Enacts the "bridge and road investment and dedicated fund guaranteed enforcement (BRIDGE) reform act"

Summary of provisions

Section one titles the bill the BRIDGE (Bridge and Road Investment and Dedicated Fund Guaranteed Enforcement) Reform Act.

Section two repeals section 1 of part B of Chapter 84 of the Laws of 2002 by forbidding the Dedicated Fund be used to pay for costs of the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), including personal and non-personal services.

Section three repeals section 1 of part 0 of Chapter 151 of the Laws of 2001 by forbidding that the Dedicated Fund be used for snow and ice removal by the Department of Transportation (DOT) and other costs related to that program.

Section four creates a schedule by which money from the Dedicated Fund used for snow and ice removal by the DOT will be phased out. The plan calls for a 5-year phase out by cutting the amount for snow and ice removal by approximately 20% each year. After five years, no money from the Dedicated Fund shall be spent on snow and ice removal and related costs by the DOT. section four further creates a schedule by which money from the Dedicated Fund used for DMV expenses will be phased out. The plan calls for a 5-year phase out by cutting the amount for DMV expenses by approximately 20% each year. After five years, no money from the Dedicated Fund shall be spent on DMV expenses and related costs. Section five states that the act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

When the Dedicated Fund was created in 1991, its purpose was to spend money on reconstruction, replacement, reconditioning and preservation of highways and bridges. Today, the fund now has dozens of uses and spends more than $750 million annually on expenses not directly related to its original intent, including Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Operations and salaries and Snow and Ice Removal. This legislation is an attempt to create a transparent funding stream for bridge and road investment.

Given the advent of such tragedies as the 1-35W bridge collapse in Minnesota, coupled with the fact that 29% of New York State's bridges are rated fair or poor, bridge and road investment needs to be a priori- ty for New York as a matter of public safety.

Sadly, New York has ignored investing in our roads and bridges. Last year's state budget failed to contain appropriate funding for our state's roads and bridges. This legislation attempts to clean up the Dedicated Fund by removing DOT snow and ice removal expenses totaling $563 million and DMV operational expenses totaling $199 million so that this money can be used for the Dedicated Fund's intended purposes.

Legislative history

2010: Referred to Senate Finance Committee 2008: S.6516A - Passed Senate - 61-0

Fiscal implications

Approximately $762 million and its associated bonding capacity will be made available for road and bridge investment.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the amendments to paragraph a of subdivision 5 of section 89-b of the state finance law made by section two of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such paragraph pursuant to section 2 of part B of chapter 84 of the laws of 2002, as amended, when upon such date the provision of section three of this act shall take effect.