GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF NORTH CAROLINA

SESSION 1995

H	1 

HOUSE BILL 100*

Short Title:  Transportation Funds.	(Public)

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Sponsors: Representatives Edwards; Culp, Gardner, Howard, Luebke, and Buchanan.

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Referred to:  Appropriations-Subcommittee on Transportation.

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February 2, 1995

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT TO APPROPRIATE FUNDS TO INCREASE FUNDING TO THE NORTH CAROLINA ELDERLY AND DISABLED TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM.
Whereas, the North Carolina Study Commission on Aging finds that an increasing portion of North Carolina's population is living to an older age and requires an increasing amount of services and assistance; and
Whereas, North Carolina is facing an age wave with the 85+ population group growing fastest and placing the greatest demands on our long-term care system; and
Whereas, the number of frail older adults living in the community is increasing and is projected to be 78,000 in 1996 increasing to 104,000 by 2010; and
Whereas, the Commission finds that the elderly desire to maintain as much independence and dignity as possible and prefer to remain in the home and community whenever practicable; and
Whereas, due to insufficient funding there are 9,000+ older adults waiting for services to help them stay at home and avoid institutionalization; and
Whereas, the Commission finds that one of the most frequent problems affecting the elderly has been inadequate or lack of transportation services; and
Whereas, the Commission finds that in urban areas the elderly generally live in residential locations that are poorly serviced by public transit, and in rural areas, the elderly are sometimes so isolated that they cannot access public transit and cannot get to a telephone to request transportation; and
Whereas, the Commission finds that health care needs, as well as other needs and desires, sometimes remain unmet because of unavailable transportation to providers; and
Whereas, the Commission finds that North Carolina can best be served by increasing the level of funding to the North Carolina Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program; Now, therefore,
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
Section 1.  There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Department of Transportation the sum of three million dollars  ($3,000,000) for the 1995-96 fiscal year and the sum of three million dollars ($3,000,000) for the 1996-97 fiscal year to provide funds for  the North Carolina Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program.
Sec. 2.  This act becomes effective July 1, 1995.