Relates to paratransit services; directs that an applicant for recertification submit correspondence from a licensed physician in lieu of an in-person assessment.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A7766
SPONSOR: McMahon 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-ARide, 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:
A.2723 of 2023-24; A.3710 of 2021-22; A.8757 of 2019-20; A.10772 of
2017-18
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7766
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. McMAHON, OTIS, CUNNINGHAM, HEVESI, DAVILA, BURKE
-- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authori-
ties and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to paratransit
services
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 1266 of the public authorities law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 15-a to read as follows:
3 15-a. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an individual
4 recertifying for paratransit service, shall, in lieu of an in-person
5 assessment, submit correspondence from a licensed physician, dated with-
6 in the preceding thirty days, indicating that paratransit service is
7 necessary for such individual.
8 (b) The authority shall promulgate rules and regulations regarding the
9 form and content of the licensed physician's correspondence pursuant to
10 paragraph (a) of this subdivision.
11 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01120-01-5
