BILL NUMBER: S8708
SPONSOR: HINCHEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring
certain transportation facilities operated by public authorities to
implement traveler-friendly concession pricing policies
 
PURPOSE:
To require all vendors in publicly operated transportation facilities to
use street pricing for the products that they sell to the general
public.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 adds a new section 397-c to the general business law requiring
all transportation facilities operated by a public authority to create
policies requiring vendors to use "traveler-friendly concession pric-
ing." For the purposes of this bill, "traveler-friendly concession pric-
ing" is defined as no more than the average street price of the item
sold at similar commercial establishments within a 10-mile radius of the
facility. This section also requires public authorities to submit an
annual report to the comptroller detailing average concession prices,
comparable local market prices and evidence of compliance by vendors.
Section 2 states the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
The cost of traveling has climbed in recent years. Flights, hotels and
transportation have all become more expensive, but these are costs that
people can anticipate, plan for, and seek out options to fit their budg-
ets. One cost they can't avoid is the price of food and drinks at travel
facilities, especially in airports where people cannot exit once they've
gone through security. There have been reports of extreme price gouging
such as people being charged as much as $27 for a single beer at
airports,* Pricing like this drives up costs for people who are simply
trying to get from one place to another, whether commuting or for
personal travel.
The Port Authority has taken steps to curb this unfair practice: in 2022
they issued guidance to limit airport concession prices to 10% of the
street price in the surrounding area. This bill continues this common-
sense position by putting this requirement into statute and expanding it
to cover all transportation facilities in the state that are operated by
public authorities, including train stations and thruway rest stops. By
requiring prices to be closer to street value, this legislation will
help make travel more affordable for everyone.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.
*https://www.cbsnews.com/news/beer-airport-27-laguardia-org/