NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A686
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 provided the authority shall not pay any
costs related to the program from its operating or capital budgets and
may only implement the half fare rate program with funds appropriated by
the state.
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 provided the authority shall not pay
any costs of the program and may only implement the program with funds
appropriated by the state.
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, contingent upon funds
appropriated by the state, 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:
2021-22:A.774 - Referredto Ways and Means /S.1287 - Transportation
2019-20:A.2131-A -ReferredtoWays and Means/ S.3372-A- Transportation
2017-18:A.1770-A,-ReferredtoCorporations,Authoritiesand Commissions
2015-16:A.7850-A -ReferredtoCorporations,Authoritiesand Commissions
/S.5545-A - Passed Senate
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Undetermined.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
686
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. DINOWITZ, BENEDETTO, JOYNER, COLTON, COOK, BRAUN-
STEIN, BICHOTTE HERMELYN, THIELE, HUNTER, L. ROSENTHAL, WEPRIN,
SEAWRIGHT, HEVESI, EPSTEIN, DICKENS, STERN, McDONOUGH, RA, SMITH,
RAMOS, FALL, JEAN-PIERRE, PRETLOW, MANKTELOW, MIKULIN, BRABENEC, REIL-
LY, DeSTEFANO, REYES, TAYLOR, D. ROSENTHAL, PAULIN, KIM, WALLACE,
CRUZ, OTIS, VANEL, ANDERSON, DURSO, DE LOS SANTOS -- Multi-Sponsored
by -- M. of A. DAVILA, HAWLEY, HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
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. Section 1266 of the public authorities law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 20 to read as follows:
3 20. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the authority and any
4 of its subsidiary corporations shall establish and implement a half fare
5 rate program for veterans, provided, however, the authority shall not
6 pay any costs or expenses related to the half fare rate program from its
7 operating or capital budgets and may only implement the half fare rate
8 program with funds appropriated to it by the state of New York for such
9 purpose. For purposes of this subdivision "veteran" shall mean a member
10 of the armed forces of the United States who served and was honorably
11 discharged or released under conditions other than dishonorable from
12 such service, and presents an authorized veteran identification card,
13 and who is a resident of the state of New York at the time of applica-
14 tion for the half fare rate program.
15 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00577-01-3
