Exempts certain paratransit eligible individuals from recertification requirements

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Mike Tannousis

Exempts a defined group of paratransit-eligible individuals from ongoing recertification, preserving eligibility and reducing administrative burden for riders and agencies.

REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

Overview

Title: Exempts certain paratransit eligible individuals from recertification requirements

Bill number: A 6676

Status: Referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

Introduced: March 6, 2025

Primary sponsor: Michael Tannousis

Related bills: A 7522, A 4690, A 5726, A 6924, A 5183 (prior-session); S 6938 (companion)

Purpose and intent

The bill aims to exempt a subset of paratransit eligible individuals from the ongoing recertification requirements that otherwise apply to paratransit eligibility. In effect, it would reduce or remove the periodic re-certification process for those individuals, preserving their eligibility status without the need for repeated verification.

Key provisions (as indicated by the bill’s title and summary)

Create an exemption from the existing recertification requirements for a defined group of paratransit eligible individuals.

The exemption criteria (i.e., which individuals qualify) and the scope of the exemption would be defined in the bill’s text.

Any applicable implementation details, timelines, or conditions would be specified in the statute and accompanying fiscal notes (not provided in the available material).

Who would be affected

Paratransit eligible individuals who meet the bill’s specified exemption criteria.

Paratransit service providers and administering agencies would implement and adhere to the exemption when determining eligibility status for ride access.

Other stakeholders in the paratransit program (e.g., program administrators, eligibility workers) would adjust procedures to reflect the exemption.

Procedural and timeline aspects

Current status: Referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions. No floor action indicated.

Timeline: Introduced and referred on March 6, 2025; action appears duplicated in the official record (two identical entries on the same date).

Next steps: Committee hearings, potential amendments, and a possible floor vote or further committee referrals.

Potential impact and considerations

Administrative burden: Could reduce ongoing administrative costs and time for individuals who are permanently eligible or meet the exemption criteria.

Continuity of access: May prevent gaps in paratransit eligibility due to recertification delays or denial.

Clarity and implementation: The effectiveness depends on clear statutory criteria for who qualifies and how exemptions are maintained or revoked if a condition changes.

Fiscal implications: A fiscal note would typically accompany the bill to assess potential savings or costs to the paratransit program and agencies.

Open questions (requires bill text for precise details)

What specific criteria determine eligibility for the exemption?

Does the exemption apply permanently or for a defined period?

Are there safeguards to revoke the exemption if an individual’s condition changes?

What is the effective date or phase-in period, if any?

This summary reflects the information available from the bill's title, sponsor, status, and related actions. For a complete understanding, the full bill text and any fiscal impact notes should be reviewed once released.

Bill