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- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
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Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:A10525
Title of bill
An act to amend the canal law, the public authorities law, the transpor- tation law, the economic development law and the state finance law, in relation to making the canal corporation an independent public authori- ty; and repealing certain provisions of the canal law and the public authorities law relating thereto
Purpose or general idea of bill
Requires the Thruway Authority to obtain legislative approval before increasing tolls.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 of the bill requires the Thruway Authority to submit a written report to the legislature justifying an increase in tolls and the current financial condition of the authority for review and approval by the Legislature provided that such approval shall not be required to fix and collect tolls to fulfill the terms of any agreements entered into prior to the effective date of this bill.
Section 2 provides that any judgment declaring any portion of this act to be invalid shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder ther- eof.
Justification
In November 2007, the Thruway Authority proposed two toll increases of 5%, one to take effect in 2009 and the other in 2010. These increases follow an increase approved in 2005 that took effect on January 6, 2008. If all of these increases are implemented, individuals and businesses using the Thruway will pay more than $370 million annually~in tolls, a sum that is $29.2 million more than they paid in 2007.
Increasing Thruway tolls amounts to geographic discrimination for Upstate residents who have limited access to state subsidized, inter-ur- ban mass transit and generally must use private vehicles to commute to work, school, and places of business. The upstate economy is already struggling due to the highest combined tax rates in the country and soaring gasoline prices. The Legislature must act to prevent a further drag on the upstate economy and an additional economic burden to its beleaguered upstate tax payers by removing the Canal System from the Thruway Authority and thereby preventing these latest toll increases.
Prior legislative history
2008: A.10075; Held for consideration in Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.