NY State Senate Bill 2011-S4528

Senate Bill S4528

2011-2012 Legislative Session

Creates the New York city transit authority safety advisory panel to study and report on safety from terrorist acts

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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 04, 2012	referred to transportation
Apr 11, 2011	referred to transportation

co-Sponsors

2011-S4528 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A641
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§1204-f & 1205-b, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S3772, A1442
2013-2014: S4654, A2924
2015-2016: A1876
2017-2018: A7266
2019-2020: A3388
2021-2022: A3775
2023-2024: A9582

2011-S4528 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Creates the New York city transit authority safety advisory panel to study and report on safety from terrorist acts and to provide a moratorium on the closing of token booths and minimum staffing levels on trains operated in passenger service in the NYC transit system.

2011-S4528 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S4528

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the public authorities law, in relation to creating a New York
city transit authority safety advisory panel to study and report on
safety from terrorist acts and to provide for a moratorium on the closing
of token booths and minimum staffing levels on trains operated in
passenger service in the New York city transit system

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would enhance the security
and, safety of subway passengers by creating a transit authority
safety adv~sory panel to study, report on and make recommendations
regarding safety from terrorist acts and to provide for a moratorium
on the closing of token hooths and minimum staffing levels on trains
operated in passenger service in the New York City transit system

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill establishes the "Transit Authority Passenger
Security and Safety Act" and amends the public authorities law by
adding a new section 1204-d to require minimum staffing on trains
operated in passenger service. This section. outlines the conditions
upon which the authority shall ensure that at least one train
operator and one conductor shall be deployed on trains in passenger

service.

Section two amends the public authorities law by, adding a new section
1205-b; The York city transit authority safety advisory panel and
Moratorium on the Closing of token booths. This section outlines the
creation of an advisory panel to study, monitor and make
recommendations with respect to the public safety from terrorist
threats and criminal mischief in passenger stations of the New York
city transit authority, its subsidiaries and the Staten Island rapid
transit operating authority and requires a moratorium on token booth
closures until submission of the advisory panel report

Section three of the bill establishes an immediate effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
The threat of terrorist attacks in New York City
demands that the New York City Transit Authority make every effort to
ensure the security and safety of its passengers. New York City
continues to be a primary target for terrorists after the attack in
2001.
Security specialist emphasize that the transit system, especially
subway trains in tunnels, under bodies of water or on bridges, are a
prized target by these enemies to our democracy, who seek to
generate maximum media exposure and inflict heavy casualties on
innocent civilians densely packed into a small space. The presence of
trained conductors and
operators on such trains can and do act as a deterrent to these
enemies of our country, and the presence of station agents in
protected booths within the system, can greatly facilitate


evacuations and reaction time from first responders in the event of
life threatening emergencies underground.

Accordingly, existing staffing levels should be maintained at least at
current levels, until a comprehensive assessment and evaluation is
completed by security experts that will assess the systemic security
needs of the mass transit system in NYC in the event of foreseeable
emergencies. To do less not only endangers the safety and lives of
passengers using mass transit facilities, but encourages our enemies
to exploit a perceived "weak link" in our security defenses.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2008: A.8355

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediate.

2011-S4528 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  4528

                       2011-2012 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             April 11, 2011
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  GOLDEN -- 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  creating  a
  New  York  city  transit  authority safety advisory panel to study and
  report on safety from terrorist acts and to provide for  a  moratorium
  on  the  closing of token booths and minimum staffing levels on trains
  operated in passenger service in the New York city transit system

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

  Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "transit authority passenger security and safety act".
  S 2. The public authorities law is amended by  adding  a  new  section
1204-f to read as follows:
  S 1204-F. MINIMUM STAFFING OF TRAINS OPERATED IN PASSENGER SERVICE. 1.
THE  LEGISLATURE  FINDS  THAT THE PRESENCE OF TRAIN CONDUCTORS AND TRAIN
OPERATORS ON SUBWAY TRAINS OPERATED BY  THE  AUTHORITY  IS  PARTICULARLY
ESSENTIAL  TO  THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS WHEN EMERGENCIES ARISE INCLUDING
WHEN TRAINS ARE IN TUNNELS UNDER BODIES OF WATER  OR  ON  BRIDGES,  WHEN
TRAINS  ARE  LONG  OR  COMPOSED  OF NUMEROUS CARS, AND DURING PERIODS OF
HEAVY PASSENGER VOLUME.
  2. THE AUTHORITY SHALL INSURE THAT AT LEAST ONE TRAIN OPERATOR AND ONE
CONDUCTOR SHALL BE DEPLOYED ON EACH AND EVERY TRAIN IN PASSENGER SERVICE
WHICH MEETS ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS:
  A. THE TRAIN IS MADE UP OF MORE THAN FOUR RAILROAD CARS OR IS  GREATER
THAN THREE HUNDRED SIXTY FEET IN LENGTH; OR
  B.  THE TRAIN SERVES PASSENGERS ON A LINE THAT PASSES THROUGH A TUNNEL
UNDER A RIVER OR TIDAL ESTUARY OR ON BRIDGES; OR
  C. THE TRAIN IS OPERATING IN PASSENGER SERVICE ON  A  LINE  WHERE  THE
POTENTIAL  PASSENGER LOAD ON THE TRAIN AT ANY POINT IN TIME IS IN EXCESS
OF SEVEN HUNDRED FIFTY PASSENGERS.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03551-01-1

S. 4528                             2

  S 3. The public authorities law is amended by  adding  a  new  section
1205-b to read as follows:
  S  1205-B.  NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL.  1.
A. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED THE NEW YORK CITY  TRANSIT  AUTHORITY  SAFETY
ADVISORY  PANEL, TO STUDY, MONITOR AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT
TO THE PUBLIC SAFETY FROM TERRORIST THREATS  AND  CRIMINAL  MISCHIEF  IN
PASSENGER  STATIONS  OF  THE  AUTHORITY, ITS SUBSIDIARIES AND THE STATEN
ISLAND RAPID TRANSIT OPERATING AUTHORITY.
  B. THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY  SAFETY  ADVISORY  PANEL  SHALL
CONSIST  OF SEVEN MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, OF WHOM TWO MEMBERS
SHALL BE APPOINTED UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE AND TWO MEMBERS SHALL BE APPOINTED UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF
THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY. THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW  YORK  CITY  TRANSIT
AUTHORITY  SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL SHALL BE SELECTED FROM THE LAW ENFORCE-
MENT, EMERGENCY RESPONSE MANAGEMENT, WORKER AND RIDER ADVOCATE  COMMUNI-
TIES  AND  SHALL  INCLUDE  AT  LEAST THREE MEMBERS WHO ARE COMMUTERS WHO
REGULARLY USE THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OF THE AUTHORITIES REFERRED TO
IN PARAGRAPH A OF THIS SUBDIVISION. THE CHAIRPERSON SHALL  BE  A  MEMBER
SELECTED  BY  THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE COMMITTEE. VACANCIES OCCURRING SHALL
BE FILLED IN THE SAME MANNER AS THE ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS.
  C. THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY SAFETY  ADVISORY
PANEL  SHALL  RECEIVE  NO  COMPENSATION  FOR THEIR SERVICES BUT SHALL BE
REIMBURSED FOR ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE
OF THEIR DUTIES.
  2. A. THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY SAFETY ADVISORY PANEL  SHALL
UNDERTAKE  A  STUDY  TO  EVALUATE  THE  RANGE OF STRATEGIES AVAILABLE TO
ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THE PUBLIC, INCLUDING ITS INGRESS AND  EGRESS  FROM
PASSENGER  STATIONS,  AND  ALL  MEANS OF DETERRING TERRORIST ATTACKS AND
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF. SUCH STUDY SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATURE, AND MADE AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, WITHIN THREE YEARS OF THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. SUCH REPORT SHALL BE MADE  AVAILABLE  TO
THE  PUBLIC IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING ITS SUBMISSION TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE
LEGISLATURE.
  B. NO TOKEN BOOTHS WITHIN THE PASSENGER STATIONS OF THE AUTHORITY, ITS
SUBSIDIARIES OR THE STATEN  ISLAND  RAPID  TRANSIT  OPERATING  AUTHORITY
SHALL  BE  CLOSED  OR PARTIALLY CLOSED, EXCEPT FOR PURPOSES OF REPAIR OR
RENOVATION OR IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, UNTIL THE LATER OF JULY  FIRST,  TWO
THOUSAND  FOURTEEN OR THE DATE OF THE SUBMISSION OF THE ADVISORY PANEL'S
REPORT TO THE GOVERNOR AND THE LEGISLATURE.
  3. THE NEW YORK CITY  TRANSIT  AUTHORITY  SAFETY  ADVISORY  PANEL  MAY
REQUEST  AND SHALL RECEIVE FROM ANY DEPARTMENT, DIVISION, BOARD, BUREAU,
COMMISSION, AGENCY, PUBLIC AUTHORITY OF THE STATE OR ANY PUBLIC SUBDIVI-
SION THEREOF SUCH ASSISTANCE AND DATA AS  WILL  ENABLE  IT  TO  PROPERLY
CARRY  OUT  ITS  ACTIVITIES  AND TO EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES SET FORTH IN
THIS SECTION.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S4528

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Sponsored By

Martin J. Golden

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

co-Sponsors

Joseph P. Addabbo Jr.

Tony Avella

Ruth Hassell-Thompson

David Storobin

2011-S4528 (ACTIVE) - Details

2011-S4528 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2011-S4528 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2011-S4528 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments