NY State Senate Bill 2025-S7611

Senate Bill S7611

2025-2026 Legislative Session

Directs a study of the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles in New York state outside of the city of New York

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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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Apr 23, 2025	referred to transportation

2025-S7611 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Transportation
Law Section:: Transportation Law
Laws Affected:: Add §14-o, Transp L

2025-S7611 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Directs the department of transportation to conduct a study of the availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles, by county, in New York state outside of the city of New York; defines accessibility; requires a report to identify any existing local guidelines for accessible vehicles; directs development of benchmarks for increasing wheelchair accessible vehicles.

2025-S7611 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S7611

SPONSOR: BYNOE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the transportation law, in relation to a study of the
availability of wheelchair accessible vehicles in New York state outside
of the city of New York

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To direct the Department of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive
study on the availability and access to wheelchair accessible vehicles
available as taxicabs in all Counties across New York State outside of
New York City. Following the completion of the study, the Department of
Transportation shall develop guidelines for Counties to implement to
increase the number of wheelchair accessible vehicles, including the use
of tax incentives or grant funding. All Counties subject to this law
would then have to work with or create local Disability Task Forces or
Advisory Council in order to implement a wheelchair accessible vehicle
plan that meets the Department of Transportation's benchmarks.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section 1 provides the Legislative Intent.

Section 2 adds a new section 14-0 to the Transportation Law. The follow-
ing subsections comprise Section 2:

Subsection 1 defines and sets guidelines for what would be considered a
wheelchair accessible vehicle and also defines taxicab and county as
they relate to this law.

Subsection 2 establishes the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Study that
the Department of Transportation would have to complete and sets guide-
lines on what information would be included in the study.

Subsection 3 establishes the Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Study Map,
which would include all information compiled in Subsection 2 and exist-
ing County policies, programs, or laws which set guidelines regarding
wheelchair accessible vehicles. The information made in the study map
shall be made available to the public on the Department of Transporta-
tion's website.

Subsection 4 directs the Department of Transportation to develop an
assessment of each County's data to determine if there is an insuffi-
cient number of wheelchair accessible vehicles by use of a benchmark
developed through analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data on the prevalence
of ambulatory disabilities. Such assessment shall also suggest grant
programs or tax incentives to encourage the adoption of wheelchair
accessible vehicles in any given jurisdiction.

Subsection 5 directs the Department of Transportation to review each
County's policies to determine if they are sufficient based on the
benchmark established in subsection 4. If a County has an insufficient
plan or does not have one, then they would be required to submit a plan
to the Department.


Subsection 6 outlines the timeline for the Wheelchair Vehicle Study Map,
the Department of Transportation's benchmarks, and for each County's
Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle Study to be completed.

Section 3 provides the effective date of the legislation.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Outside of New York City, which is subject to a Federal Court Order in
Taxis For All Campaign v. Taxi and Limousine Commission requiring the
City to ensure 50% 'of their taxis are wheelchair accessible vehicles,
there are no uniform Statewide regulations either defining a wheelchair
accessible vehicle, or an outline of substantive information on the
number of wheelchair accessible vehicles which are available across the
State and what would be necessary to provide equal transportation access
to persons who make use of a wheelchair or mobility aid. For example, a
person who uses a wheelchair could get a taxi from JFK Airport to go
home in Nassau County, but then while in Nassau County, such an individ-
ual is unable to access a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

This bill seeks to open a discussion on the provision of wheelchair
accessible vehicles in Counties across New York State by having the
department of Transportation conduct a study on wheelchair accessibility
vehicles and their availability across New York State besides New York
City, the basis for the exemption is that New York City is subject to a
Federal court order "Taxis For All Campaign v.  Taxi and Limousine
Commission". The bill will particularly examine if taxicab companies
possess any wheelchair accessible vehicles, the number of such vehicles,
and any existing County policies which may support the promulgation of
these vehicles.

Such study would be made available to all stakeholders and the public
through a public facing dashboard available on the Department of Trans-
portation's website and upon completion of the initial study, the
Department of Transportation shall create a series of benchmarks for
Counties to follow to improve access to wheelchair accessible vehicles.
Counties would be required to submit their policies to the Department,
who would then review them and determine if they match the new wheel-
chair accessible vehicle benchmarks based on the findings of the study.

Counties which do not have a plan, or have a plan determined to be
insufficient by the Department would have to create a new plan with the
goal of improving access to wheelchair accessible vehicles across their
jurisdiction.

Through this law, the State would have the knowledge and data to better
provide services to individuals who use a wheelchair or mobility aid,
and could create dedicated programs and policies which could be imple-
mented in Counties across the State as to improve transportation access
for the disabled community.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Legislation

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the nineth day after it shall have become
a law.

2025-S7611 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7611
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              April 23, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  BYNOE  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
 
 AN ACT to amend the transportation law, in relation to a  study  of  the
   availability  of  wheelchair  accessible  vehicles  in  New York state
   outside of the city of New York

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. Legislative intent. This Legislature finds that no uniform
 regulations exist across New York state outside of New York  city  which
 defines a wheelchair accessible vehicle and, despite the need for mobil-
 ity  services  for  the  disabled population, substantive information on
 wheelchair accessible vehicle standards and the number of such  vehicles
 available does not exist in each county across New York state outside of
 New York City.
   As  such,  this  Legislature  finds  that  defining what constitutes a
 wheelchair accessible vehicle, conducting  a  study  on  the  number  of
 wheelchair  accessible  vehicles, creating benchmarks and grant supports
 for the different counties across New York state  other  than  New  York
 City,  would  allow  for  local authorities to make informed policies to
 increase mobility transportation options for individuals who make use of
 a wheelchair.
   § 2. The transportation law is amended by adding a new section 14-o to
 read as follows:
   § 14-O. WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES. 1. FOR THE  PURPOSES  OF  THIS
 SECTION:
   (A)  "TAXICAB" SHALL MEAN ANY MOTOR VEHICLE, OTHER THAN A BUS, USED IN
 THE BUSINESS OF TRANSPORTING PASSENGERS FOR COMPENSATION,  AND  OPERATED
 IN  SUCH BUSINESS UNDER A LICENSE OR PERMIT ISSUED BY A LOCAL AUTHORITY.
 SUCH TERM SHALL NOT INCLUDE VEHICLES WHICH ARE RENTED OR LEASED  WITHOUT
 A DRIVER.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD11778-01-5
 S. 7611                             2

 
   (B)  "COUNTY" SHALL MEAN A COUNTY IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK, OUTSIDE OF
 THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
   (C)  "WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE" SHALL MEAN A VEHICLE, INCLUDING A
 TAXICAB, THAT HAS BEEN INSPECTED AND APPROVED BY THE MUNICIPAL OR  LOCAL
 AUTHORIZING BODY AS POSSESSING ALL OF THE FOLLOWING REQUIREMENTS:
   (I) MOBILITY AND ACCESSIBILITY
   (A) THE LIFT/RAMP WIDTH SHALL BE THIRTY INCHES MINIMUM.
   (B)  THE  DESIGN  LOAD  OF THE LIFT/RAMP SHALL BE AT LEAST SIX HUNDRED
 POUNDS.
   (C) CONTROLS FOR THE LIFT/RAMP SHALL BE INTERLOCKED WITH  THE  VEHICLE
 TO  ENSURE  THAT  THE  VEHICLE CANNOT BE MOVED WHILE THE LIFT/RAMP IS IN
 OPERATION.
   (D) CONTROLS FOR THE LIFT/RAMP SHALL BE OF THE MOMENTARY CONTACT  TYPE
 REQUIRING CONTINUOUS MANUAL PRESSURE TO OPERATE.
   (E) THE LIFT/RAMP SHALL BE EQUIPPED WITH AN EMERGENCY DEPLOYMENT METH-
 OD IN THE EVENT OF POWER OR MECHANICAL FAILURE.
   (F)  THE  INSTALLATION  OF  A  LIFT/RAMP  SHALL  INCLUDE PROVISIONS TO
 PREVENT THE LIFT/RAMP FROM FALLING OR FOLDING  ANY  FASTER  THAN  TWELVE
 INCHES/SECOND  IN  THE  EVENT OF ANY FAILURE OF THE LOAD-CARRYING COMPO-
 NENT.
   (G) THE LIFT/RAMP PLATFORM SHALL BE EQUIPPED  WITH  HANDRAILS  ON  TWO
 SIDES,  A MINIMUM OF EIGHT INCHES LONG AND THIRTY INCHES ABOVE THE PLAT-
 FORM AND MOVE IN TANDEM WITH THE LIFT/RAMP.
   (H) THE LIFT/RAMP PLATFORM SHALL HAVE BARRIERS AT LEAST TWO INCHES  OR
 HIGHER TO PREVENT MOBILITY AID WHEELS FROM SLIPPING OFF.
   (I)  LIFT/PLATFORM SURFACES SHALL BE CONTINUOUS AND SLIP RESISTANT AND
 ACCOMMODATE FOUR-WHEEL AND THREE-WHEEL MOBILITY AIDS.
   (J) THE TRANSITION FROM ROADWAY OR SIDEWALK AND  THE  TRANSITION  FROM
 VEHICLE  FLOOR  TO THE RAMP MAY BE VERTICAL WITHOUT EDGE TREATMENT UP TO
 ONE-QUARTER INCH.
   (K) RAMPS SHALL HAVE THE LEAST SLOPE PRACTICAL AND MAY  NOT  EXCEED  A
 ONE TO FOUR RATIO WHEN DEPLOYED TO GROUND LEVEL.
   (L)  THE  LIFT/RAMP ATTACHMENT SHALL BE FIRMLY ATTACHED TO THE VEHICLE
 SO THAT IT IS NOT SUBJECT TO DISPLACEMENT WHEN LOADING  OR  UNLOADING  A
 HEAVY  MOBILITY  AID  AND  THE  GAP BETWEEN THE VEHICLE AND RAMP MAY NOT
 EXCEED FIVE-EIGHTHS OF AN INCH.
   (M) THE LIFT/RAMP SHALL BE USABLE IN ALL WEATHER CONDITIONS.
   (II) DOORS, STEPS AND THRESHOLDS
   (A) FOR VEHICLES TWENTY-TWO FEET  IN  LENGTH  OR  LESS,  THE  OVERHEAD
 CLEARANCE  BETWEEN THE TOP OF THE DOOR OPENING. THE RAISED LIFT PLATFORM
 OR HIGHEST POINT OF THE RAMP SHALL BE A MINIMUM OF FIFTY-NINE INCHES.
   (B) VEHICLE DOORWAYS IN WHICH A LIFT/RAMP IS INSTALLED  SHALL  HAVE  A
 LIGHT ABOVE OR BESIDE EACH PASSENGER ACCESS DOOR TO ILLUMINATE THE LOAD-
 ING  EQUIPMENT. SUCH LIGHT SHALL BE CONSTANTLY LIT DURING THE LOADING OR
 UNLOADING OF PASSENGERS. THE LIGHT SHALL BE SHIELDED TO PROTECT THE EYES
 OF ENTERING AND EXITING PASSENGERS.
   (III) INTERIOR COMPARTMENT
   (A) FLOOR AREAS WHERE PEOPLE WALK AND SECUREMENT LOCATIONS SHALL  HAVE
 SLIP-RESISTANT SURFACES.
   (B)  A MINIMUM CLEAR FLOOR AREA OF THIRTY INCHES BY FORTY-EIGHT INCHES
 SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR EACH WHEELCHAIR POSITION.
   (C) REGARDING  SEATING  CONFIGURATION,  VEHICLES  TWENTY-TWO  FEET  IN
 LENGTH OR LESS SHALL PROVIDE FORWARD/REAR SEATING ONLY.
   (D)  RAMP  STOWAGE  SHALL BE ACCOMPLISHED IN A MANNER AS NOT TO POSE A
 HAZARD TO PASSENGERS OR IMPINGE ON A PASSENGER'S MOBILITY AID.
 S. 7611                             3

   (E) INTERIOR HANDRAILS AND STANCHIONS SHALL PERMIT SUFFICIENT  TURNING
 AND  MANEUVERING  SPACE FOR MOBILITY AIDS INCLUDING WHEELCHAIRS TO REACH
 SECUREMENT LOCATION FROM LIFT/RAMP.
   (F)  HANDRAILS AND STANCHIONS SHALL BE PROVIDED IN THE ENTRANCE TO THE
 VEHICLE IN A CONFIGURATION WHICH ALLOWS PEOPLE TO GRASP THE ASSISTS FROM
 OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE STARTING TO BOARD, AND TO CONTINUE  USING  THE
 ASSISTS THROUGHOUT THE BOARDING PROCESS.
   (IV) SECURE SYSTEMS
   (A)  A  VEHICLE  SHALL  POSSESS A WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEM THAT IS
 ABLE TO SECURELY ANCHOR THE WHEELCHAIR INTO  THE  VEHICLE,  OR  ABLE  TO
 ENCOMPASS  BOTH  THE  OCCUPANT  AND  THE  WHEELCHAIR  TO ENSURE THEY ARE
 SECURELY ANCHORED INTO THE VEHICLE.
   (B) FOR EACH MOBILITY AID SECUREMENT DEVICE, A PASSENGER SEAT BELT AND
 SHOULDER HARNESS SHALL BE PROVIDED FOR USE BY MOBILITY AID  USERS.  SUCH
 SEAT  BELTS  SHALL BE IN ADDITION TO A DEVICE WHICH SECURES THE MOBILITY
 AID ITSELF.
   (C) SECUREMENT SYSTEMS SHALL BE STOWED IN A WAY SO AS NOT  TO  POSE  A
 HAZARD TO PASSENGERS WHEN NOT IN USE.
   2. THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONDUCT A STUDY RELATING TO THE AVAILABILITY
 OF  WHEELCHAIR  ACCESSIBLE  VEHICLES  IN EVERY COUNTY. EACH COUNTY SHALL
 PROVIDE THE DEPARTMENT WITH RELEVANT DATA WHICH WILL ALLOW  THE  DEPART-
 MENT TO COMPLETE THIS STUDY. THE SCOPE OF SUCH STUDY SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A)  A  COMPILATION  OF DATA FROM EACH COUNTY ON THE NUMBER OF TAXICAB
 OPERATORS WITHIN THEIR JURISDICTION.
   (B) THE SIZE OF THE FLEET OF EACH TAXICAB COMPANY OR OPERATOR.
   (C) THE NUMBER OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE  VEHICLES  THAT  COMPRISE  THE
 FLEET OF EACH TAXICAB COMPANY OR OPERATOR.
   (D) THE CATCHMENT AREAS OF EACH TAXICAB COMPANY OR OPERATOR.
   (E)  ANY  EXISTING COUNTY POLICIES OR LAWS WHICH SET GUIDELINES ON THE
 NUMBER OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES AVAILABLE  IN  EACH  COUNTY  OR
 POLICIES  REGARDING  THE  LICENSING OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES BY
 ANY TAXICAB COMPANY.
   3. ALL INFORMATION COMPILED BY THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE STUDY
 UNDER SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE ASSEMBLED AND  INTEGRATED
 INTO  A  STATEWIDE  MAPPING  PLATFORM  IN ORDER TO IDENTIFY AREAS OF THE
 STATE WHICH MAY HAVE AN ACCESSIBILITY DESERT AND/OR INSUFFICIENT  NUMBER
 OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES. SUCH MAP SHALL INCLUDE:
   (A) AN OVERLAY OF THE DIFFERENT EXISTING COUNTY POLICIES OR LAWS WHICH
 SET GUIDELINES ON THE NUMBER OF WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES.
   (B)  AN OVERLAY OF EXISTING PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSI-
 BLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES IN EACH COUNTY.
   (C) ALL OTHER INFORMATION AS OUTLINED UNDER THE WHEELCHAIR  ACCESSIBLE
 VEHICLE STUDY IN SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION.
   (D)  ALL  INFORMATION  INCLUDED  IN  THE STUDY SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE
 DIGITALLY AND BE ACCESSIBLE TO THE PUBLIC ON THE DEPARTMENT'S WEBSITE.
   4. UPON COMPLETION OF THE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE STUDY PURSUANT
 TO SUBDIVISION TWO OF THIS SECTION, THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONJUNCTION  WITH
 THE OFFICE FOR PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES AND THE DEPARTMENT
 OF  HEALTH, SHALL COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT OF EACH COUNTY'S DATA TO DETER-
 MINE IF THERE IS AN ACCESSIBILITY DESERT DUE TO AN  INSUFFICIENT  NUMBER
 OF  WHEELCHAIR  ACCESSIBLE  VEHICLES,  AND  CREATE  BENCHMARKS DEVELOPED
 THROUGH ANALYSIS OF U.S. CENSUS BUREAU'S AMERICAN COMMUNITY SURVEY  DATA
 ON  THE  PREVALENCE  OF  AMBULATORY  DISABILITIES. THIS ASSESSMENT SHALL
 SUGGEST GRANT PROGRAMS OR TAX  INCENTIVES  TO  INCREASE  THE  NUMBER  OF
 WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLES.
 S. 7611                             4

   5.  THE DEPARTMENT SHALL COMPLETE AN ASSESSMENT OF ALL EXISTING WHEEL-
 CHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE POLICIES OR PLANS AND DETERMINE IF  SUCH  PLANS
 ARE  INSUFFICIENT.  UPON DETERMINATION THAT A COUNTY HAS AN INSUFFICIENT
 PLAN OR IS ABSENT OF A PLAN TO MEET THE NEEDS OF ITS  CONSTITUENCY,  THE
 DEPARTMENT  SHALL  REQUIRE  SUCH  COUNTY TO SUBMIT A PLAN THAT MEETS THE
 DEPARTMENT'S BENCHMARKS IN ORDER TO INCREASE WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VEHI-
 CLE TRANSPORTATION.
   6. WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OF THE PUBLICATION OF THE WHEELCHAIR
 ACCESSIBLE VEHICLE STUDY MAP AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION THREE  OF  THIS
 SECTION,  THE  COMMISSIONER  SHALL DELIVER A COPY OF THE FINDINGS OF THE
 STUDY AND THE BENCHMARKS ESTABLISHED PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  FOUR  OF
 THIS  SECTION  TO ALL STAKEHOLDERS AND POST SUCH FINDINGS ON THE DEPART-
 MENT'S WEBSITE. NOTIFICATION SHALL BE PROVIDED TO EACH COUNTY SUBJECT TO
 THIS SECTION. WITHIN ONE HUNDRED EIGHTY DAYS OF THE PUBLICATION  OF  THE
 WHEELCHAIR  ACCESSIBLE  VEHICLE  STUDY MAP, EACH COUNTY SHALL CREATE AND
 SUBMIT A PLAN TO THE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO  SUBDIVISION  FIVE  OF  THIS
 SECTION.
   §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
 have become a law.

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