BILL NUMBER: S7021

SPONSOR: KENNEDY
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to paratransit
services

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill ensures that individuals with disabilities may recertify for
paratransit service, such as NYC's Access-A-Ride, by submission of a
doctor's note that verifies their disability, in lieu of an in-person
assessment.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 1266 of the public authorities law by adding a
new subdivisions 15-a and 15-b which stipulate that an individual recer-
tifying for paratransit service may, in lieu of an in-person assessment,
submit a note from licensed physician indicating the necessity of such
service. The note must be dated within the preceding thirty days, and
              

the rules regarding the form and content of the note will be set by the
proper authority.

Section 2 establishes the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

As it stands, to enroll in New York City's Access-A-Ride program, one
must go to the NYC Transit Authority in Brooklyn for an assessment.
However, this imposes an undue burden for individuals with disabilities,
time constraints, and those who live far away from the assessment
center. This bill would eliminate such burdens by allowing individuals
to apply or recertify by submission of correspondence from a licensed
physician dated within the past thirty days, indicating that the
Access-A-Ride program is necessary for such individual. If we are to
support disability rights, we must work to make the application and
recertification process easier for individuals using paratransit
service.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.5095/A.3710 (21-22)

A.8757 (19-20)

A.10772 (17-18)

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.