NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A1770A
SPONSOR: Dinowitz (MS)
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to a half fare
rate program in the metropolitan transportation authority for veterans
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would authorize the metropolitan transportation authority
(MTA) and any of its subsidiary corporations to establish and implement
a half fare rate for veterans.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one authorizes the MTA and its subsidiary corporations which
include Metro-North and the Long Island Railroad to establish and imple-
ment a half fare rate for veterans.
 
EXISTING LAW:
Currently the MTA provides a half fare rate program for those with seri-
ous mental illness.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Those who serve our country in the armed forces deserve not only our
respect, but our gratitude for the sacrifices and risks that they are
willing to take to preserve our freedoms. Veterans should be entitled to
certain benefits that express that gratitude for their service.
This bill would provide a half fare program for New York State residents
who have served as a member of our armed forces. New York has one of
highest veteran populations in the country with a strong concentration
of residents in the MTA region. However, according to the US Department
of Veterans Affairs, our state has lost almost between 30 and 35% of our
veteran population between 2000-2015 which in part can be attributed to
the state's high cost of living, particularly in the MTA region. By
making the MTA region more affordable to live and travel in, we hope to
keep veterans in our state.
The MTA has established a half fare program for those with a serious
mental illness and this would expand that program to those who should be
recognized for their service to our country.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2015-16- A.7850A - Referred to Corporations, Authorities, and
Commissions/S.5545A - Passed Senate
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Nominal fiscal implication to the MTA.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
1770--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 13, 2017
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, ORTIZ, BENEDETTO, CRESPO, RICHARDSON,
JOYNER, MOSLEY, COLTON, COOK, BRAUNSTEIN, PICHARDO, TITONE, DenDEKKER,
BICHOTTE, RIVERA, BLAKE, HOOPER, THIELE -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
A. ABBATE, BARNWELL, ENGLEBRIGHT, HYNDMAN, SIMON -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
-- recommitted to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and
Commissions in accordance with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to a half fare
rate program in the metropolitan transportation authority for veterans
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Subdivision 16 of section 1266 of the public authorities
2 law, as amended by chapter 25 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 16. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the authority and any
5 of its subsidiary corporations shall establish and implement a half fare
6 rate program for, (a) persons with serious mental illness who are eligi-
7 ble to receive supplemental security income benefits as defined pursuant
8 to title sixteen of the federal social security act and section two
9 hundred nine of the social services law, and (b) veterans. For purposes
10 of this subdivision "veteran" shall mean a member of the armed forces of
11 the United States who served and was honorably discharged or released
12 under conditions other than dishonorable from such service, and presents
13 an authorized veteran identification card, and who is a resident of the
14 state of New York at the time of application for the half fare rate
15 program.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03769-03-8