ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
local
transportation assistance; Indian tribes
Authorizes federally recognized Indian tribes to receive monies from the Local Transportation Assistance Fund (LTAF) for starting up, maintaining or operating a public transit service.
LTAF was established in 1981, which is administered by the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), to address the public transportation needs of cities and towns (Laws 1981, Chapter 2, Second Special Session). LTAF distributes monies from the State Lottery and the Vehicle License Tax (VLT) to counties, cities and towns to maintain and improve public transportation programs.
Laws 1998, Chapter 267 enabled ADOT to use LTAF to leverage federal funding from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) Section 5310 (Elderly and Persons with Disabilities) and 5311 (Rural Public Transportation) programs for transportation purposes. This legislation also enabled the State Transportation Board (Board) to make $5 million of federal funding from the Surface Transportation Program (STP) available to those jurisdictions that use all of their allocated LTAF monies for transit purposes.
Indian tribes are ineligible for LTAF monies because tribes and tribal members are exempt from paying the VLT, one of the funding sources for LTAF. The tribes are also ineligible for federal monies from the FTA and STP funds, as participation in LTAF is a prerequisite to access those funds. S.B. 1253 makes Indian tribes eligible for LTAF monies to assist in the maintenance and improvement of public transportation.
There is no known fiscal impact to the state general fund associated with this legislation.
1. Authorizes ADOT to distribute monies from LTAF to Indian tribes for establishing, maintaining or operating a public transit service.
2. Authorizes Indian tribes to use LTAF monies on other transportation purposes if the amount received from LTAF is less than $2,500 in a calendar year.
3. Specifies that monies will be distributed as matching grants from LTAF to the Indian tribes.
4. Requires ADOT to inform the tribal councils of the maximum amount of monies from the LTAF available every year.
5. Makes conforming changes.
6. Provides for a general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Staff
March 4, 2002