NY State Senate Bill 2009-S3353

Senate Bill S3353

2009-2010 Legislative Session

Improves the margin of public safety by increasing mass transit ridership of specially trained first responder fire officers, firefighters, paramedics and EMTS

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Archive: Last 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 06, 2010	referred to transportation
May 04, 2009	print number 3353a
May 04, 2009	amend (t) and recommit to transportation
Mar 17, 2009	referred to transportation

Bill Amendments

Original

A (Active)

2009-S3353 - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Transportation

2009-S3353 - Summary

Improves the margin of public safety in the event of an on-train medical emergency or terrorist attack by increasing ridership of specially trained first responder fire officers, firefighters, paramedics and EMTs; creates a First Responder Transportation Task Force; and enacts a pilot no-fare transit program.

2009-S3353 - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3353

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act creating a task force to make recommendations on providing no
fare rides to certain members of the fire department of the city of
New York on passenger transportation facilities operated by certain
public transportation authorities; and providing for the repeal of
certain provisions upon the expiration thereof

 PURPOSE :
This bill establishes an expert task force to study and document times
where safety services were provided by employees of FDNY employed as
emergency medical t:echnicians (EMTs), advanced emergency medical
technicians, Firefighters, fire officers and fire marshals to the
public as they ride free of charge on the facilities of public
transportation authorities, in the performance of their official
duties.

This bill would also implement a temporary moratorium allowing such
employees to ride free of charge on public transportation while in the
performance of their official duties.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1: states legislative findings.

Section 2: creates the Task Force on Free Mass Transit fares,

designates its membership, requires meetings and at least one public
hearing, requires consultation with various stakeholders, and provides
for staffing and support.

Section 3: requires that the Task Force transmit a report no later
than May 1, 2010.

Section 4: enacts a temporary (from January 1, 2010 to December 31,
2010) moratorium on free transit fares for FDNY employees while in the
course of their duties.

Section 5: is the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :
Encouraging these employees to use public transport at on s a clear
benefit to the public interest, in that firefighters are highly
trained in rescue and emergency medical procedures. These employees
will provide the public with the much needed benefit of having extra
medical personnel at mass transit facilities. In light of the MTA's
most recent action of removing EMTs from being stationed at mass
transit facilities it is of the utmost importance that the citizens of
New York are fully covered with proper medical attention being
available. Furthermore, In light of 9/11 Police have already been
granted this right and have provided and invaluable service to the New
Yorkers who ride on mass transit.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
New Legislation.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None. This bill would provide a cost savings as the MTA would no
longer have to stop the operation of the trains if one of the riders
happens to get sick or hurt while riding on mass transit.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Effective immediately. Task Force shall expire and be deemed repealed
on and after December 31, 2010.

2009-S3353 - Bill Text download pdf

co-Sponsors

2009-S3353A (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Transportation

2009-S3353A (ACTIVE) - Summary

2009-S3353A (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3353A

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act creating a first responder task force to improve the margin of
public safety on facilities of public transportation authorities by
increasing the ridership of specially trained first responder fire
officers, firefighters, paramedics and EMTS; and providing for the
repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof


 PURPOSE :
This bill establishes an expert task force to study and document times
where safety services were provided by employees of FDNY employed as
emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced emergency medical
technicians, firefighters, fire officers and fire marshals to the
public as they ride free of charge on the facilities of public
transportation authorities, in the performance of their official
duties.

This bill would also implement a temporary moratorium allowing such
employees to ride free of charge on public transportation while in the
performance of their official duties.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
Section 1: Legislative findings.

Section 2: Creates the First responder Transportation Task Force,
designates its membership, requires four meetings and at least one
public hearing, requires consultation with various stakeholders, and
provides for staffing and support.

Section 3: Requires that the Task Force transmit a report no later
than May 1, 2010.

Section 4: Enacts a pilot no fare transit program from January 1, 2010
until December 31, 2010 for FDNY employees while in the course of
their duties.

Section 5: Is the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :
Encouraging these employees to use public transportation is a clear
benefit to the public interest, in that firefighters are highly t
rained in rescue and emergency medical procedures. These employees
will provide the public with the much needed benefit of having extra
medical personnel at mass transit facilities. In light of the MTA's
most recent action of removing EMTs from being stationed at ma ss
transit facilities it is of the utmost importance that the citizens of
New York are fully covered with proper medical attention being
available. Furthermore, In light of 9/11 Police have already been
granted this right and have provided and invaluable service to the New
Yorkers who ride on mass transit.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2007 Session: S.6093 - Referred to Rules
2008 Session: S.6093 - Referred to Transportation

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
None. This bill would provide a cost savings as the MTA would no
longer have to stop the operation of the trains if one of the riders
happens to get sick or hurt while riding on mass transit.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Immediately. Task Force shall expire and be deemed repealed on and
after December 31, 2010.

2009-S3353A (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                 3353--A

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             March 17, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sens.  SAVINO,  DIAZ, ONORATO, SAMPSON, THOMPSON -- read
  twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
  Committee  on  Transportation  --  committee discharged, bill amended,
  ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT creating a first responder task force to improve  the  margin  of
  public  safety  on  facilities of public transportation authorities by
  increasing the ridership of specially  trained  first  responder  fire
  officers,  firefighters,  paramedics  and  EMTS; and providing for the
  repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof

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

  Section  1. Legislative findings. The legislature finds that providing
safety for passengers who ride mass transit  in  our  communities  is  a
crucial  issue.  Granting  localities  with  the  tools  to provide such
protection to its citizens is one  of  the  essential  roles  the  state
plays.
  S  2.  First  responder transportation task force.  1. There is hereby
created a thirteen-member task force on permitting all uniformed members
of the FDNY employed as emergency medical technicians  (EMTs),  advanced
emergency  medical  technicians,  firefighters,  fire  marshals and fire
officers to ride for no fare on the facilities of public  transportation
authorities,  in  the performance of their official duties.  The members
of the task force shall be:
  (a) the chair of the senate committee on transportation, the chair  of
the assembly committee on transportation, and the chair of the Metropol-
itan   Transit  Authority,  or  their  designees,  who  shall  serve  as
co-chairs;
  (b) three members appointed by the governor,  one  of  whom  shall  be
appointed  upon  the  joint  recommendation  of  the  presidents  of the
uniformed firefighters association, uniformed fire officers  association
and the uniformed EMTs and paramedics, Local 2507;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06943-03-9

S. 3353--A                          2

  (c)  two  members  appointed by the temporary president of the senate,
one of whom shall be appointed upon the recommendation of the  New  York
State AFL-CIO;
  (d)  two members appointed by the speaker of the assembly, one of whom
shall be appointed  upon  the  recommendation  of  the  New  York  State
AFL-CIO;
  (e) the New York City comptroller, or his or her designee;
  (f) one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and
  (g) one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly.
  2.  Task  force  members  shall  receive  no  compensation  for  their
services, but shall be reimbursed  for  actual  and  necessary  expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties.
  3.  The  task  force  shall meet at least four times and shall hold at
least one public hearing.
  4. The task force shall consult with, and seek advice and  recommenda-
tions  from,  public  officers,  organizations,  and  entities affected,
including but not limited to, the mayor of the city  of  New  York,  the
speaker  of  the  New  York  City Council, the commissioner of FDNY, the
commissioner of NYPD, the commissioner of New York City DOT and  his  or
her  designees with particular expertise in mass transit operations, and
employee  organizations  representing  emergency   medical   technicians
(EMTs), advanced emergency medical technicians, firefighters, fire offi-
cers and fire marshals.
  5.  The  co-chairs  shall  provide  the  task force with personnel and
support services necessary to accomplish its duties.
  S 3. Report of the task force. No later than May  1,  2010,  the  task
force  shall  transmit  to  the governor, the temporary president of the
senate, and the speaker of the assembly a report with recommendations as
to the outcome of allowing all uniformed members of the FDNY employed as
emergency medical technicians (EMTs), advanced emergency medical techni-
cians, firefighters, fire marshals   and fire officers to  ride  for  no
fare  on  the  facilities  of  public transportation authorities, in the
performance of their official duties and the cost impact of the program.
  S 4. Pilot No Fare Transit Program.   1. From January  1,  2010  until
December 31, 2010 all uniformed members of the FDNY employed as emergen-
cy  medical  technicians (EMTs), advanced emergency medical technicians,
firefighters, fire marshals and fire officers may ride for no fare    on
the  facilities of public transportation authorities, in the performance
of their official duties. Such members shall have free use of  passenger
transportation  facilities operated by the Long Island Rail Road, Metro-
politan Transportation Authority and every public transportation author-
ity located in a city with a population of one million or more receiving
operating assistance pursuant to section 18-b of the transportation law,
provided, however each member is required to  display  an  authorization
shield  and  identification card evidencing that they are members of the
fire department of the city of New York and are performing  their  offi-
cial duties or on their way to or from performing their official duties.
  2. Nothing contained in this act shall supersede or diminish the terms
of a collective bargaining agreement.
  S 5. This act shall take effect immediately. The task force created by
section two of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed on and after
December 31, 2010.

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Senate Bill S3353

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Sponsored By

Diane J. Savino