BILL NUMBER: S9499
SPONSOR: COONEY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to exempting
members of the New York state police from tolls associated with entering
on or exiting Ward's island
 
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this bill is to exempt New York State troopers from being
required to pay tolls on their private vehicles to enter on or exit
Ward's Island if they are there for official duties.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Adds a new section 1266-0 to the Public Authorities Law
exempting any personal vehicle used by a member of the New York State
Police from toll charges for the purposes of entering on or exiting
Ward's Island for official duties. It also provides that the application
for the toll exemption will be prescribed by the MTA.
Section 2: Creates an effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
Ward's Island is home to the Division of State Police's NYC Zone 1 Head-
quarters. Travel to and from Ward's Island is overseen by the Triborough
Bridge and Tunnel Authority (TBTA) which is an affiliate agency of the
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).
Members of the NYPD who work on Ward's Island do not have to pay tolls.
Similarly, certain employees of the Office of Mental Health (OMH), which
houses a facility on Ward's Island do not have to pay the tolls.
This bill would provide that New York State troopers who travel to the
police station located on Ward's Island, also will not be required to
pay tolls on their personal vehicles.
Various members of the State Police must travel to Ward's Island on a
regular basis to work. They travel there to serve and protect those who
are living, working and visiting in the New York city area. With rising
costs, a toll exemption for state troopers traveling to work would alle-
viate them of one burden they face on a daily basis.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become .a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
on or before such effective date.