Senate Bill S8147

                                BILL NUMBER:S8147

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring a member
of the uniformed metropolitan transportation authority police force to
be present at each bridge and tunnel under the jurisdiction of such
authority and any of its subsidiary corporations; and to amend chapter
47 of the laws of 1931 declaring the policy of the states of New York and
New Jersey in regard to certain vehicular bridges and tunnels within the
port of New York district, in relation to requiring a member of the port
authority uniformed police force to be present at each bridge and tunnel
under the jurisdiction of such authority

PURPOSE:
Requires police to be present at all bridges and tunnels under the
jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority or the Port
Authority.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one amends the public authorities law by adding a new section
1266-j requiring a police presence at all bridges and tunnels under
the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority

Section two amends chapter 47 of the laws of 1931 declaring the policy
of the states of New York and New Jersey in regard to certain
              

vehicular bridges and tunnels within the port of New York district is
amended by adding a new section 11-a ensuring and providing that the
P0l1 of Authority of New York and New Jersey provide for the presence
at all times at least one member of the uniformed police force of
such authority at each bridge and tunnel under the jurisdiction of
the port authority.

Section three is an effective date of thirty days after enactment,
except that section two shall take effect upon the enactment into law
by the state of New Jersey of legislation having identical effect
with section two of this act, but if New Jersey shall already enacted
such legislation, section two of this act shall take effect
immediately; provides that the chairman of the port authority of New
York and New Jersey shall notify the legislative bill drafting
commission upon the occurrence of the enactment of the legislation
provided for in section two of this act in order that the commission
may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the
official text
of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effectuating
the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b
of the public officers law.

JUSTIFICATION:
This bill would require police to be present at all bridges and
tunnels under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Transportation

Authority or the Port Authority Placing in statute that a police
presence at all our bridges and tunnels is necessary to protect the
public from criminal activity and terrorism. Bridges and tunnels
are vital lifelines to the economy for New York and New Jersey. They
must be protected at all times in order to maintain public safety and
economic stability.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Thirty days after enactment, except that section two shall take effect
upon the enactment into law by the state of New Jersey of1e~. ation
having identical effect with section two of this act, but if New
Jersey shall already enacte i uch legislation, section two of this
act shall take effect immediately; provides that the c airman ofthe
port authority of New York and New Jersey shall notify the
legislative bill drafting commission upon the occurrence of the
enactment of the legislation provided for in section two of this act
in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely
effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of
New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of section 44
of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.