Senate Bill S3009

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3009

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to prohibiting
fringe benefit for members of the metropolitan transportation
authority


 PURPOSE :
Prohibits fringe benefit for members of the metropolitan
transportation authority.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1. Legislative Findings The legislature, enacts this
legislation to curb the practice of allowing free access for current
and former metropolitan transportation authority board members to the
New York state thruway via the E-Z pass or other tolling system.

Section 2. Subdivision 2 of section 1263 of the public authorities
law, as amended by chapter 55 of the laws of 1992, is amended to
include that the chairman and the first vice chairman shall be paid a
salary in the amount determined by the authority; but shall not
receive any fringe benefit constituting value including, but not
limited to, free or reduced access to or passage on any bridge,
tunnel, roadway or waterway operated by the state of New York or
agency or authority thereof, or the port authority of New York and New
              

Jersey; the other members shall not, in consideration for their
service, receive a salary, fringe benefit constituting value, or other
compensation including, but not limited to, free or reduced access to
or passage on any bridge, tunnel, roadway or waterway operated by the
state of New York or agency or authority thereof, or the port
authority of New York and New Jersey.

Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

 JUSTIFICATION :

The practice of issuing E-Z Pass and Metro Card tags to current and
former MTA board members is illegal, since board members by law are to
serve without salary or "other compensation." At a time when soaring
fuel prices make it extremely difficult for most New Yorkers to afford
to fill up their vehicles with gas, the MTA board members, like all
other governmental agencies, must follow the law like everyone else,
and not be given free rides. Not only have current and former MTA
board members used the free travel passes, but nearly a dozen of their
spouses of past or present board members have been granted the free
commuter rail passes, even though they never served on the panel.
Nearly 60 past and present board members have free E-ZPass accounts,
some members having four, six or even eight tags to use for other cars
they own. The free, taxpayer funded E-ZPass tags that the MTA
authorizes are at the direct expense of the consumers.  The
hardworking taxpayers of New York should not have to foot the bill for
top - paid executives, especially in difficult economic times. The
public authorities in our state have enormous economic power, and it
is vital that they act within the law and are careful with how they
spend taxpayer dollars.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2008: S.8397 - Passed Senate

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
Undetermined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.