NY State Senate Bill S1361

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Signed/Vetoed by Governor

Your Voice

Please enter your contact information

First Name *

Last Name *

Email Address *

A valid email address is required.

Home address search or enter your address manually *

Home address is used to determine the senate district in which you reside. Your support or opposition to this bill is then shared immediately with the senator who represents you.

Optional services from the NY State Senate:

Create an account. An account allows you to officially support or oppose key legislation, sign petitions with a single click, and follow issues, committees, and bills that matter to you. When you create an account, you agree to this platform's terms of participation.

Include a custom message for your Senator? (Optional)

Enter a message to your senator. Many New Yorkers use this to share the reasoning behind their support or opposition to the bill. Others might share a personal anecdote about how the bill would affect them or people they care about.

Leave this field blank

Actions

view actions (7)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Mar 20, 2023	referred to corporations, authorities and commissions delivered to assembly passed senate
Feb 07, 2023	advanced to third reading
Feb 06, 2023	2nd report cal.
Feb 01, 2023	1st report cal.267
Jan 11, 2023	referred to transportation

Votes

Co-Sponsors

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5156
Current Committee:: Assembly Corporations, Authorities And Commissions
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Add §378-b, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:: S1746, A8060

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to E-ZPass availability and waiving deposit fees for a certain period after a rate increase.

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S1361

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to E-ZPass
availability and waiving deposit fees for a certain period after a rate
increase

 
PURPOSE:

This legislation amends the public authorities law to waive the deposit
required when purchasing a new E-ZPass for 60 days following a toll
increase by the New York State Thruway Authority. Underbanked communi-
ties are prevalent throughout New York State, with the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation estimating that roughly one in four households
across the state either have no bank account or utilize non-bank
services for financial activities. As a result, the credit or debit card
required to automatically reload an E-ZPass account is difficult to
access for many, with other options like mailing a money order seen as
time consuming and inefficient. At the same time, new toll rates from
the Thruway Authority include higher rates for drivers who do not pay
using EZPass, leading to further inequity.  This legislation addresses

this concern by also allowing individuals to reload their E-ZPass
accounts using cash at any retail location where an E-ZPass can be
purchased.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

The legislation would amend the public authorities law by adding new
section 378-b.

Section one waives the initial deposit that is owed for any new EZ pass
for 60 days following the New York State Thruway Authority's vote to
increase tolls. This section also states that any retail location that
sells EZ pass must also accept cash payments to reload a user's EZ pass
tag.,

Section two establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In recent years transportation authorities have turned to cashless toll-
ing to reduce congestion, improve safety and reduce air pollution. In
2020 New York State completed the move to cashless tolling statewide,
requiring drivers to pay their tolls exclusively through Tolls by Mail
or E-ZPass. On December 2, 2020 the New York State Thruway announced
their plans to implement a 301 toll increase in addition to a $2 admin-
istrative surcharge per billing statement, for drivers without E-ZPasses
to support the move to cashless tolling. In December of 2022, the Thru-
way announced yet another toil increase rot those without E-ZPusses, at
a much higher percentage increase than those with an EZPass.

Currently, New Yorkers can purchase E-ZPasses at a number of locations,
including convenience stores, supermarkets, town and county clerk
offices, AAA branches, Thruway rest stops, and more.  However, in order
to register your pass, drivers are asked to link a valid credit card and
pay an initial deposit. The NYS Thruway allows users to refill and main-
tain their passes by logging into their account online and replenishing
their pass via credit card, or by sending a check or money order to an
E-ZPass Department in Albany.

This system for maintaining an E-ZPass is outdated, and unfairly
discriminates against lower-income individuals, those on a fixed income,
and individuals who may not have access to a line of credit or a
consistent Internet connection. With the New York State Thruway's strong
emphasis on using the E-ZPass, the system must be accessible for every-
one. This legislation would temporarily waive the initial deposit
required by EZPass upon purchase for 60 days after toll increases are
announced. It also allows people to replenish their cards - with cash if
preferred - at any location where the pass can be purchased. This legis-
lation makes EZPass more accessible for all New Yorkers.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2021-22: S.1746A Passed Senate

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take immediately.

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   1361
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 11, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sens.  KENNEDY,  MAY, ADDABBO, HINCHEY -- read twice and
   ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee  on
   Transportation
 
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the  public  authorities law, in relation to E-ZPass
   availability and waiving deposit fees for a  certain  period  after  a
   rate increase

   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. The public authorities law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 378-b to read as follows:
   §  378-B.  E-ZPASS  AVAILABILITY.  1.  IF  THE AUTHORITY SHALL VOTE TO
 INCREASE ANY FEES, RENTALS OR CHARGES FOR THE USE OF THE THRUWAY OR  ANY
 PART  THEREOF  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  EIGHT OF SECTION THREE HUNDRED
 FIFTY-FOUR OF THIS TITLE FOR CASH OR USERS WHO DO NOT USE E-ZPASS TO PAY
 SUCH FEES, RENTALS OR CHARGES, THE REQUIREMENT TO MAKE A DEPOSIT OWED TO
 SECURE A NEW E-ZPASS TRANSPONDER SHALL BE WAIVED FOR A PERIOD OF NO LESS
 THAN SIXTY DAYS FROM THE LATER OF THE DATE OF SUCH VOTE OR THE DATE THAT
 THE INCREASE TAKES EFFECT.
   2. ANY RETAIL LOCATION IN THE  STATE  WHICH  SELLS  E-ZPASS  SHALL  BE
 REQUIRED TO ACCEPT CASH PAYMENT AS A VALID METHOD TO PURCHASE AN E-ZPASS
 OR FOR E-ZPASS HOLDERS TO RELOAD THEIR E-ZPASS TRANSPONDER.
   3.  FOR  PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, "E-ZPASS" AND "E-ZPASS TRANSPONDER"
 SHALL MEAN A RECEIVER-TRANSMITTER ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY IN  CONNECTION
 WITH    ELECTRONIC  TOLL  COLLECTION WHEN SUCH RECEIVER-TRANSMITTER   IS
 AFFIXED TO THE   EXTERIOR OF A VEHICLE  IN  ACCORDANCE    WITH  MOUNTING
 INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHORITY.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect immediately, provided however, that
 subdivision 2 of section 378-b of the public authorities law as added by
 section one of this act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after  it
 shall  have  become a law. Effective immediately the addition, amendment
 and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
 of this act on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to  be  made  and
 completed on or before such date.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD03109-01-3

Comments

Open Legislation is a forum for New York State legislation. All comments are subject to review and community moderation is encouraged.

Comments deemed off-topic, commercial, campaign-related, self-promotional; or that contain profanity, hate or toxic speech; or that link to sites outside of the nysenate.gov domain are not permitted, and will not be published. Attempts to intimidate and silence contributors or deliberately deceive the public, including excessive or extraneous posting/posts, or coordinated activity, are prohibited and may result in the temporary or permanent banning of the user. Comment moderation is generally performed Monday through Friday. By contributing or voting you agree to the Terms of Participation and verify you are over 13.

The New York State Senate

senate Bill S1361

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Mar 20, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 20, 2023

Feb 1, 2023 - Transportation committee Vote

Transportation Committee Vote: Feb 1, 2023

Co-Sponsors

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Details

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S1361

Share this bill

Sponsored By

Timothy M. Kennedy

Current Bill Status - Passed Senate

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

Mar 20, 2023 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Mar 20, 2023

Feb 1, 2023 - Transportation committee Vote

Transportation Committee Vote: Feb 1, 2023

Co-Sponsors

Rachel May

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr

Michelle Hinchey

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Details

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1361 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments