S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  6754

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             March 12, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  BRENNAN, DINOWITZ, ABBATE, GOTTFRIED, CLARK,
  JACOBS,  MILLMAN,  JEFFRIES,  KELLNER,  LANCMAN,   TITONE,   ROBINSON,
  CYMBROWITZ,  WEISENBERG,  ROSENTHAL, KAVANAGH -- Multi-Sponsored by --
  M. of A. BENEDETTO, BENJAMIN, BOYLAND, BROOK-KRASNY,  DIAZ,  V. LOPEZ,
  MAISEL,  PHEFFER,  TOWNS -- read once and referred to the Committee on
  Ways and Means

AN ACT to amend chapter 55 of the laws of 2008, enacting the transporta-
  tion, economic development and environmental conservation  budget,  in
  relation  to  making appropriations to the metropolitan transportation
  authority for the purpose of adjusting the reimbursement rate from the
  state of New York to accurately reflect the actual use of the  student
  MetroCards

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative intent. The city of New York  has  relied  upon
New  York  City  Transit  Authority to provide safe, efficient, and cost
effective transportation for all public school children. In return,  the
state  has agreed to reimburse the metropolitan transportation authority
for these fares. Over the last decade the state has failed to  reimburse
the  metropolitan  transportation authority for the actual cost of these
rides which has caused financial shortfalls for the metropolitan  trans-
portation  authority  in the student fare subsidy. These shortfalls have
been absorbed by the metropolitan transportation authority. The state of
New York needs to continue its support of the student fare program,  the
students  it  serves, and the metropolitan transportation authority that
provides this valuable and necessary service. Increasing the  reimburse-
ment for these services is just and a fiscally sound decision.
  S  2. Section 1 of chapter 55 of the laws of 2008, enacting the trans-
portation, economic development and environmental  conservation  budget,
as  amended  by section 6 of chapter 496 of the laws of 2008, is amended

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD02752-01-9

              

A. 6754                             2

by repealing the items herein below set forth in brackets and by  adding
to such section the other items underscored in this section:

                      DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

MASS TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM ...... [43,843,000]    83,600,000
                                            --------------

  General Fund / Aid to Localities
  Local Assistance Account - 001

For  payment to the metropolitan transporta-
  tion  authority  for  the  costs  of   the
  reduced  fare for school children program.
  No expenditure  shall  be  made  hereunder
  until  a  certificate of approval has been
  issued by the director of the budget and a
  copy of such certificate  filed  with  the
  state  comptroller, the chairperson of the
  senate finance committee  and  the  chair-
  person  of  the  assembly  ways  and means
  committee. Moneys appropriated herein  may
  be  made available at such times as deemed
  appropriate by the commissioner of  trans-
  portation  and the director of the budget,
  provided, however, that the amount of this
  appropriation  available  for  expenditure
  and disbursement on and after September 1,
  2008  shall  be  reduced by six percent of
  the amount  that  was  undisbursed  as  of
  August 15, 2008 ............. [43,843,000]    83,600,000
                              --------------
  S  3.  Notwithstanding  any  provision to the contrary any city with a
population of over one million is hereby required to pay to  the  metro-
politan  transportation  authority an amount not less than $32.9 million
during its fiscal year ending no  later  than  June  30,  2009  for  the
expenses related to the reduced fare student program.
  S  4.  This  act shall take effect immediately; and shall be deemed to
have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2008.