Transit operators: paratransit: recertification of eligibility.

Assembly Member Papan's paratransit legislation establishes new requirements for transit operators to streamline their recertification processes for individuals with permanent disabilities who rely on these specialized transportation services. The measure requires operators to implement simplified procedures by January 2027 that verify only essential information through telephone interviews, mail-in forms, or online surveys.

Under the new framework, eligible individuals - those whose disabilities and inability to access fixed-route transit are not expected to improve over time - would complete streamlined recertification every five years. The process would collect basic data like contact information, mobility device updates, and any changes in disability status or functional abilities. Transit operators may also request updated photos if required in their initial eligibility determinations.

By June 2027, operators must use this streamlined process exclusively for eligible individuals, with limited exceptions. These include cases where someone seeks broader service access due to worsening conditions, holds temporary eligibility, relocates, or faces service changes that may affect their eligibility status. The bill preserves operators' flexibility to maintain different recertification procedures for those who do not meet the permanent disability criteria. Local agencies implementing these changes would receive state reimbursement for any mandated costs, as determined by the Commission on State Mandates.