S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7735
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
June 6, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. PHEFFER AMATO -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Employees
AN ACT to amend the civil service law, in relation to eligibility for
certain employees of certain affiliates of the metropolitan transpor-
tation authority for health benefits
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative determination. The legislature has determined
that the metropolitan transportation authority (MTA) and certain affil-
iates have institutional hurdles in staffing certain low level manageri-
al positions due to the fact that there is little incentive for employ-
ees to apply for or to accept promotion to such positions. In accepting
such promotions, the employee often receives significantly reduced
compensation in terms of both salaries and benefits. Of particular
concern is the cost of the health plan for employees in the titles of
deputy superintendent, superintendent, assistant general superintendent
or group station superintendent. The health plan available to these
employees is markedly inferior to those of their subordinates yet these
employees pay vastly higher out of pocket expenses and contributions.
The ability of the MTA to fill these positions is crucial to the
provision of transit services, both by rail and by bus, in the city of
New York as these titles are responsible for coordinating services to
the public and correcting a wide range of service interruptions and
staffing matters. The legislature further finds that employment with
the affected MTA affiliates is so unique in the transportation industry
that promotion from within is vastly superior to hiring from outside
sources and incentives for employees in the supervisory ranks to apply
for and accept managerial positions is, consequently, of paramount
importance to the provision of safe, reliable transit services to the
citizens of this state. For these reasons, the legislature has adopted
the following amendment to the New York civil service law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11088-01-3
A. 7735 2
§ 2. Section 163 of the civil service law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 2-a to read as follows:
2-A. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, EMPLOYEES OF THE NEW
YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY, THE MTA BUS COMPANY, THE MANHATTAN AND
BRONX SURFACE TRANSIT OPERATING AUTHORITY, THE STATEN ISLAND RAPID TRAN-
SIT OPERATING AUTHORITY AND THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY
FOR SO LONG AS THEY SHALL SERVE IN THE OPERATIONAL TITLES OF DEPUTY
SUPERINTENDENT, SUPERINTENDENT, ASSISTANT GENERAL SUPERINTENDENT OR
GROUP STATION SUPERINTENDENT, OR ANY EMPLOYMENT SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO
SUCH TITLES AS SUCH TITLES WERE PERFORMING AS OF APRIL THIRTIETH, TWO
THOUSAND TWENTY-THREE, REGARDLESS OF THE NAME OF SUCH TITLE, SHALL BE
ELIGIBLE FOR AND PROVIDED WITH ONLY HEALTH INSURANCE PLANS WHOSE COSTS
TO PARTICIPANTS, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, COPAYMENTS, COINSURANCE
AND EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS, ARE EQUAL TO OR LESS THAN THE COSTS OF
HEALTH INSURANCE TO EMPLOYEES DIRECTLY SUPERVISED BY SUCH DEPUTY SUPER-
INTENDENTS, SUPERINTENDENTS, ASSISTANT GENERAL SUPERINTENDENTS OR GROUP
STATION SUPERINTENDENTS.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.