RELATING TO TRANSIT; CREATING A TRANSIT COORDINATING COUNCIL; PROVIDING FOR COORDINATION OF STATE AND LOCAL TRANSIT RESOURCES.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:

Section 1. TRANSIT COORDINATING COUNCIL CREATED--STAFF--DUTIES.--

A. The "transit coordinating council" is created.

B. The transit coordinating council shall be comprised of the:

(1) secretary of human services or his designee;

(2) secretary of labor or his designee;

(3) secretary of children, youth and families or his designee;

(4) secretary of health or his designee;

(5) secretary of highway and transportation or his designee;

(6) superintendent of public instruction or his designee;

(7) executive director of the New Mexico office of Indian affairs or his designee;

(8) executive director of the commission on higher education or his designee; and

(9) director of the state agency on aging or his designee.

C. The state highway and transportation department shall staff the transit coordinating council.

D. The transit coordinating council shall:

(1) identify state and federal laws and rules governing transit;

(2) determine the transit service delivery area for each state agency;

(3) analyze the efficiency of the current transit network;

(4) work with local communities to coordinate transit resources;

(5) coordinate the purchase of capital equipment to reduce purchasing duplication and increase service areas;

(6) maximize vehicle use; and

(7) increase the ability to identify and serve previously unserved persons.

E. The transit coordinating council shall report annually to the legislative finance committee and other appropriate interim legislative committees prior to October 15. The council shall report annually to the governor and the legislature by December 15.

Section 2. COOPERATION.--Each state agency or institution of the state and its political subdivisions shall cooperate with the transit coordinating council.

Section 3. EFFECTIVE DATE.--The effective date of the provisions of this act is July 1, 1999.