BILL NUMBER: S1831
SPONSOR: MAYER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company and the New York city transit
authority establish a no fare program for the transportation of certain
active duty, uniform police officers
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would create no fare programs for transportation on the Long
Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad for police offi-
cers, establish and implement a similar program for transportation on
New York City Transit Authority systems, and establish safeguards for
eligibility for these programs.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends subdivision 14 of section 1266 of the public authori-
ties law to expand the MTA's no-fare transportation program to the Metro
North Commuter Railroad. The amendments expand eligibility to all
trained and sworn police officers, as defined in section 1.20 of the
criminal procedure law, who are employed in good standing and have
active law enforcement responsibilities with the MTA district.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
While MTA ridership has remained far below pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels,
the number of assaults on the subway have significantly increased. Over
all, the rate of felonies per million riders remains above pre- pandemic
levels. It is imperative that riders can travel safely through-out the
MTA system, particularly at a time when more people are returning to
in-person work, school, and other activities. People will increasingly
turn to private cars, taxis, and ride-sharing services to avoid mass
transit if they do not feel it is safe. Providing active-duty police
officers with free rides on the Metro- North in addition to the Long
Island Rail Road will encourage these officers to use mass transit to
get to and from work, providing increased police presence on trains. The
presence of officers will deter crime and provide riders with an
increased sense of safety.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
S6907/A7098A (2021-22): Referred to Transportation
S2972A (2023-24): Referred to Transportation
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act would take effect thirty days after it has become law.

Statutes affected:
S1831: 1266 public authorities law, 1266(14) public authorities law