In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. “Job access and reverse commute project” means a project that: Provides transportation services to targeted populations; and Serves targeted employment areas. “Job access and reverse commute project” includes: The extension of service hours on local fixed route transit systems to a targeted employment area; Vanpool services; Employer provided transportation services; or Demand–response or deviated fixed route transit services. “Job access and reverse commute project” does not include: Ride matching, mobility management, or commuter assistance services; Services provided by a for–hire vehicle or a transportation network company; Carpool services; Volunteer driver programs; or Except for services in support of a job access and reverse commute project, other services provided on an individual basis. “Program” means the Job Access and Reverse Commute Program. “Provider” means a private nonprofit organization, a local transit system, or one or more employer that implements a job access and reverse commute project. “Targeted employment area” means an area that has recently experienced a significant growth in employment opportunities in sectors including construction, manufacturing, logistics, warehousing, retail trade, or the service industry. “Targeted population” means individuals in defined areas who: Reside in low income areas, as determined by the Administration; Have limited or no access to the use of a personal vehicle; and Reside in areas with limited access to fixed route transit service.

There is a Job Access and Reverse Commute Program in the Administration.

The Administration may make grants under this subtitle to a provider for job access and reverse commute projects that connect targeted populations with targeted employment areas. A provider may use not more than 10% of the amount distributed to the provider under this subtitle for administrative costs, as determined by the Administration. Except as provided in subsection (d) of this section, the Administration shall distribute amounts made available for a fiscal year to implement this subtitle as follows: 70% of the funds shall be distributed to providers for use in urbanized areas; and 30% of the funds shall be distributed to providers for use in rural areas. The Administration may distribute funds: Under subsection (c)(1) of this section for rural projects if the Administration certifies that no eligible grant requests have been made in urbanized areas; and Under subsection (c)(2) of this section for urban projects if the Administration certifies that no eligible grant requests have been made in rural areas.

Before accepting grant applications under § 7–1103(c)(1) of this subtitle, the Administration shall conduct, in cooperation with the appropriate metropolitan planning organization, an area–wide solicitation for grant applications for projects. Before accepting grant applications under § 7–1103(c)(2) of this subtitle, the Administration shall conduct a statewide solicitation for grant applications for projects. A provider that is seeking a grant under this subtitle shall submit to the Administration an application on a form and in the manner that the Administration requires.

The Administration shall: Award grants under this subtitle on a competitive basis; Ensure that grants are awarded and distributed to providers on a fair and equitable basis; and For projects in urbanized areas, award grants only to projects endorsed by the appropriate metropolitan planning organization.

A grant under this subtitle: May not exceed 80% of the net operating costs of the project, as determined by the Administration; and Shall provide services for more than 3 years.

The Governor shall provide funding for the Program in the State budget.

On or before December 1, 2021, the Administration shall conduct a study to evaluate the effectiveness of the Program and submit the study to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “State agency” means an executive department, agency, or office of the State. “Transportation–disadvantaged” means an individual who qualifies for federally conducted or federally assisted transportation–related programs or services, as implemented and coordinated by a State agency, due to disability, income, or advanced age. There is a State Coordinating Committee for Health and Human Services Transportation. The Committee consists of the following members: The Secretary, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Human Services, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Health, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Aging, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Disabilities, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Housing and Community Development, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Planning, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Veterans and Military Families, or the Secretary’s designee; The Secretary of Labor, or the Secretary’s designee; The Director of the Office of the Deaf, Deafblind, and Hard of Hearing, or the Director’s designee; The Executive Director of the Maryland Developmental Disabilities Council, or the Executive Director’s designee; The Executive Board Chair of the Rural Maryland Council, or the Executive Board Chair’s designee; and Any additional members recommended by the chair of the Committee and appointed by the Governor to provide input from local governments, employers, agencies, and organizations serving priority populations, transportation providers, and consumers from priority populations. The appointed members serve at the pleasure of the Governor. The term of an appointed member is 3 years. The Governor may stagger the terms of the appointed members. The Secretary, or the designee of the Secretary, shall chair the Committee. The Department shall provide staff for the Committee. A member of the Committee: May not receive compensation as a member of the Committee; but Is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. The Committee shall: Examine the transportation needs of residents of the State who: Are elderly; Have a disability; or Require transportation to access jobs, medical and other health–related appointments, senior citizen programs, or other programs requiring the transportation of individuals who qualify as transportation–disadvantaged; Coordinate efforts in the State to provide quality health and human services transportation services by working with appropriate federal, State, and local agencies, transit consumers, and transportation providers, to develop a cooperative and coordinated health and human services transportation system; Conduct an inventory and assessment of health and human services transportation providers in the State; Devise a 5–year health and human services transportation plan that sets goals and objectives to help transportation–disadvantaged residents of the State access jobs, education and training programs, health care services, and other activities by providing cost–effective, affordable, high–capacity, high–quality, easily understood, and safe and accessible transportation; and Serve as the clearinghouse for health and human services transportation coordination issues in the State; Identify and facilitate resolution to issues regarding health and human services transportation, both locally and statewide; Participate in the identification of potential allocations of health and human services transportation resources during emergency evacuations; Evaluate cost–saving measures; Investigate the need for the establishment of standards for vehicles and drivers within health and human services transportation programs; and Examine other appropriate areas to facilitate the development of a quality health and human services transportation system in the State. On or before September 1 each year, the Committee shall report on its activities to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly.