NY State Senate Bill 2023-S8870

Senate Bill S8870

2023-2024 Legislative Session

Relates to authorizing and directing the metropolitan transportation authority to implement a free fare program for NYC firefighters on the LIRR

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
Mar 22, 2024	referred to transportation

2023-S8870 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9758
Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1266, Pub Auth L

2023-S8870 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes and directs the metropolitan transportation authority to implement a free fare program on the Long Island Rail Road for firefighters employed by the city of New York.

2023-S8870 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8870

SPONSOR: JACKSON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to authorizing
and directing the metropolitan transportation authority to implement a
free fare program for firefighters

 
PURPOSE:

This bill authorizes and directs the metropolitan transportation author-
ity to implement a free fare program for NYC firefighters and fire offi-
cers

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends section 1266 of the public authority law to add new
subdivision 14-a to provide that the MTA establish and implement a free
fare program on New York City Transit Authority Systems, The Long Island
Railroad and the Metro North for firefighters and fire officers employed
by the city of New York

Section 2 provides the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Adding trained Firefighters to the MTA rail system is a huge public
safety enhancement. Every day, throughout the MTA rail and subway
system, trains are stopped for medical and other emergencies. Often,
these trains are taken out of service causing system backups and delays
while the train awaits the arrival of certified medical personnel from
FDNY and NYPD. Train crews cannot simply remove sick or injured passen-
gers and leave them on the platform. Adding FDNY Firefighters who certi-
fied and experienced to provide basic emergency medical care and are
extensively trained to operate at subway and rail emergencies, will make
passengers safer and will also allow certain passengers to leave the
train with the Firefighter to await responding emergency personnel to
treat the patient. This will allow more trains to stay in service and
avoid system backups and delays.  This translates to a much safer MTA
rail system and will reduce costs attributable to excessive delays in
system operations.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2015-2016 A8672 - referred to corporations, authorities and commissions

2017-2018 A2786/ S6493 - referred to corporations, authorities and
commissions/ REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION

2019-2020 A1910 - referred to corporations, authorities and commissions

 
STATE AND LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S8870 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8870
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              March 22, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. JACKSON -- 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  authorizing
   and directing the metropolitan transportation authority to implement a
   free fare program for firefighters
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Section 1266 of the public authorities law  is  amended  by
 adding a new subdivision 14-a to read as follows:
   14-A.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW OR THE TERMS OF ANY
 CONTRACT, THE AUTHORITY AND ANY OF ITS  SUBSIDIARY  CORPORATIONS,  SHALL
 ESTABLISH  AND  IMPLEMENT  A FREE FARE PROGRAM FOR TRANSPORTATION ON NEW
 YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY SYSTEMS, THE LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD  AND  THE
 METRO-NORTH COMMUTER RAILROAD COMPANY FOR FIREFIGHTERS AND FIRE OFFICERS
 EMPLOYED  BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK. THE FREE FARE PROGRAM ESTABLISHED AND
 IMPLEMENTED PURSUANT TO THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE  IN  OPERATION  DURING
 ALL HOURS IN WHICH SUCH AUTHORITY PROVIDES RAILROAD, SUBWAY AND/OR OMNI-
 BUS  SERVICES,  AND  SUCH  PROGRAM  SHALL NOT BE LIMITED IN OPERATION TO
 OFF-PEAK HOURS OR TO ANY OTHER HOURS DESIGNATED BY THE AUTHORITY OR  ITS
 SUBSIDIARY CORPORATIONS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
 
 
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD14431-01-4

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