BILL NUMBER: S346
SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law and the transportation law,
in relation to work zone safety; and to amend the state finance law, in
relation to establishing the work zone safety fund
 
PURPOSE:
This bill creates a penalty for endangerment of a highway worker, sets a
fine structure, and directs sixty percent of fines collected to a work
zone safety fund.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:,:
Section One adds a new section 1221-a to the Vehicle and Traffic Law to
create the crime of endangerment of a highway worker.
Section two adds a new section 1221-b to the Vehicle and Traffic Law to
create a public education and outreach program to increase motorist
awareness about the importance of highway work zone safety.
Section three amends section 161 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to
define a work area or work zone.
Section four adds a new section 118-a of the Vehicle and Traffic Law to
define a highway worker.
Section five amends section 22 of the transportation law to clarify that
a representative of public employees must be involved in developing
rules and regulations regarding work zone safety and enforcement.
Section six creates the work zone safety fund. Section seven enacts the
effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Every day, highway workers face multiple threats from drivers, many of
which drive around a work area, fails to obey traffic control, and
endangers the well-being of highway workers. Further steps need to be
taken to punish these drivers, while deterring other motorists to the
dangers they present while in work zones. By creating a new mandatory
fine structure for violators of the law, people who endanger highway
workers will be held accountable, while directing funds into a new
program to help prevent further accidents. These funds will be used to
provide work area safety enforcement, work area markings, radar speed
display signs, and police monitoring, so that drivers approaching work
zones will properly slow down and yield to highway workers.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: Passed Senate
2021-22: Passed Senate
2019-2020: Passed Senate
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Positive impact to the state through the collection of additional fines.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect 90 days after it is signed into law.

Statutes affected:
S346: 22 transportation law