SENATE BUDGET AND APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 2607

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 24, 2024

      The Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 2607.

      As amended and reported, this bill permits taxicabs, limousines, and transportation network companies (TNCs) to provide paratransit services in the State for a period of two years.

      The bill requires, within 60 days of the termination of the two-year period in which the provision of paratransit services is permitted by taxicabs, limousines, and TNCs, each paratransit provider that provides paratransit service by means of a taxicab, limousine, or TNC to prepare and submit a report to the Department of Transportation (department) containing the following information: (1) information on the number of paratransit service rides provided during the two-year period; (2) information on any vehicle safety, labor, environmental, or any other applicable violations that occurred during the provision of paratransit services; and (3) information pertaining to each motor vehicle accident that occurred during the provision of paratransit services and any related injuries or insurance claims that resulted from each motor vehicle accident.

      The bill also requires, within 90 days of the termination of the two-year period in which the provision of paratransit services is permitted by taxicabs, limousines, and TNCs, the department, in consultation with the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Department of Health, to prepare and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature concerning the efficacy of allowing taxicabs, limousines, and TNCs to provide paratransit services in the State.  The report is required to include, at a minimum: (1) information on the number of contracts entered into with paratransit providers that are taxicabs, limousines, or TNCs during the two-year period; (2) information concerning the advantages and disadvantages of permitting taxicabs, limousines, and TNCs to provide paratransit service; (3) a summary of the information provided to the department by each paratransit service provider; and (4) a recommendation of whether the temporary provision of paratransit service by taxicabs, limousines, and TNCs should be made permanent.

      Finally, the department is required to publish the report on the department’s Internet website following the submission of the report to the Governor and Legislature.

      Under current law, the definition of “paratransit service” generally excludes private or charter services provided by taxicabs, limousines, or transportation network companies.

      As amended and reported by the committee, Assembly Bill No. 2607 is identical to Senate Bill No. 360, which was also amended and reported by the committee on this date.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to:

      (1) remove provisions of the bill that modify the definition of “paratransit service” under various sections of law to permit providers of private or charter services via taxicabs, limousines, or transportation network companies to provide paratransit service and instead establish a two-year period in which the provision of paratransit services is permitted by taxicabs, limousines, and TNCs;

      (2) add a requirement that within 60 days of the termination of the two-year period in which the provision of paratransit services is permitted by taxicabs, limousines, and TNCs, each paratransit provider that provided paratransit service by means of a taxicab, limousine, or TNC prepare and submit a report to the department containing certain information;

      (3) add a requirement that within 90 days of the termination of the two-year period in which the provision of paratransit services is permitted by taxicabs, limousines, and TNCs, the department, in consultation with the New Jersey Transit Corporation, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and the Department of Health, prepare and submit a report to the Governor and Legislature concerning the efficacy of allowing taxicabs, limousines, and TNCs to provide paratransit services in the State, which report is to include certain additional information;

      (4) require the department to publish the report on the department’s Internet website following the submission of the report to the Governor and Legislature;

      (5) change the bill’s effective date to provide that the bill takes effect on the first day of the fourth month next following the date of enactment, rather than taking effect immediately;

      (6) provide that the bill expires following the submission of the department’s report to the Governor and Legislature; and

      (7) amend the title and synopsis to reflect these changes.

FISCAL IMPACT:

      Fiscal information for this bill is currently unavailable.