Legislative Program

CALACT is your proactive voice in the legislature. We advocate for your interests as well as keep you informed of any changes taking place in Sacramento and Washington D.C. that may affect your operation. We support local efforts to increase revenue for public transportation, as well as advocating at the state level.

Legislative Matrix – 10.17.22

State Issues

Funding

Protect existing transit and paratransit funding.

Oppose the transfer of Public Transportation Account (PTA) funds to the General Fund, the expenditure of PTA funds for purposes other than public transit, and the use of bond funds to supplant PTA capital funds. Support the appropriation of PTA, STA, and Spillover funds for the operation of urban and rural transit systems.

Continue support for protection of Proposition 42 funding.

Support restoration of and a statutory firewall for the Spillover Account funds for public transportation.

Support legislation that provides correlating operating funds to accompany bond capital purchases.

Sponsor and/or support legislation that creates additional state funding for public transportation for all users.

Confirm that the final regulations for Proposition 1 B implementation meet minimum standards.

Ensure the implementation allows the use of bond funds for the purchase of the entire range of public transit vehicles, including paratransit vehicles that may have a life of two years and are necessary to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Bond requirements should meet FTA standards for vehicle purchases. Guarantee a minimum of $50,000 each for small rural counties.

Support funding for transit equipment and operations for security and emergency planning and adequate reimbursement for disaster operations and assistance.

Coordination

Support the use of MediCal funds as reimbursement for transit passes and for reimbursable non-emergency transportation by MediCal recipients.

Advocate for MediCal policies that promote the use of transit/paratransit as Medicaid providers and reimbursement for transportation costs at an equivalent rate to private providers for paratransit trips.

Advocate for coordination among human service, social service, school and public transportation funding and programs.

Support legislation that creates an inter-agency statewide task force to coordinate various funding sources for transportation including schools, human services and others.

Encourage legislation to require private transportation providers improve accessibility to match public transit standards.

Fight Global Warming and Reduce Greenhouse Gases

Support legislation that increases transit funding to purchase alternative fuel vehicles and reduce greenhouse gases.

Includes supporting user fees for single cars on public highways, such as vehicle miles traveled or fuel fees, and the creation of high occupancy toll lanes.

Support legislation that provides tax incentives for people who use public transit instead of a personal vehicle.

Operations

Protect the availability of free-flowing HOV lanes for public transit and paratransit vehicles.

Support efforts to mitigate sudden changes in costs for energy, insurance, and meeting Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.

Monitor changes and improvements to regulations for transit, paratransit, and van operations.

Support efforts to identify, prevent, and eliminate service gaps in intercity and interregional transit services that shall include supporting measures that provide services to the public they have paid for.

Other

Ensure first responders include public and paratransit operators in emergency evacuation planning efforts and ensure avenues for receipt of disaster assistance reimbursement.

Monitor regulatory and legal issues and advocate on behalf of members to overcome interpretations that hinder service delivery, coordination, and funding.