In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Door–to–door transportation” means providing, through prearranged appointment, safe escort from a departure point, into and out of a transport vehicle and to the door of the destination. “Low–income to moderate–income” means the household income of an individual does not exceed 400% of the poverty threshold that is established by the United States Department of Commerce, Bureau of Statistics for a given year. “Program” means the Maryland Senior Rides Program established under this subtitle. “Program applicant” means a government agency, nonprofit entity, or faith–based agency that provides transportation services and is exempt from taxation under § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. “Program participant” means a Program applicant that has been approved for participation in the Program. “Senior” means an individual age 60 or older.

There is a Maryland Senior Rides Program in the Administration. The purpose of the Program is to encourage regional providers to provide door–to–door transportation for low–income to moderate–income seniors. The Administration shall award grants to qualified Program applicants, as provided in § 7–1003 of this subtitle, for the operation of transportation services as specified in this section. To be eligible for a grant under § 7–1003 of this subtitle, a Program applicant shall: Provide door–to–door transportation for low–income to moderate–income seniors who have difficulty accessing or using other existing transportation systems; Use primarily volunteer drivers who drive their own vehicles; Use a dispatcher system to respond quickly to requests from low–income to moderate–income seniors for door–to–door transportation; and Define a geographic area for which door–to–door transportation is provided. A Program participant may provide door–to–door transportation to an eligible senior who does not reside in the geographic area defined by the Program participant under subsection (d)(4) of this section when applying to participate in the Program, so long as service is not diminished to an eligible senior who does reside in the defined geographic area. A Program participant shall expend a matching fund of at least 25% of the total capital or operating costs associated with providing door–to–door transportation for low–income to moderate–income seniors. A Program participant may charge reasonable fees for door–to–door transportation provided by the Program participant. Nothing in this section prohibits a Program participant from providing services in addition to those described in subsection (d) of this section.

The Administration shall: Solicit grant applications from prospective Program applicants; Award grants to qualified Program applicants; Ensure that the grants awarded under item (2) of this section are distributed among Program applicants to provide door–to–door transportation in the following areas: The Baltimore Metropolitan Area; The Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area; Western Maryland; Southern Maryland; and The Eastern Shore; and Ensure, to the extent practicable, that at least one grant is awarded to Program applicants to provide door–to–door transportation in each of the following areas: A rural area; An urban area; and A suburban area.

The Administration shall consult with the Department of Aging when considering the eligibility of a Program applicant for a grant under § 7-1003 of this subtitle. When awarding a grant under § 7-1003 of this subtitle, the Administration shall consider: The ability of the Program applicant to provide door-to-door transportation to low-income to moderate-income seniors; The projected volume of ridership; The Program applicant’s marketing and outreach plan to attract riders and drivers; The ability of the Program applicant to sustain door-to-door transportation for low-income to moderate-income seniors beyond the time when grants may be available; The ability of the Program applicant to coordinate its dispatcher system with a local central dispatcher system; and The extent to which the Program applicant encourages: Shared ridership; Coordination between public and private sector transportation providers; and Innovations in risk management for drivers and riders. In consultation with the Department of Aging, the Maryland Insurance Administration, and senior citizen advocacy groups, the Administration shall adopt regulations to implement this subtitle, including regulations governing: Criminal background and driving record checks of drivers; Driver and vehicle safety; Driver training; and The liability coverage of a Program applicant that provides door-to-door transportation under the Program.

A Program participant that receives a grant under § 7-1003 of this subtitle shall submit to the Administration a written report annually, which shall include: The number of riders and drivers participating in the Program; The amount and source of matching funds used for grants awarded under § 7-1003 of this subtitle; The nature of cooperative efforts between the Program participant and other government and private-sector entities; Innovations in risk management for drivers and riders; If the Program participant charges fees for door-to-door transportation: The fee schedule used by the Program participant; The methodology used in establishing the fee schedule; and The total amount of fees collected by the Program participant; The amount and source of any revenue, other than fees reported under item (5) of this section, generated by the Program participant in connection with the Program; and Any other information required by the Administration to evaluate and operate the Program and monitor the use of grant funds awarded to the Program participant.