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

                                  9919

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                             April 24, 2012
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. ABBATE -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

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

  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. Task force on mass transit fares for all uniformed members of the
fire department of the city of New York  (FDNY)  employed  as  emergency
medical  technicians  (EMTs),  advanced  emergency  medical technicians,
firefighters, fire marshals  and  fire  officers.  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.
                                                           LBD05471-03-2

              

A. 9919                             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,  2013,  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,  2013  until
December 31, 2013 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, 2013.