S05849 Summary:

BILL NOS05849
 
SAME ASNo same as
 
SPONSORSALAND
 
COSPNSRBONACIC, LARKIN, LEIBELL, MORAHAN
 
MLTSPNSR
 
Amd S1279-b, Pub Auth L
 
Relates to the election by certain counties to withdraw from the metropolitan commuter transportation district; and permits the county of Putnam to make such election.
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S05849 Actions:

BILL NOS05849
 
06/11/2009REFERRED TO RULES
01/06/2010REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION
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S05849 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
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S05849 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          5849
 
                               2009-2010 Regular Sessions
 
                    IN SENATE
 
                                      June 11, 2009
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  Sens.  SALAND, BONACIC, LARKIN, LEIBELL, MORAHAN -- read
          twice and ordered printed, and when printed to  be  committed  to  the
          Committee on Rules
 
        AN  ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the election
          by certain counties to withdraw from the metropolitan commuter  trans-

          portation district; and in relation to permitting the county of Putnam
          to make such election
 
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section 1. Section 1279-b of the public authorities law, as  added  by
     2  chapter 669 of the laws of 1986, the opening paragraph of subdivision 1,
     3  the opening paragraph of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 and subdivisions
     4  3  and  5  as  amended by chapter 670 of the laws of 1986, is amended to
     5  read as follows:
     6    § 1279-b.  Transition--election  to  withdraw  from  the  metropolitan
     7  commuter  transportation  district. 1. The counties of Dutchess, Orange,
     8  Putnam and Rockland shall have an option to withdraw from the  metropol-
     9  itan  commuter  transportation  district  and  have such withdrawal take

    10  effect on either: (a) [January] April first, [nineteen  hundred  eighty-
    11  seven]  two  thousand  eleven. If any such county plans to withdraw from
    12  the district on [January] April first, [nineteen  hundred  eighty-seven]
    13  two  thousand eleven, it shall (i) no later than seventy-five days after
    14  the effective date of this section, furnish the commissioner  of  trans-
    15  portation,  and  chairman  of the authority and the other counties which
    16  have an option to withdraw, a resolution adopted by the county  legisla-
    17  ture providing notice of intent to withdraw, (ii) on or before [October]
    18  January  first,  [nineteen hundred eighty-six] two thousand ten, furnish
    19  to the commissioner of transportation, the chairman of the authority and

    20  other counties which have an option to withdraw, a resolution adopted by
    21  the county legislature providing for a public transportation  plan.  For
    22  the  purposes of this section, a "public transportation plan" shall mean
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD11962-03-9

        S. 5849                             2
 
     1  a plan that maintains  adequate  and  continuous  public  transportation
     2  services  from  the  withdrawing  county  to the city of New York or any
     3  terminus previously served, provides a reasonable level of rail  passen-
     4  ger service, provides a schedule for implementing such service, protects
     5  the  public  investment  in the rail transportation system and any other

     6  criteria deemed necessary by the commissioner  of  transportation.  Such
     7  public  transportation  plan  shall  include,  but not be limited to, an
     8  agreement by which such county shall be entitled to lease the facilities
     9  and services comprising such rail transportation system at  fair  market
    10  value  and under such terms and conditions to be determined as set forth
    11  in subdivision six of this section. Prior to withdrawal pursuant to this
    12  paragraph or paragraph (b) of this subdivision, a  county  must  receive
    13  approval  of its public transportation plan pursuant to paragraph (c) of
    14  this subdivision, (iii)  on  or  before  December  fifteenth,  [nineteen
    15  hundred eighty-six] two thousand ten, furnish the commissioner of trans-

    16  portation,  a  copy of an agreement with the authority or an operator of
    17  rail passenger service for the provision of rail  passenger  service  to
    18  and from such county and the city of New York or any terminus previously
    19  served.  If  such  agreement  has  not  been concluded by the respective
    20  parties, and a party has exercised its rights  pursuant  to  subdivision
    21  six  of this section, the approval of the commissioner of transportation
    22  shall not be required and the agreement or order set forth  in  subdivi-
    23  sion  six  of  this section, shall determine the terms and conditions of
    24  such withdrawal.
    25    If a county planning to withdraw on [January] April  first,  [nineteen
    26  hundred  eighty-seven] two thousand eleven is unable to withdraw because

    27  it could not meet the requirements of this paragraph, it  may  elect  to
    28  withdraw pursuant to paragraph (b) of this subdivision hereafter.
    29    (b) January first, [nineteen hundred eighty-eight] two thousand twelve
    30  or  January first, [nineteen hundred eighty-nine] two thousand thirteen.
    31  If any such county plans to withdraw on either January first,  [nineteen
    32  hundred  eighty-eight]  two  thousand twelve or January first, [nineteen
    33  hundred eighty-nine] two thousand thirteen, it shall (i) no  later  than
    34  ninety days after the first of January of the year immediately preceding
    35  the  year  in  which  such  county  plans to withdraw from the district,
    36  furnish the commissioner of transportation, the chairman of the authori-

    37  ty and the other counties which have an option to withdraw, a resolution
    38  adopted by the county legislature providing notice of intent to withdraw
    39  from the district, (ii) no later than one hundred twenty days after  the
    40  first  of  January  of  the year immediately preceding the year in which
    41  such county plans to withdraw from the district furnish to  the  commis-
    42  sioner of transportation, the chairman of the authority and the counties
    43  which  have  an  option  to  withdraw a resolution adopted by the county
    44  legislature providing a public transportation plan as described in  this
    45  section,  (iii)  on  or  before  October  first  of the year immediately
    46  preceding the year in which such  county  plans  to  withdraw  from  the
    47  district,  furnish  to  the commissioner a copy of an agreement with the
    48  authority or an operator of rail passenger service for the provision  of

    49  rail  passenger service to and from such county and the city of New York
    50  or any terminus previously served.   If  such  agreement  has  not  been
    51  concluded  by  the  respective  parties,  and  a party has exercised its
    52  rights pursuant to subdivision six of this section, the approval of  the
    53  commissioner  of  transportation shall not be required and the agreement
    54  or order set forth in such subdivision six shall determine the terms and
    55  conditions of such withdrawal.

        S. 5849                             3
 
     1    (c) No later than thirty days after receipt of the public  transporta-
     2  tion  plan  the commissioner of transportation shall, in writing, either
     3  approve  such  plan  as  conforming  with  the  requirements  heretofore

     4  described  or  disapprove such plan as failing to meet such requirements
     5  and  the  reasons  therefor.  Disapproval of a plan shall not prohibit a
     6  county from resubmitting a public transportation plan and such resubmit-
     7  ted plan shall be approved or disapproved no  later  than  fifteen  days
     8  after  receipt  by the commissioner of transportation. The public trans-
     9  portation plan shall be subject to any state or federal  public  hearing
    10  requirements  which  the  authority would be subject to if the authority
    11  made the changes proposed by such plan.
    12    (d) Any such county which plans to withdraw  from  the  district  must
    13  meet  the  requirements  of  this section prior to the effective date of
    14  withdrawal, and no withdrawal for the purposes  of  this  section  shall
    15  take  effect  unless such county furnishes the resolutions and agreement
    16  prior to the effective date of withdrawal.

    17    2. The authority and any subsidiary corporation of the authority shall
    18  enter into an agreement or agreements with a county that plans to  with-
    19  draw from the district to transfer and assign to such county all author-
    20  ity  and subsidiary railroad facilities and operations, rights and obli-
    21  gations,  and  contract  rights  and  obligations,  including  operating
    22  contract  rights  and obligations, which are owned, operated, maintained
    23  or used directly or by contract or which are otherwise involved  in  the
    24  provision  of  railroad  services to such counties. Such agreement shall
    25  provide, in the event a facility,  operation,  right  or  obligation  is
    26  necessary and material to the provision of rail passenger service in the
    27  district  or  is  not  assignable  under  applicable  bond  covenants or
    28  contracts or the parties agree that it should not be assigned, that  the

    29  authority  or subsidiary thereof shall continue to hold and be responsi-
    30  ble for such facility, operation, right  or  obligation  and  that  such
    31  county  shall reimburse to the authority that portion of the cost to the
    32  authority or subsidiary of its retention of  such  facility,  operation,
    33  right  or  obligation  that is allocable [to] within such county. If the
    34  parties agree that the authority or subsidiary thereof shall operate the
    35  railroad facilities in a county after the effective date of  such  coun-
    36  ty's  withdrawal,  the  agreement  also  shall provide for the terms and
    37  conditions of the operation of such service.
    38    3. Within forty-five days of the effective date of this  section,  the
    39  authority  and any subsidiary corporation of the authority shall provide
    40  to the counties of Dutchess,  Orange,  Putnam  and  Rockland  a  written

    41  statement,  including cost estimates and the useful life, if any, of all
    42  of its facilities, operations, rights and obligations  relating  to  the
    43  provision of rail service in such counties.
    44    4.  The  authority  and any subsidiary corporation of the authority is
    45  authorized to enter into an agreement or agreements with a  county  that
    46  plans  to withdraw from the district, pursuant to which the authority or
    47  subsidiary thereof will provide  technical  assistance  to  such  county
    48  prior  to, during and after the withdrawal, with respect to the transfer
    49  of ownership, operation, maintenance  and  use  of  railroad  facilities
    50  within such county. Such agreement may provide that the county reimburse
    51  the  authority  or  its subsidiary for the cost to the authority and its
    52  subsidiary for the provision of such technical assistance.

    53    5. The authority shall have no obligation to undertake or continue any
    54  project or part thereof in a current  or  future  capital  program  plan
    55  which  pertains  to  railroad  facilities within or services to a county
    56  that withdraws from the district on or after such date of withdrawal nor

        S. 5849                             4
 
     1  shall the authority enter into any contract for a project or part there-
     2  of which would increase liabilities pursuant to subdivision [six]  six-a
     3  of  this section in a county after such county notifies the authority of
     4  its  intent  to withdraw as provided in subdivision one of this section,
     5  provided, however, that if the authority has executed a contract for the
     6  effectuation of a project or part thereof in a capital program  plan  in

     7  such  county,  it  shall  be  assigned to such county in accordance with
     8  subdivision two of this section, unless the parties agree that it  shall
     9  not  be assigned and that the authority or its subsidiary shall continue
    10  to be responsible therefor, in which event the  county  shall  reimburse
    11  the  authority  or  its  subsidiary in accordance with the provisions of
    12  subdivision two of this section.
    13    6. Should the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam or Rockland seek to
    14  withdraw from the district pursuant to this section, any such county and
    15  the authority, and/or, if appropriate any subsidiary corporation of  the
    16  authority  shall  negotiate in good faith any agreement required by this
    17  section for  withdrawal  from  the  district.  Such  negotiations  shall

    18  commence  not  later  than  fifteen days after the public transportation
    19  plan prepared by any such county has been submitted by  such  county  to
    20  the  authority,  and/or,  if  appropriate, a subsidiary authority. In no
    21  event shall a county be required to negotiate with  both  the  authority
    22  and  a  subsidiary  authority.  The  negotiations  conducted  by and the
    23  actions of the authority or subsidiary authority shall be binding.    If
    24  after  sixty  days  from the commencement of such negotiations or at any
    25  time thereafter the authority  or  any  subsidiary  corporation  of  the
    26  authority and a county are unable to reach an agreement required by this
    27  section  for  such  withdrawal,  either  party may make application to a

    28  justice of the supreme court presiding  in  the  counties  of  Dutchess,
    29  Orange,  Putnam  or  Rockland for appointment of a special referee. Each
    30  party shall submit to the justice a list containing the names and quali-
    31  fications of five persons to serve as special referee. The justice shall
    32  select one person from among the names submitted by the parties to serve
    33  as special referee. The special referee shall mediate  the  negotiations
    34  for withdrawal for a period of no longer than sixty days. If, at the end
    35  of  said  sixty day period, the parties are not able to reach agreement,
    36  the special referee shall, within thirty days thereafter, recommend  the
    37  terms  of  the  withdrawal  to the justice. The justice shall review the

    38  recommendations of the referee and the positions of the parties  thereon
    39  and  shall  issue  an  order  setting forth the terms of the withdrawal.
    40  Notwithstanding the entry of such order, a  county  shall  have  fifteen
    41  days from the entry of such order to terminate such proceeding. Upon the
    42  timely  exercise  of  such  right to terminate, such proceeding shall be
    43  deemed null and void and of no further effect. If a county has not exer-
    44  cised its right to terminate, said order shall be subject  to  appellate
    45  review  in  accordance  with  the civil practice law and rules, provided
    46  that any appeal from the order shall be granted expedited status.
    47    6-a. Any county which withdraws from the district shall  reimburse  to

    48  the authority or its subsidiary, within the time period agreed to by the
    49  parties, any capital expenditures heretofore undertaken by the authority
    50  or  its subsidiary for railroad facilities only within such county which
    51  were financed by commuter railroad revenue bonds issued by the metropol-
    52  itan transportation authority pursuant to section twelve hundred  sixty-
    53  nine  of this [article] title and are assigned to such county in accord-
    54  ance with the provisions of subdivision two of this section.
    55    [7.] 6-b. The obligations of a county that withdraws from the district
    56  to reimburse the authority and any subsidiary corporation of the author-

        S. 5849                             5
 
     1  ity for the  costs  of  operation,  maintenance  and  use  of  passenger

     2  stations pursuant to section twelve hundred seventy-seven of this [arti-
     3  cle]  title, shall continue for any such costs incurred up to the effec-
     4  tive  date  of  the  county's withdrawal from the district and for costs
     5  incurred thereafter that result from acts preceding such withdrawal, and
     6  the applicability of the  payment  provisions  and  procedures  of  such
     7  section twelve hundred seventy-seven to such county shall continue ther-
     8  eafter with respect to the aforesaid costs.
     9    [8.]  7.  In  the  event  of a county's failure to make payment of any
    10  monies determined by the authority to be owed and due it or any  subsid-
    11  iary corporation of the authority pursuant to the terms of any agreement
    12  entered  into  pursuant  to this section, the authority is authorized to

    13  recover such payments in the same manner as in  section  twelve  hundred
    14  seventy-seven  of  this  [article] title and the state comptroller shall
    15  withhold and pay monies to the authority in accordance with  the  proce-
    16  dures set forth in that section.
    17    [9.]  8. The term of office of any resident of a county that withdraws
    18  from the district under this section, as a member of the  board  of  the
    19  authority, the Metro-North rail commuter council or the management advi-
    20  sory  board,  which is based upon residence in such county, shall termi-
    21  nate upon the county's withdrawal and the office shall be deemed  vacant
    22  and filled in the manner provided by law.
    23    [10.]  9. The provisions of this section and all agreements undertaken
    24  in accordance herewith shall be subject to the rights of the holders  of

    25  any outstanding bonds or notes issued by the authority.
    26    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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