NY State Senate Bill 2023-S2972A

Senate Bill S2972A

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Establishes a no fare program for certain police officers on the the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company and the New York City Transit Authority

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 03, 2024	referred to transportation
Jun 05, 2023	print number 2972a
Jun 05, 2023	amend and recommit to transportation
Jan 26, 2023	referred to transportation

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2023-S2972 - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9825
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1266, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:: S6907, A7098

2023-S2972 - Summary

Requires the Long Island Rail Road, the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, and the New York City Transit Authority establish a no fare program for the transportation of certain active duty, uniform police officers.

2023-S2972 - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2972

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company and the New York city transit
authority establish a no fare program for the transportation of certain
active duty, uniform police officers

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would create no fare programs for transportation on the Long
Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad for police offi-
cers, establish and implement a similar program for transportation on
New York City Transit Authority systems, and establish safeguards for
eligibility for these programs.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Adds the Metro-North Commuter Railroad ("MNR") and the rele-
vant local police commands to the existing statute, Public Authorities

Law § 1266(14), requiring the MTA to establish a no-fare program for
transportation on the Long Island Rail Road ("LIRR") for certain police
officers, thereby codifying the existing MNR program.  Additionally, a
subsequent new subdivision to that section is added requiring the MTA,
in consultation with the New York City Transit Authority ("NYCTA"), to
establish a similar no-fare program for eligible officers in both the
LIRR and MNR programs on NYCTA systems.

Section 2. The act shall take effect thirty days after it has become
law.

 
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):

N/A

 
JUSTIFICATION:

While MTA ridership has remained far below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels,
the number of assaults on the subway have significantly increased. Cover
all, the rate of felonies per million riders remains above pre- pandemic
levels. It is imperative that riders can travel safely through-out the
MTA system, particularly at a time when more people are returning to
in-person work, school, and other activities.  People will increasingly
turn to private cars, taxis, and ride-sharing services to avoid mass
transit if they do not feel it is safe. Providing active-duty police
officers with free rides on the LIRR, Metro-North, and New York City
Transit will encourage these officers to use mass transit to get to and
from work, providing increased police presence on trains. The presence
of officers will deter crime and provide riders with an increased sense
of safety. In addition, restructuring existing programs that provide
free passes to police officers could potentially result in up $130
million in annual savings to the MTA.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S6907/A7098A (2021-22): Referred to Transportation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act would take effect thirty days after it has become law.

2023-S2972 - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2972
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 26, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAYER  -- 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 requiring the
   Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company and the New  York  city  transit
   authority  establish  a  no  fare  program  for  the transportation of
   certain active duty, uniform police officers
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision  14 of section 1266 of the public authorities
 law, as amended by chapter 182 of the laws of 2013, is amended  to  read
 as follows:
   14.  Notwithstanding  any  other provisions of law or the terms of any
 contract, TO INCREASE PROTECTION AND IMPROVE SAFETY  FOR  ITS  CUSTOMERS
 AND EMPLOYEES, the authority[, in consultation with the Long Island Rail
 Road,]  shall  establish and implement a no fare program for transporta-
 tion on the Long Island Rail Road AND THE METRO-NORTH COMMUTER  RAILROAD
 for TRAINED AND SWORN police officers [employed by the city of New York,
 county  of Nassau, Nassau county villages and cities, county of Suffolk,
 Suffolk county villages and towns,] IN GOOD  STANDING  WITH  ACTIVE  LAW
 ENFORCEMENT  RESPONSIBILITIES WHO ARE EMPLOYED BY ANY COUNTY, TOWN, CITY
 OR VILLAGE IN THE METROPOLITAN  COMMUTER  TRANSPORTATION  DISTRICT,  the
 division  of  state  police,  AND the port authority of New York and New
 Jersey[, the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, the  New  York  city
 housing  authority  and  the New York city transit authority]. In estab-
 lishing such program, [which has as its goal  increased  protection  and
 improved  safety  for its commuters,] the authority [and the Long Island
 Rail Road] shall, among other things, consider: (a)  requiring  [police]
 SUCH  officers  [who ride without cost] to register with the Long Island
 Rail Road AND THE METRO-NORTH COMMUTER RAILROAD COMPANY as  a  condition
 of  riding without cost; (b) requiring such officers WHEN REGISTERING to
 [indicate during such registration process] STATE their regular  working
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05292-01-3

 S. 2972                             2
 
 hours  and  the [Long Island Rail Road] trains that such officers expect
 to ride; [and] (c) [periodically] ANNUALLY re-registering [and  re-vali-
 dating]  such  officers;  AND (D) REQUIRING SUCH OFFICERS TO PRESENT LAW
 ENFORCEMENT  IDENTIFICATION  ALONG WITH ANY PASS THE AUTHORITY MAY ISSUE
 IN RELATION TO THIS PROGRAM. The authority [and  the  Long  Island  Rail
 Road]  shall  also have the power to consider other matters necessary to
 carry out the goals and objectives of this section.    NOTHING  IN  THIS
 SUBDIVISION SHALL LIMIT THE AUTHORITY FROM PROVIDING NO FARE TRANSPORTA-
 TION ON ANY OF ITS SUBWAYS, BUSES OR COMMUTER TRAINS FOR POLICE OFFICERS
 EMPLOYED  BY  THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR FOR POLICE OFFICERS OR PEACE OFFI-
 CERS EMPLOYED BY THE AUTHORITY OR ITS AFFILIATES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

2023-S2972A (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9825
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1266, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in 2021-2022 Legislative Session:: S6907, A7098

2023-S2972A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S2972A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S2972A

SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company and the New York city transit
authority establish a no fare program for the transportation of certain
active duty, uniform police officers

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill would create no fare programs for transportation on the Long
Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad for police offi-
cers, establish and implement a similar program for transportation on
New York City Transit Authority systems, and establish safeguards for
eligibility for these programs.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Adds the Metro-North Commuter Railroad ("MNR") and the rele-
vant local police commands to the existing statute, Public Authorities

Law § 1266(14), requiring the MTA to establish a no-fare program for
transportation on the Long Island Rail Road ("LIRR") for certain police
officers, thereby codifying the existing MNR program.  Additionally, a
subsequent new subdivision to that section is added requiring the MTA,
in consultation with the New York City Transit Authority ("NYCTA"), to
establish a similar no-fare program for eligible officers in both the
LIRR and MNR programs on NYCTA systems.

Section 2. The act shall take effect thirty days after it has become
law.   
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):

N/A

 
JUSTIFICATION:

While MTA ridership has remained far below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels,
the number of assaults on the subway have significantly increased. Cover
all, the rate of felonies per million riders remains above pre- pandemic
levels. It is imperative that riders can travel safely through-out the
MTA system, particularly at a time when more people are returning to
in-person work, school, and other activities.  People will increasingly
turn to private cars, taxis, and ride-sharing services to avoid mass
transit if they do not feel it is safe. Providing active-duty police
officers with free rides on the LIRR, Metro-North, and New York City
Transit will encourage these officers to use mass transit to get to and
from work, providing increased police presence on trains. The presence
of officers will deter crime and provide riders with an increased sense
of safety. In addition, restructuring existing programs that provide
free passes to police officers could potentially result in up $130
million in annual savings to the MTA.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S6907/A7098A (2021-22): Referred to Transportation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act would take effect thirty days after it has become law.

2023-S2972A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                  2972--A
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 26, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  MAYER  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation --  commit-
   tee  discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recom-
   mitted to said committee
 
 AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
   Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company and the New  York  city  transit
   authority  establish  a  no  fare  program  for  the transportation of
   certain active duty, uniform police officers
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Subdivision  14 of section 1266 of the public authorities
 law, as amended by chapter 182 of the laws of 2013, is amended  to  read
 as follows:
   14.  Notwithstanding  any  other provisions of law or the terms of any
 contract, TO INCREASE PROTECTION AND IMPROVE SAFETY  FOR  ITS  CUSTOMERS
 AND EMPLOYEES, the authority[, in consultation with the Long Island Rail
 Road,]  shall  establish and implement a no fare program for transporta-
 tion on the Long Island Rail Road AND THE METRO-NORTH COMMUTER  RAILROAD
 for TRAINED AND SWORN police officers [employed by the city of New York,
 county  of Nassau, Nassau county villages and cities, county of Suffolk,
 Suffolk county villages and towns, the division  of  state  police,  the
 port  authority  of  New  York  and New Jersey, the Metro-North Commuter
 Railroad Company, the New York city housing authority and the  New  York
 city  transit  authority],  AS  DEFINED  IN SECTION 1.20 OF THE CRIMINAL
 PROCEDURE LAW AND WHO ARE EMPLOYED IN  GOOD  STANDING  WITH  ACTIVE  LAW
 ENFORCEMENT  RESPONSIBILITIES WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN COMMUTER TRANSPOR-
 TATION DISTRICT. In establishing such program, [which has  as  its  goal
 increased protection and improved safety for its commuters,] the author-
 ity [and the Long Island Rail Road] shall, among other things, consider:
 (a) requiring [police] SUCH officers [who ride without cost] to register
 with  the  Long  Island  Rail Road AND THE METRO-NORTH COMMUTER RAILROAD
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD05292-02-3

 S. 2972--A                          2
 
 COMPANY as a condition of riding without cost; (b) requiring such  offi-
 cers  WHEN  REGISTERING  to  [indicate during such registration process]
 STATE their regular working hours and the [Long Island Rail Road] trains
 that  such  officers  expect  to ride; [and] (c) [periodically] ANNUALLY
 re-registering [and re-validating] such officers; AND (D) REQUIRING SUCH
 OFFICERS TO PRESENT LAW ENFORCEMENT IDENTIFICATION ALONG WITH  ANY  PASS
 THE  AUTHORITY MAY ISSUE IN RELATION TO THIS PROGRAM. The authority [and
 the Long Island Rail Road] shall also have the power to  consider  other
 matters necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of this section.
 NOTHING  IN THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL LIMIT THE AUTHORITY FROM PROVIDING NO
 FARE TRANSPORTATION ON ANY OF ITS SUBWAYS, BUSES OR COMMUTER TRAINS  FOR
 POLICE  OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK OR FOR POLICE OFFICERS
 OR PEACE OFFICERS EMPLOYED BY THE AUTHORITY OR ITS AFFILIATES.
   § 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day  after  it  shall
 have become a law.

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