Bill > S1693

This bill establishes new regulations for the transportation of individuals seated in wheelchairs, specifically within paratransit services, which are pre-arranged transportation services for people with disabilities. The key provisions require that all paratransit vehicles transporting individuals in wheelchairs must be equipped with a properly installed and maintained Wheelchair Tiedown and Occupant Restraint System (WTORS), a set of equipment designed to secure both the wheelchair and the occupant during travel and in case of accidents, in compliance with Society of Automotive Engineers standards. Furthermore, drivers and attendants must make reasonable efforts to secure wheelchairs facing forward and properly use the lap/shoulder belt restraint system for the passenger, following procedures learned in a mandatory training course. This training course, to be developed and offered by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Executive Office of Transportation, will be required for all employees and volunteers who transport or assist in transporting wheelchair users who remain in their wheelchairs during the ride, before they can operate or assist in operating a paratransit vehicle. The bill also defines "wheelchair" as a mobility device for those with physical disabilities and outlines that these new rules will take effect six months after enactment, with provisions for administrative actions to be taken in advance.