(a)    (1)    In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.

(2)    “Job access project” means a program to provide reasonable transportation services to employment or job-related activities for low-income workers that:

(i)    Facilitates trips to and from jobs and other employment related activities, including child care, job skills enhancement, and employment seeking activities; and

(ii)    Serves low-income workers within a service area that is specified by a transportation provider.

(3)    “Low-income worker” means a person that meets the poverty threshold that is established by the U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of the Census for a given year.

(4)    “Transportation provider” means a public or private entity that provides transit service to more than one individual.

(b)    (1)    There is a job access program to provide grants to transportation providers for job access projects.

(2)    Subject to the limitations provided in subsection (c) of this section and subject to the availability of funds in the annual State budget, the Secretary shall make grants to a transportation provider that:

(i)    Operates a job access project that:

1.    Takes into account the transportation needs of low-income workers within the area of service defined by the transportation provider; and

2.    Is not restricted to clients of social service agencies;

(ii)    Files a written application with the Department in the form and detail the Secretary requires; and

(iii)    Receives approval from the Secretary.

(3)    Before approving an application from a transportation provider, the Secretary shall consult with the local department of social services.

(4)    When allocating funds under the job access program, the Secretary shall give priority to the areas of the State that the Secretary determines are most in need of a job access project.

(c)    (1)    A transportation provider that receives funds for a capital expenditure under the job access program shall expend a matching fund of at least 20% of the total cost of the proposed capital expenditure.

(2)    A transportation provider that receives funds for operating expenditures under the job access program shall expend a matching fund of at least 25% of the total cost of the proposed operating expenditures.

(3)    A transportation provider shall use funds distributed under this section only for the acquisition or replacement of equipment or the operating costs of a job access project.

(4)    A transportation provider that receives a grant under this section shall consult with the local department of social services to determine the most effective means of serving the transportation needs of low-income workers in the proposed service area.

(5)    A transportation provider shall cooperate with other transportation providers in the proposed service area to best serve the transportation needs of low-income workers.

(6)    Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit a transportation provider from:

(i)    Contracting with nonprofit organizations, public transportation providers, or private carriers for the provision of transportation service to low-income workers;

(ii)    Modifying or expanding an existing local transportation system;

(iii)    Developing a new transportation system with the use or assistance of subsidized volunteers; or

(iv)    Allowing individuals other than low-income workers to use the transportation services provided by the job access project to the extent excess capacity is available.

(7)    Each transportation provider that receives a grant under this section shall submit a report to the Secretary that details how the grant was expended on the job access project.

(d)    (1)    The Secretary shall encourage a transportation provider to:

(i)    Continue to maximize use of existing funding programs for a job access project; and

(ii)    Enter into cooperative agreements with other local or State transportation providers.

(2)    The Secretary may adopt regulations that are necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.

(e)    Any funds provided under this section shall be used to supplement and shall not supplant existing funds used by a transportation provider for transportation services.