15982. (a) Any social service transportation provider may request an exemption from coordination or consolidation as required under the action plan. The request for exemption shall be submitted to the Director of Transportation, who shall render a decision within 60 days after receiving the request. If the Director of Transportation denies the request, it shall be forwarded to the California Transportation Commission, which shall render a decision within 60 days after receiving it.
The request for exemption shall be granted if, on the basis of information submitted with the request, the Director of Transportation or the commission, as the case may be, finds that the effectiveness of the social transportation service provided the recipients would be impaired by consolidation or coordination.
(b) The Director of Transportation shall adequately inform social service program managers about these requirements well in advance of the deadlines outlined in this section.
(c) The commission shall periodically review, as it deems necessary, the performance of the designated agencies to determine compliance with the action plans and conditions for approval.
(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1455, Sec. 11.)