Sec. 6. Accessible Taxi and For-Hire Transportation Board
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Chapter 1 of subtitle I of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: There is established in the Administration an Accessible Taxi and For-Hire Transportation Board (referred to in this section as the Board ). The Board shall be composed of 9 members, who shall be appointed as follows: The Secretary of Transportation shall appoint 5 people with disabilities to the Board, including— at least 1 person who uses a wheelchair for mobility; at least 1 person who is deaf or hard of hearing; at least 1 person who is blind or visually impaired; and at least 1 person with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability.
Each public member appointed under this paragraph shall be appointed for a 2-year term. The Administrator shall designate 2 officials of the Administration to represent the Administration on the Board. The Secretary shall appoint 2 members from the taxi and for-hire transportation industry to the Board. The Secretary shall designate a Chairperson of the Board from among the appointed public members of the Board. The Board shall meet at the call of the Chairperson, but not less frequently than 4 times per year.
The Board shall conduct activities to increase the availability of accessible taxis and other for-hire vehicles, including— coordinating with the Federal Transit Administration to provide information and technical assistance to local municipalities, taxi commissions, and for hire transportation companies (as defined in section 2 of the Accessible Transportation for All Act )— to increase the availability of accessible taxi vehicles and accessible vehicles for hire; and to facilitate improvements to access to taxis and other accessible for-hire transportation options for people with disabilities; and submitting an annual report to the Secretary that includes studies, findings, conclusions, and recommendations about the availability of accessible taxi vehicles and accessible vehicles for hire throughout the Nation, including— the number of accessible taxi vehicles and accessible vehicles for hire in the various States and localities, including in the 25 most populated cities in the United States; improvements, increases, or changes in the availability of accessible taxi vehicles and accessible vehicles for hire to access to taxis and other for-hire transportation in the States, localities, and cities referred to in subparagraph (A); any State or local policies, ordinances, regulations, or statutes that led to the increases or changes referred to in subparagraph (B); barriers to further increases in the availability of accessible taxi vehicles and accessible vehicles for hire; and recommendations about how best to address the barriers described in subparagraph (D).
The members of the Board may not receive compensation for the performance of services for the Board, but shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Board. Notwithstanding section 1342 of title 31, United States Code, the Secretary may accept the voluntary uncompensated services of members of the Board.
The Secretary may designate such personnel as may be necessary to enable the Board to perform its duties. Any Federal Government employee, with the approval of the head of the appropriate Federal agency, may be detailed to the Board without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege. The Secretary shall make available to the Board necessary office space and furnish the Board, under such arrangements respecting financing as may be appropriate, with necessary equipment, supplies, and services. .
The table of sections in chapter 1 of title 49, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: 116. Accessible Taxi and For-Hire Transportation Board. .