CHAPTER
2. Youth Transit Pass Pilot Program
99100.
For purposes of this chapter, the following definitions apply:(a) “Department” means the Department of Transportation.
(b) “Educational institution” means a local educational agency as defined in Section 56026.3 of the Education Code, the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California.
(c) “Eligible purposes” means those purposes specified in Sections 99102 and 99103.
(d) “Free youth transit pass” means a pass that enables a person attending an
educational institution to use, without limitation, a transit agency’s bus and rail services without paying any additional fare or charge.
(e) “Program” means the Youth Transit Pass Pilot Program created pursuant to Section 99101.
(f) “Transit agency” means an STA-eligible operator, as defined in Section 99312.2, or the public agencies, including joint powers agencies, responsible for state-supported intercity rail or commuter rail services and eligible for
funding under Section 99312.3.
99101.
(a) Upon an appropriation for purposes of the program, the Youth Transit Pass Pilot Program is hereby created, to be administered by the department, for purposes of awarding grants to transit agencies for eligible purposes pursuant to this chapter.(b) On or before June 30, 2023, the department shall
develop, in consultation with transit agencies, educational institutions, metropolitan planning organizations, and regional transportation planning agencies, guidelines for the administration of the program.
(c) (1) A transit agency may submit, in partnership with one or more educational institutions, a single-year or multiyear application for the
program pursuant to Section 99102.
(2) A transit agency may submit a single-year or multiyear application for the program pursuant to Section 99103.
(d) The department shall award a grant to each eligible transit agency applicant based on its proportional share, relative to the other eligible transit agency applicants, of total statewide farebox revenues in the 2018–19 fiscal year.
(e) The department may use no more than 2 percent of the moneys appropriated for purposes of the program to recover its costs of administering the program.
99102.
(a) Grant moneys awarded pursuant to this section for purposes of the program may only be used for the following purposes agreed to by a transit agency and the relevant educational institutions in their grant application, until fully expended:(1) The costs of creating, designing, developing, advertising,
distributing, and implementing free youth transit passes pursuant to the program.
(2) The costs of providing free transit service to holders of free youth transit passes pursuant to the program.
(3) The costs of maintaining, subsidizing, or expanding an existing fare free program.
(4) Other costs of administering and participating in the program.
(b) An educational institution shall be prohibited from participating in, and receiving funds from, the program, if its participation in the program would invalidate an existing agreement with a transit agency for free youth transit passes entered into before the operative date of this section. An educational
institution that receives funds from the program and that invalidates an existing agreement with a transit agency for free youth transit passes before this chapter is repealed shall be required to reimburse the state for funds received.
99103.
(a) A transit agency with an existing fare free program that enables a person 18 years of age or younger to use, without limitation, a transit agency’s bus and rail services without paying any additional fare or charge may submit an application for the program without an educational institution partner.(b) Grant moneys awarded pursuant to this section for purposes of the program may only be used for the following purposes:
(1) The costs of creating, designing, developing, advertising, distributing, and implementing free youth transit passes pursuant to the program.
(2) The costs of providing free transit service to holders of free youth transit passes pursuant to the program.
(3) The costs of maintaining or expanding the existing fare free program.
(4) The costs of enhancing or expanding transit service by supporting new or expanded bus, rail, or ferry services.
(5) The cost associated with other operational improvements to improve access to transit service or to increase transit mode share.
(6) Other costs of administering and participating in the program.
99104.
For purposes of calculating the ratio of fare revenues to operating costs under Article 4 (commencing with Section 99260) of Chapter 4, transit agencies participating in the program shall comply with the process described in Section 99268.19. Free youth transit passes shall be counted as free and reduced transit fares pursuant to Section 99268.19.99105.
(a) On or before January 1, 2027, the department shall submit, in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code, a report on the outcomes of the program and the status of transit pass programs statewide to the fiscal and policy committees of the Legislature that oversee transportation programs.
The report shall be produced in consultation with transit agencies and educational institutions that participated in the program.(b) The report shall include, but is not limited to, all of the following:
(1) The number of free transit passes provided to persons attending an educational institution.
(2) Any change in transit ridership among persons attending an educational institution.
(3) An assessment of how many transit agencies and educational institutions have created or expanded a transit pass program.
(4) Recommendations to expand transit pass programs to ensure that
all persons attending an educational institution have access to a transit pass program.
(5) Whether, over its lifetime, the program achieved reductions in vehicle miles traveled, reduced emissions of greenhouse gases, enhanced transit accessibility for
pupils and students, and ensured equity.
(6) Whether the program minimized administrative requirements for both program management and user access.
(7) Identification of best practices being implemented to enhance youth transit ridership.
99106.
This chapter shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2028, and as of that date is repealed.