NY State Senate Bill 2023-S9692

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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
May 21, 2024	referred to transportation

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Add §§386-c, 553-l, 538-a & 1279-m, Pub Auth L; add §48, Chap 47 of 1931

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires certain public authorities to establish a cashless tolling amnesty program between August first, two thousand twenty-four and December thirty-first, two thousand twenty-four for cashless tolls collected between April twenty-third, two thousand sixteen and June twenty-ninth, two thousand twenty-four.

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S9692

SPONSOR: SCARCELLA-SPANTON
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public authorities law and chapter 47 of the laws of
1931 relating to declaring the policy of the states of New York and New
Jersey in regard to certain vehicular bridges and tunnels within the
port of New York district, in relation to requiring certain public
authorities to establish a cashless tolling amnesty program; and provid-
ing for the repeal of certain provisions upon expiration thereof

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

The bill requires the Thruway Authority, the Triborough Bridge
Authority/MTA Bridges and Tunnels, the New York State Bridge Authority
and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey to provide amnesty
programs to allow for the payment of tolls in full and to have any toll
violation fees and penalties related to such paid tolls waived for
payments made on or after August 1, 2024 and on or before December 31,
2024. The amnesty program of each authority shall be for tolls, fees and
violations incurred when cashless tolling first began on April 23, 2016,
through June 29, 2024.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one of the bill amends the public authorities law adding a new
section 386-c providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties
incurred on the New York State Thruway.

Section 2 of the bill amends the public authorities law adding a new
section 553-1 providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties
incurred on bridges and tunnels under the authority of the Triborough
Bridge Authority.

Section 3 of the bill amends the public authorities law adding a new
section 538-a providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties
incurred on bridges under the authority of the New York State Bridge
Authority.

Section 4 of the bill amends Chapter 47 of the laws of 1931 declaring
the policy of the states of New York and New Jersey in regard to vehicu-
lar bridges and tunnels within the port of New York adding a new section
4B providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties incurred
on bridges and tunnels under the authority of the Port Authority of New
York and New Jersey.

Section 5 of the bill amends the public authorities law adding a new
section 1279m providing an amnesty program for tolls, fees and penalties
incurred on highways, bridges, or tunnels operated by the Metropolitan
Transportation authority. Section 6 of the bill is the effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Providing an amnesty program for the payment-in-full of tolls by a date
certain and waiving late fees and penalties will result in increased
revenue for the tolling authorities by receiving payment for tolls due
and it will alleviate the burden of onerous late fees and penalties
charged to drivers since the tolls-by-mail program began.
The enacted 2024-2025 state budget includes provisions to improve the
tolls-by-mail process, including the ability to opt-in to text messages
and emails for notifications so people do not have to rely on mail,
risking being notified of unpaid tolls after penalties have already
accumulated, sometimes in the hundreds and thousands of dollars.

What is left unaddressed are the late fees and penalties already charged
to drivers who have experienced unfair treatment by tolling authorities.
This legislation addresses what remains unfinished by providing a path-
way forward for tolling authorities to receive the tolls they are due
and to unburden drivers who have amassed hundreds and thousands of
dollars in penalties through no fault of their own.

Amnesty programs for paying unpaid tolls have proven to be effective in
other states and here in New York State when the Thruway Authority
established an amnesty program for tolls due for crossing the Mario M.
Cuomo (formerly Tappan Zee) Bridge. That amnesty program was offered
when problems with tolls-by-mail were correctly recognized by the
authority. The same solution - amnesty if tolls are paid in full and
waiving late fees and penalties - should be offered by all tolling
authorities.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

Tolling authorities will incur some administrative costs to implement
the amnesty program which should be offset by the receipt of unpaid
tolls.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed
repealed January 1, 2025. Section 4 of the act shall take effect upon
the enactment of legislation by the state of New Jersey having an iden-
tical effect to this act.

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9692
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               May 21, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. SCARCELLA-SPANTON -- read twice and ordered printed,
   and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the public authorities law and chapter 47 of the laws of
   1931 relating to declaring the policy of the states of  New  York  and
   New  Jersey  in regard to certain vehicular bridges and tunnels within
   the port of New York district, in relation to requiring certain public
   authorities to establish  a  cashless  tolling  amnesty  program;  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. The public authorities law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 386-c to read as follows:
   §  386-C.  CASHLESS  TOLLING  AMNESTY  PROGRAM. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
 OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE OR ANY OTHER  LAW,  THE  AUTHORITY  SHALL
 PROVIDE  AN  AMNESTY PROGRAM FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR OTHER
 ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR  THE  USE  OF
 ANY  HIGHWAY,  BRIDGE  OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE AUTHORITY BETWEEN APRIL
 TWENTY-THIRD, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN AND JUNE TWENTY-NINTH,  TWO  THOUSAND
 TWENTY-FOUR.
   2.  SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM SHALL ALLOW ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR
 OTHER ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR THE USE
 OF ANY HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE AUTHORITY TO  PAY  SUCH
 TOLLS  IN FULL AND TO HAVE ANY TOLL VIOLATION FEES AND PENALTIES RELATED
 TO SUCH PAID TOLLS WAIVED; PROVIDED SUCH PAYMENT IS MADE  ON  AND  AFTER
 AUGUST  FIRST,  TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR AND ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER THIR-
 TY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR.
   3. THE AUTHORITY SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY POST ON ITS  WEBSITE  INFORMATION
 ON SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM.
   §  2.  The  public  authorities law is amended by adding a new section
 553-l to read as follows:
   § 553-L. CASHLESS TOLLING  AMNESTY  PROGRAM.  1.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
 OTHER  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  TITLE OR ANY OTHER LAW, THE AUTHORITY SHALL
 PROVIDE AN AMNESTY PROGRAM FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION,  OR  OTHER
 ENTITY  CHARGED  WITH  THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR THE USE OF
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD15628-03-4
 S. 9692                             2
 
 ANY HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE  AUTHORITY  BETWEEN  APRIL
 TWENTY-THIRD,  TWO  THOUSAND SIXTEEN AND JUNE TWENTY-NINTH, TWO THOUSAND
 TWENTY-FOUR.
   2.  SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM SHALL ALLOW ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR
 OTHER ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR THE USE
 OF ANY HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE AUTHORITY TO  PAY  SUCH
 TOLLS  IN FULL AND TO HAVE ANY TOLL VIOLATION FEES AND PENALTIES RELATED
 TO SUCH PAID TOLLS WAIVED; PROVIDED SUCH PAYMENT IS MADE  ON  AND  AFTER
 AUGUST  FIRST,  TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR AND ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER THIR-
 TY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR.
   3. THE AUTHORITY SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY POST ON ITS  WEBSITE  INFORMATION
 ON SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM.
   §  3.  The  public  authorities law is amended by adding a new section
 538-a to read as follows:
   § 538-A. CASHLESS TOLLING  AMNESTY  PROGRAM.  1.  NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY
 OTHER  PROVISIONS  OF  THIS  TITLE OR ANY OTHER LAW, THE AUTHORITY SHALL
 PROVIDE AN AMNESTY PROGRAM FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION,  OR  OTHER
 ENTITY  CHARGED  WITH  THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR THE USE OF
 ANY HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE  AUTHORITY  BETWEEN  APRIL
 TWENTY-THIRD,  TWO  THOUSAND SIXTEEN AND JUNE TWENTY-NINTH, TWO THOUSAND
 TWENTY-FOUR.
   2. SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM SHALL ALLOW ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION,  OR
 OTHER ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR THE USE
 OF  ANY  HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE AUTHORITY TO PAY SUCH
 TOLLS IN FULL AND TO HAVE ANY TOLL VIOLATION FEES AND PENALTIES  RELATED
 TO  SUCH  PAID  TOLLS WAIVED; PROVIDED SUCH PAYMENT IS MADE ON AND AFTER
 AUGUST FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR AND ON OR BEFORE  DECEMBER  THIR-
 TY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR.
   3.  THE  AUTHORITY SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY POST ON ITS WEBSITE INFORMATION
 ON SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM.
   § 4. Chapter 47 of the laws of 1931 relating to declaring  the  policy
 of  the states of New York and New Jersey in regard to certain vehicular
 bridges and tunnels within the port of New York district is  amended  by
 adding a new section 4B to read as follows:
   §  4B.  CASHLESS TOLLING AMNESTY PROGRAM. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER
 PROVISIONS OF THIS ACT OR  ANY  OTHER  LAW,  THE  PORT  AUTHORITY  SHALL
 PROVIDE  AN  AMNESTY PROGRAM FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR OTHER
 ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR  THE  USE  OF
 ANY  HIGHWAY,  BRIDGE OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY SUCH AUTHORITY BETWEEN APRIL
 TWENTY-THIRD, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN AND JUNE TWENTY-NINTH,  TWO  THOUSAND
 TWENTY-FOUR.
   2.  SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM SHALL ALLOW ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR
 OTHER ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR THE USE
 OF ANY HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE PORT AUTHORITY  TO  PAY
 SUCH  TOLLS  IN  FULL  AND TO HAVE ANY TOLL VIOLATION FEES AND PENALTIES
 RELATED TO SUCH PAID TOLLS WAIVED; PROVIDED SUCH PAYMENT IS MADE ON  AND
 AFTER  AUGUST  FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR AND ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER
 THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR.
   3. THE PORT AUTHORITY SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY POST ON ITS WEBSITE INFORMA-
 TION ON SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM.
   § 5. The public authorities law is amended by  adding  a  new  section
 1279-m to read as follows:
   §  1279-M.  CASHLESS  TOLLING  AMNESTY PROGRAM. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY
 OTHER PROVISIONS OF THIS TITLE OR ANY OTHER  LAW,  THE  AUTHORITY  SHALL
 PROVIDE  AN  AMNESTY PROGRAM FOR ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR OTHER
 ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR  THE  USE  OF
 S. 9692                             3
 
 ANY  HIGHWAY,  BRIDGE  OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE AUTHORITY BETWEEN APRIL
 TWENTY-THIRD, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN AND JUNE TWENTY-NINTH,  TWO  THOUSAND
 TWENTY-FOUR.
   2.  SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM SHALL ALLOW ANY PERSON, FIRM, CORPORATION, OR
 OTHER ENTITY CHARGED WITH THE PAYMENT OF A CASHLESS TOLL FEE FOR THE USE
 OF ANY HIGHWAY, BRIDGE OR TUNNEL OPERATED BY THE AUTHORITY TO  PAY  SUCH
 TOLLS  IN FULL AND TO HAVE ANY TOLL VIOLATION FEES AND PENALTIES RELATED
 TO SUCH PAID TOLLS WAIVED; PROVIDED SUCH PAYMENT IS MADE  ON  AND  AFTER
 AUGUST  FIRST,  TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR AND ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER THIR-
 TY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-FOUR.
   3. THE AUTHORITY SHALL CONSPICUOUSLY POST ON ITS  WEBSITE  INFORMATION
 ON SUCH AMNESTY PROGRAM.
   §  6.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed January 1, 2025; provided, however, section four of this
 act shall take effect upon the enactment into law by the  state  of  New
 Jersey  of  legislation having an identical effect with this act, but if
 the state of New Jersey shall have  already  enacted  such  legislation,
 this  act  shall take effect immediately; provided that the state of New
 Jersey shall notify the legislative bill drafting  commission  upon  the
 occurrence  of  the enactment of the legislation provided for in section
 one of this act in order that the commission may  maintain  an  accurate
 and  timely  effective data base of the official text of the laws of the
 state of New York in  furtherance  of  effectuating  the  provisions  of
 section  44  of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public offi-
 cers law. Any rights or remedies granted to an  individual  pursuant  to
 this  act  prior  to  the expiration and repeal of this act shall not be
 affected by such expiration.

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Senate Bill S9692

Sponsored By

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

Senate Bill S9692

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Sponsored By

Jessica Scarcella-Spanton

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Transportation Committee

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Details

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2023-S9692 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments