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AB34 Summary:

BILL NOA00034
 
SAME ASSAME AS S00031
 
SPONSOREachus
 
COSPNSRLupardo, Buttenschon, Shimsky, Levenberg, Simon, Otis, Lunsford, De Los Santos, Zaccaro, Jacobson, Blankenbush, Gallahan, Tague, Brabenec, Maher, DeStefano, Angelino, Berger, Paulin, Williams, Blumencranz, Reyes, Gandolfo, Beephan, Manktelow, Jensen, Gibbs, Seawright, Lucas, Simpson, Santabarbara, Taylor, Lemondes, Stirpe, Barrett, Cook, Sayegh, Woerner, Walsh, Colton, Eichenstein, Kelles, Steck, Griffin, Cunningham, Chludzinski, Weprin, Brown E
 
MLTSPNSRMcDonough
 
Amd §378-a, Pub Auth L
 
Provides that the thruway authority shall issue permits for ambulances and fire vehicles exempting such vehicles from paying tolls on the thruway when engaged in an emergency operation.
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AB34 Actions:

BILL NOA00034
 
01/08/2025referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
01/28/2025reported referred to ways and means
04/07/2025reported referred to rules
04/07/2025reported
04/07/2025rules report cal.136
04/07/2025ordered to third reading rules cal.136
04/08/2025passed assembly
04/08/2025delivered to senate
04/08/2025REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
06/05/2025SUBSTITUTED FOR S31
06/05/20253RD READING CAL.1455
06/05/2025PASSED SENATE
06/05/2025RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY
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AB34 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A34
 
SPONSOR: Eachus
  TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the issuance of permits to exempt ambulances and fire vehicles from paying tolls on the New York state thruway when engaged in an emergency operation   PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: This legislation requires the thruway authority to issue emergency services permits to ambulance and fire vehicles, which would exempt such vehicles from paying tolls while engaged in an emergency operation.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1: Amends section 378-a of the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the thruway authority to issue emergency services permits for certain emergency vehicles, exempting such vehicles from tolls. Requires the thruway authority to promulgate rules and regu- lations to establish a process for applications for emergency service permits and issue refunds in the interim period. Section 2. Sets effective date.   JUSTIFICATION: The New York State Thruway Authority currently issues emergency services permits to fire vehicles which exempt such vehicles from paying tolls while they are engaged in an emergency operation. This is a great idea, however, this exemption is not currently automatically given to ambu- lances. EMS agencies are currently allowed to apply for reimbursement for toll expenses, but the process is often complicated, lengthy, and costly, leading many agencies to the conclusion that it is not worth it to apply for reimbursement. Because of the costs associated with tolls, some EMS agencies find ways to avoid the thruway, which increases response times. No New Yorker's life should be put at risk because an emergency services vehicle is unable to reach them in time because of tolls. Requiring such an exemption would save our EMS agencies money while they are in the process of saving lives.   PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2023-24 A6136-B: Passed Assembly, S6645-B: Referred to Transportation   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: Minimal, as charges are already reimbursable.   EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.
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AB34 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                           34
 
                               2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                       (Prefiled)
 
                                     January 8, 2025
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. EACHUS, LUPARDO, BUTTENSCHON, SHIMSKY, LEVENBERG,
          SIMON,  OTIS, LUNSFORD, DE LOS SANTOS, ZACCARO, JACOBSON, BLANKENBUSH,
          GALLAHAN, TAGUE, BRABENEC, MAHER, DeSTEFANO, ANGELINO, BERGER, PAULIN,
          WILLIAMS, BLUMENCRANZ, REYES, GANDOLFO,  BEEPHAN,  MANKTELOW,  JENSEN,
          GIBBS,  SEAWRIGHT,  LUCAS,  SIMPSON,  SANTABARBARA,  TAYLOR, LEMONDES,
          STIRPE, BARRETT, COOK, SAYEGH, WOERNER,  WALSH,  COLTON,  EICHENSTEIN,
          KELLES,  STECK  --  read  once and referred to the Committee on Corpo-
          rations, Authorities and Commissions
 
        AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the  issuance
          of permits to exempt ambulances and fire vehicles from paying tolls on
          the New York state thruway when engaged in an emergency operation
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 378-a of  the  public  authorities
     2  law,  as  added by chapter 23 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as
     3  follows:
     4    1. The authority is hereby authorized and directed to  [issue  refunds
     5  for tolls incurred by ambulances or fire vehicles engaged in an emergen-
     6  cy  operation,  or,  at the option of the authority, to] issue emergency
     7  services permits for use by ambulances and  fire  vehicles  which  shall
     8  provide  for travel at no charge between interchanges and barriers while
     9  such vehicles are engaged in an emergency operation, provided  that  the
    10  authority is authorized and directed to issue refunds for tolls incurred
    11  by  such  ambulances and fire vehicles engaged in an emergency operation
    12  while the applicable application for emergency services permits is pend-
    13  ing.  The authority shall promulgate rules and regulations  establishing
    14  the  process  by  which  such ambulances and fire vehicles can apply for
    15  emergency services permits. For  purposes  of  this  section,  the  term
    16  "ambulance"  shall  have  the  same  meaning  as such term is defined by
    17  section one hundred-b of the vehicle and traffic  law,  the  term  "fire
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD00222-01-5

        A. 34                               2
 
     1  vehicle"  shall have the same meaning as such term is defined by section
     2  one hundred fifteen-a of the vehicle  and  traffic  law,  and  the  term
     3  "emergency  operation"  shall  have  the  same  meaning  as such term is
     4  defined  by  section  one  hundred fourteen-b of the vehicle and traffic
     5  law. In any rules and regulations promulgated for the implementation  of
     6  this  section,  the authority may establish the type of documentation or
     7  other proof satisfactory to the authority  that  an  ambulance  or  fire
     8  vehicle  was  engaged  in  an emergency operation at the time a toll was
     9  incurred.
    10    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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