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

                                  4406

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 3, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. KELLNER, WEISENBERG, DINOWITZ, BARRON, MILLMAN,
  LANCMAN, MENG, HOOPER -- Multi-Sponsored  by  --  M.  of  A.  FARRELL,
  GLICK,  GOTTFRIED, MOLINARO -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Cities

AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to providing  for
  improved access to taxicabs for persons with disabilities

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

  Section 1.  Section 181 of the general municipal law,  as  amended  by
chapter 579 of the laws of 1993, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 430
of the laws of 2003, is amended to read as follows:
  S 181. Ordinances to regulate taxicabs and limousines.  1. The munici-
pal  officers  and  boards  in the several cities, towns and villages of
this state now having the authority to enact ordinances, may adopt ordi-
nances regulating:
  [1.] (A) The registration and licensing of taxicabs and may limit  the
number  of  taxicabs  to  be  licensed and the county of Westchester may
adopt ordinances regulating the registration and licensing  of  taxicabs
and  limousines  and may limit the number to be licensed; and the county
of Nassau may adopt ordinances regulating the registration  of  taxicabs
and limousines.
  [2.]  (B)  Parking  and  passenger  pick-up and discharge by taxicabs,
limousines and livery vehicles. Establishment  of  such  ordinances  and
regulations  regulating parking and passenger pick-up and discharges may
be based upon recommendations from municipal planning officials or other
public entities  and  may  address  and  take  into  consideration  such
factors,  including, but not limited to, geographic areas, vehicle type,
limiting the number of parked vehicles and activities  undertaken  while
parked, and periods of idling.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03088-01-1

A. 4406                             2
              

  2.  THE  MUNICIPAL OFFICERS AND BOARDS IN ANY CITY HAVING A POPULATION
OF MORE THAN ONE MILLION SHALL NO LATER THAN APRIL THIRTIETH, TWO  THOU-
SAND THIRTEEN ADOPT ORDINANCES PROVIDING:
  (A) THAT "ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB" SHALL MEAN ANY VEHICLE THAT
  (1) IS EQUIPPED WITH A LIFT, RAMP, OR ANY OTHER DEVICE, ARRANGEMENT OR
ALTERATION, SO IT IS CAPABLE OF TRANSPORTING PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL DISA-
BILITIES,  INCLUDING  THOSE  WHO  USE  WHEELCHAIRS, SCOOTERS AND SIMILAR
DEVICES WHILE THEY REMAIN SEATED IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS, SCOOTERS OR SIMI-
LAR DEVICES;
  (2) COMPLIES WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS SET FORTH IN REGULATIONS  PROMUL-
GATED  UNDER  THE  AMERICANS  WITH  DISABILITIES  ACT AND CODIFIED AT 49
C.F.R. SECTIONS 38.23, 38.25 AND 38.31, AS AMENDED, WHETHER OR NOT THOSE
REGULATIONS WOULD APPLY UNDER FEDERAL LAW;
  (3) IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM  FOR  PERSONS  WITH
HEARING  IMPAIRMENT  THAT IS CONNECTED WITH ANY INTERCOM, VIDEO OR AUDIO
SYSTEM, WHEN SUCH A SYSTEM IS INSTALLED;
  (4) ASSURES THAT THE TECHNOLOGY UTILIZED BY TAXICABS IS COMPLIANT WITH
THE  STANDARDS  PROMULGATED  BY  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF   TRANSPORTATION;
PROVIDED THAT A LOCAL AUTHORITY WITH OVERSIGHT OVER TAXICABS, LIMOUSINES
AND LIVERY VEHICLES MAY CONDUCT PILOT PROGRAMS TESTING NEW SYSTEMS;
  (5)  IS  EQUIPPED WITH STANDARDIZED SIGNS PRINTED IN: (A) BRAILLE; AND
(B) LARGE-PRINT TEXT SO THAT SUCH SIGNS ARE VISIBLE TO PERSONS WITH  LOW
VISION;
  (6)  PROVIDES  SUFFICIENT FLOOR SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE A SERVICE ANIMAL;
AND
  (7) IF POWERED BY A HYBRID-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT, IS EQUIPPED  WITH  AN
APPROPRIATE  DEVICE TO ENABLE PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND TO HEAR THE APPROACH
OF THE VEHICLE AS READILY AS THEY CAN HEAR A CONVENTIONAL  GASOLINE-POW-
ERED TAXICAB.
  (B)  THAT  NO  OWNER OF A TAXICAB SHALL PLACE ANY TAXICAB INTO SERVICE
SUBSEQUENT TO OCTOBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN WHICH TAXICAB IS  NOT
AN ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB.
  3. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM"
SHALL   MEAN   SITUATIONAL-PERSONAL   ACOUSTIC  COMMUNICATION  EQUIPMENT
DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE TRANSMISSION AND AUDITORY  RECEPTION  OF  SOUND.
SUCH  SYSTEM  SHALL  INCLUDE  BUT  NOT BE LIMITED TO THE USE OF STANDARD
AMPLITUDE MODULATION (AM), FREQUENCY MODULATION  (FM),  AUDIO  INDUCTION
LOOP, INFRARED LIGHT SOUND, OR HARD WIRE SYSTEMS.
  S  2.  The  commissioner of transportation shall promulgate any rules,
regulations and standards necessary to give effect of the provisions  of
this act, including, but not limited to rules, regulations and standards
concerning  the standardization of assistive listening technology avail-
able in taxicabs and the content of signs available in taxicabs to visu-
ally impaired persons.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.