,,ii #aai? ,,congress #a/ ,session ,s4 #bdgh ,,9 ,,! ,,s5ate ,,( ,,! ,,unit$ ,,/ates ,july #bh1 #bjbe,mr4 ,m>key 7= himself & ,ms4 ,w>r57 introduc$ ! foll[+ bill2 :i* 0 read twice & ref]r$ to ! ,committee on ,bank+1 ,h\s+1 & ,urban ,affairs ,a ,,bill ,to direct ! ,secret>y ( ,transportation to c>ry out a grant program to support ef=ts to provide f>e-free transit s]vice1 & = o!r purposes4 #a4 ,%ort title ,?is ,act may be cit$ z ! ,fre$om to ,move ,act4 #b4 ,purpose ,! purposes ( ?is ,act are-- 7#a7 to inve/ 9 ,/ate1 c\nty1 & local municipalities ef=ts to provide f>e-free public transportation2 & 7#b7 to support ,/ate1 c\nty1 & local municipalities 9 improv+ & exp&+ access to safe1 accessible1 & reliable mass transit sy/ems 9 ord] to improve ! livability ( communities4 #c4 ,def9itions ,9 ?is ,act3 7#a7 ,eligible entity ,! t]m eligible entity means-- 7,a7 a ,/ate1 c\nty1 or local municipality2 7,b7 a transit ag5cy2 7,c7 a private nonpr(it organization engag$ 9 public transportation 9 rural areas2 or 7,d7 a p>tn]%ip betwe5 entities describ$ 9 subp>agraphs 7,a7 ?r\gh 7,c74 7#b7 ,fo/] c>e y\? ,! t]m fo/] c>e y\?-- 7,a7 means *ildr5 & y\? ^: c>e & placem5t are ! responsibility ( ! ,/ate or ,tribal ag5cy t adm9i/]s a ,/ate or ,tribal plan "u "p ,b or ,e ( title ,,iv ( ! ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fba et seq41 #fgj et seq471 )\t reg>d to :e!r fo/] c>e ma9t5ance paym5ts are made "u section #dgb ( su* ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fgb7 on behalf ( su* *ildr5 & y\?2 & 7,b7 includes individuals :o 7 age #ac or old] :5 _! c>e & placem5t 7 ! responsibility ( a ,/ate or ,tribal ag5cy t adm9i/]$ a ,/ate or ,tribal plan "u "p ,b or ,e ( title ,,iv ( ! ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fba et seq41 #fgj et seq47 & :o are no long] "u ! c>e & responsibility ( su* a ,/ate or ,tribal ag5cy1 )\t reg>d to any su* individual's subsequ5t adoption1 gu>dian%ip arrangem5t1 or o!r =m ( p]man5cy outcome4 7#c7 ,l[-income individuals ,! t]m l[-income individuals means an individual ^: family income is at or bel[ #aej p]c5t ( ! pov]ty l9e 7z t t]m is def9$ 9 section #fgc7b7 ( ! ,community ,s]vice ,block ,grant ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #iijb7b771 includ+ any revision requir$ by t section7 = a family ( ! size involv$4 7#d7 ,public transportation ,! t]m public transportation-- 7,a7 means regul>1 cont9u+ %>$-ride surface transportation s]vices t are op5 to ! g5]al public or op5 to a segm5t ( ! g5]al public def9$ by age1 disability1 or l[ income2 & 7,b7 does n include-- 7i7 int]city pass5g] rail transportation provid$ by ! entity describ$ 9 *apt] #bdc ( title #di1 ,unit$ ,/ates ,code 7or a successor to su* entity72 7ii7 int]city bus s]vice2 7iii7 *>t] bus s]vice2 7iv7 s*ool bus s]vice2 7v7 sightsee+ s]vice2 7vi7 c\rtesy %uttle s]vice = patrons ( "o or m specific e/abli%m5ts2 or 7vii7 intra-t]m9al or intra-facility %uttle s]vices4 7#e7 ,und]s]v$ community ,! t]m und]s]v$ community means-- 7,a7 a community n s]v$ by exi/+ bus r\tes or infrequ5t s]vice2 & 7,b7 a community locat$ 9 an area )9 a c5sus tract t is id5tifi$ z-- 7i7 a l[-income community2 & 7ii7 a community ( color4 #d4 ,grants to support f>e-free transit 7a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #cfj days aft] ! date ( enactm5t ( ?is ,act1 ! ,secret>y %all aw>d grants1 :i* %all be kn[n z ,fre$om to ,move ,grants1 to eligible entities1 on a competitive basis1 to cov] ! lo/ f>e rev5ue = f>e-free public transportation & improve public transportation4 7b7 ,application ,to be eligible to receive a grant "u ?is section1 an eligible entity %all submit to ! ,secret>y an application at su* "t1 9 su* mann]1 & conta9+ su* in=mation z ! ,secret>y may require1 includ+1 at a m9imum1 ! foll[+3 7#a7 ,a description ( h[ ! eligible entity plans to implem5t f>e-free transit access4 7#b7 ,a description ( h[ ! entity w "w to exp& & improve bus s]vice1 :i* may include-- 7,a7 a bus network r$esign2 7,b7 h[ su* r$esign w prioritize consi/5t & reliable s]vice = l[-income & hi/orically und]s]v$ communities2 7,c7 h[ su* r$esign w prioritize connectivity to critical s]vices & improve community livability2 & 7,d7 h[ ! eligible entity w mean+fully consult ) community1 community lead]s1 local /akehold]s & advocates1 includ+ transit advocates & disability advocates1 local education ag5cies & in/itutions ( high] education1 community develop]s1 labor unions1 public h\s+ ag5cies & work=ce developm5t bo>ds1 :ile facilitat+ su* r$esign4 7#c7 ,a description ( h[ ! eligible entity w mean+fully p>tn] & collaborate ) community1 community lead]s1 local /akehold]s & advocates1 includ+ transit advocates & disability advocates1 local education ag5cies & in/itutions ( high] education1 community develop]s1 labor unions1 public h\s+ ag5cies1 & work=ce developm5t bo>ds to support outrea* ef=ts to increase aw>5ess ( f>e-free bus & transit programs4 7#d7 ,a description ( ! eligible entity's equity evaluation exam9+ any transit & mobility gaps )9 ! curr5t transit sy/em & h[ ! eligible entity plans to significantly improve ^! gaps1 includ+-- 7,a7 ! av]age commute times = driv] commut]s & non-driv] commut]s2 7,b7 public transit rid]%ip rates disaggregat$ by mode ( transportation & demographic gr\p1 includ+ y\? 7includ+ y\? involv$ 9 ! fo/] c>e sy/em71 s5iors1 individuals ) disabilities1 & l[-income /atus2 & 7,c7 av]age l5g? ( bus r\tes & av]age delay times4 7#e7 ,a description ( ! eligible entity's curr5t f>e evasion en=cem5t policies1 includ+-- 7,a7 ! co/ ( ! f9e & :e!r ! infraction is consid]$ a civil (f5se or a crim9al (f5se puni%able by imprisonm5t2 7,b7 ! numb] ( individuals *>g$ ) violat+ a f>e evasion policy1 disaggregat$ by age1 race1 g5d]1 & disability /atus2 & 7,c7 h[ ! eligible entity plans to elim9ate f>e evasion policies & end ! crim9alization ( individuals evad+ f>es4 7#f7 ,an e/imate ( additional co/s z a result ( increas$ rid]%ip1 includ+-- 7,a7 fuel2 7,b7 p]sonnel2 7,c7 ma9t5ance2 & 7,d7 o!r op]ational co/s4 7#g7 ,in=mation & /ati/ics on assaults on transit employees & a description ( tra9+s & policies to protect employees1 :i* may include de-escalation tra9+4 7c7 ,duration ,grants aw>d$ "u ?is section %all be = a #e-ye> p]iod4 7d7 ,selection ( eligible entities ,9 c>ry+ out ! program "u ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all aw>d grants to eligible entities locat$ 9 bo? rural & urbaniz$ areas4 7e7 ,uses ( funds ,an eligible entity t receives a grant "u ?is section %all use su* grant to support-- 7#a7 implem5t+ a f>e-free transit program2 & 7#b7 ef=ts to improve public transportation1 p>ticul>ly 9 und]s]v$ communities1 includ+ co/s associat$ ) ef=ts to provide m safe1 frequ5t1 & reliable bus s]vice1 includ+-- 7,a7 bus /op safety & accessibility improvem5ts2 7,b7 p$e/rian & bike %elt]s2 7,c7 signage2 7,d7 pa9t$ bus lanes2 7,e7 signal priority sy/ems2 7,f7 /reet r$esign2 7,g7 op]ational co/s to meet dem&s ( increas$ rid]%ip1 includ+ hir+ & tra9+ ( p]sonnel2 & 7,h7 conduct+ a bus network r$esign4 7f7 ,report 7#a7 ,9 g5]al ,n lat] ?an #c ye>s aft] ! date on :i* funds are made available to c>ry out ?is section1 ! ,secret>y %all collect data f eligible entities receiv+ a grant "u ?is section on ! progress ( meet+ ! t>gets describ$ 9 ! application ( su* entity4 7#b7 ,requirem5ts ,! report requir$ "u p>agraph 7#a7 %all-- 7,a7 collect data on demographics ( communities s]v$ "u ?is ,act1 disaggregat$ & cross-tabulat$ by-- 7i7 race2 7ii7 e?nicity2 7iii7 sex2 & 7iv7 h\sehold m$ian income2 & 7,b7 progress t[>ds significantly clos+ transit equity gaps z describ$ 9 subsection 7b77#d74 7g7 ,au?orization ( appropriations ,!re is au?oriz$ to be appropriat$ to c>ry out ?is section #e1jjj1jjj1jjj = ea* ( fiscal ye>s #bjbf ?r\gh #bjcj4