Senate Bill S2427

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S2427

 TITLE OF BILL :

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to providing
toll exemptions for farmers transporting their goods to New York city


 PURPOSE :

Provides that farmers shall receive an exemption from tolls when
transporting product to NYC for consumption in the city.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Public Authorities Law is amended to provide an exemption from any
toll imposed by an authority for transportation across, on, or through
any bridge, road, or tunnel, for any farmer or food producer who: a)
farms or produces food, including fish and fish products, on a
property located in the state of New York; and b.) is transporting
such food to the city of New York for the purposes of consumption
within such city. Any person exempt from a toll pursuant to this law
shall also be exempt from any congestion pricing plan implemented in
the City of New York. The commissioner of transportation shall
establish acceptable forms of proof to show that an individual is in
compliance with this law and is eligible for such an exemption.
              

 JUSTIFICATION :

New York farmers struggle under the most stringent regulations and
onerous taxes in the country, yet produce the highest quality product.
Many of these products are marketed in various ways in New York City.
Consumers are able to express their preference and purchase these
products in many restaurants, bodegas and farmers markets. However for
the farmer to deliver their products to markets in the city, the
farmer is subject to additional expenses of bridge tolls, tunnel
tolls, and possibly an additional charge for delivery in certain areas
of Manhattan. Farmers should be exempt from any toll imposed by public
authority for transportation across, on, or through any bridge, road,
or tunnel for the purposes of consumption within the city. The cost of
fuel is escalating along with the cost of tolls. Farmers are stressed
with the price of gas to transport their products to the city for
consumption to make little profit after the cost of gas and tolls are
included. To help offset these expenses, farmers should be exempt from
tolls when transporting product to NYC for consumption in the city.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
S.7463 (2007)

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
Undetermined at this time.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
180 days after enactment into law.