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to assure that the services or activities are provided

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efficiently and effectively.

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(b)  Consolidation.--The department may study consolidation

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of local transportation organizations as a means of reducing

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annual expenses. Consolidation shall not occur until the

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department and the affected transportation organizations have

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jointly conducted a study. The study shall examine the creation

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of service regions to determine whether consolidation would

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reduce annual expenses. If the results of the study estimate

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annual savings, the transportation organizations and local

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governments shall either implement the recommended actions or

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provide increased local matching funds equal to the projected

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annual savings.

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(c)  Funding for merger and consolidation incentives.--

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Capital projects that are needed to support local transportation

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organizations that have agreed to merge and consolidate

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operations and administration to achieve cost and service

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efficiencies shall be eligible for financial assistance under

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this chapter. The application for financial assistance shall

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identify the efficiencies in a merger and consolidation plan and

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shall include the expected dollar savings that will result from

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the merger and consolidation.

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Section 4.  Sections 1514(c) and (e)(3) and 1516(b)(1) and

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(e)(3) of Title 74 are amended to read:

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§ 1514.  Asset improvement program.

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* * *

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(c)  Local match requirements.--Financial assistance under

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this section shall be matched by local or private cash funding

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in an amount not less than [3.33% of the amount of the financial

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assistance being provided] 10% of the non-Federal share of the

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project cost. The source of funds for the local match shall be

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subject to the requirements of section 1513(d)(3) (relating to

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operating program).

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* * *

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(e)  Priorities.--The award of financial assistance under

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this section shall be subject to the following set of priorities

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in descending order of significance unless a compelling return

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on investment analysis for a project in a lower category is

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provided to and approved by the department:

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* * *

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(3)  Other non-Federal capital projects as determined by

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the department, which shall be further subject to the

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following set of priorities in descending order of

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significance:

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(i)  Essential emergency asset improvement projects.

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(ii)  [Standard replacement] Replacement of existing

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assets that have exceeded their useful life and asset

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improvement projects to extend the useful life of the

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affected assets.

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(iii)  [Asset improvement projects to extend the

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useful life of the affected assets.

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(iv)]  Acquisition of new assets and other acceptable

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purposes, other than projects to be funded under the new

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initiatives program described in section 1515 (relating

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to new initiatives program), as determined by the

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department.

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* * *

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§ 1516.  Programs of Statewide significance.

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* * *

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(b)  Persons with disabilities.--The department shall

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establish and administer a program providing reduced fares to

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persons with disabilities on community transportation services

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and to provide financial assistance for start-up, administrative

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and capital expenses related to reduced fares for persons with

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disabilities. All of the following shall apply:

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(1)  A community transportation system operating in the

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Commonwealth other than in counties of the first [and second]

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class may apply for financial assistance under this

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subsection.

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* * *

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(e)  Technical assistance and demonstration.--The department

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is authorized to provide financial assistance under this section

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for technical assistance, research and short-term demonstration

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projects. All of the following shall apply:

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* * *

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(3)  Financial assistance under this subsection provided

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to a local transportation organization shall be matched by

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local or private cash funding in an amount not less than

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3.33% of the [amount of the financial assistance being

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provided] non-Federal share of project costs. The sources of

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funds for the local match shall be subject to the

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requirements of section 1513(d)(3) (relating to operating

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program).

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Section 5.  Section 1517 of Title 74 is repealed:

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[§ 1517.  Capital improvements program.

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(a)  Eligibility.--A local transportation organization may

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apply for financial assistance under this section.

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(b)  Applications.--The department shall establish the

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contents of the application for the program established under

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this section. The information shall be in addition to

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information required under section 1507 (relating to application

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and approval process).

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(c)  Distribution formula.--The department shall award

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financial assistance under this section based on the number of

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passengers. The actual amount awarded to a local transportation

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organization under this subsection shall be calculated as

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follows:

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(1)  Multiply the local transportation organization's

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passengers by the total amount of funding available under

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this section.

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(2)  Divide the product under paragraph (1) by the sum of

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the passengers for all qualifying local transportation

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organizations.

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(d)  Payments.--Financial assistance under this section shall

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be paid to local transportation organizations at least

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quarterly.

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(e)  Reduction in financial assistance.--Financial assistance

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provided to a local transportation organization under this

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section shall be reduced by any financial assistance received

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previously under this section which has not been spent or

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committed in a contract within three years of its receipt.]

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Section 6.  Section 8915.6 of Title 75 is repealed:

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[§ 8915.6.  Deposit and distribution of funds.

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(a)  Deposits.--Upon receipt by the department, the following

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amounts from the scheduled annual commission contribution shall

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be deposited in the Motor License Fund:

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(1)  For fiscal year 2007-2008, $450,000,000.

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(2)  For fiscal year 2008-2009, $500,000,000.

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(3)  For fiscal year 2009-2010, $500,000,000.

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(4)  For fiscal year 2010-2011 and each fiscal year

10

thereafter, the amount calculated for the previous year

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increased by 2.5%.

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(b)  Distribution.--The following shall apply:

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(1)  Annually, 15% of the amount deposited in any fiscal

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year under subsection (a) shall be distributed at the

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discretion of the secretary.

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(2)  Annually, $5,000,000 of the amount deposited in any

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fiscal year under subsection (a) shall be distributed to

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counties.

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(i)  The distribution shall be in the ratio of:

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(A)  the square footage of deck area of a

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county's county-owned bridges; to

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(B)  the total square footage of deck area of

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county-owned bridges throughout this Commonwealth.

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(ii)  The amount of square footage under subparagraph

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(i) shall be that reported as part of the National Bridge

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Inspection Standards Program.

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(3)  Annually, $30,000,000 of the amount deposited in any

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fiscal year under subsection (a) shall be distributed to

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municipalities pursuant to the act of June 1, 1956 (1955

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P.L.1944, No.655), referred to as the Liquid Fuels Tax

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Municipal Allocation Law.

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(4)  Any funds deposited under subsection (a) but not

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distributed under paragraphs (1), (2) and (3) shall be

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distributed in accordance with needs-based formulas that are

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developed and subject to periodic revision based on

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consultation and collaboration among metropolitan planning

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organizations, rural planning organizations and the

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department.

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(c)  Definitions.--The following words and phrases when used

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in this section shall have the meanings given to them in this

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subsection unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:

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"Metropolitan planning organization."  The policy board of an

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organization created and designated to carry out the

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metropolitan transportation planning process.

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"Rural planning organization."  The organization of counties

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with populations of less than 50,000 created and designated as

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local development districts and which carry out the rural

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transportation planning process.]

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Section 7.  This act shall take effect in 60 days.

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