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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Requires a quorum of members of the board of the New York city transit authority and the board of the MTA to attend certain public hearings
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Catherine Nolan
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5280
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring a quorum of members of the board of the New York city transit authority and the board of the metropolitan transportation authority to attend certain public hearings conducted by such authorities
Purpose of bill
To require a quorum of members be present at public hearings which the New York City Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority may hold.
Summary of specific provisions
Adds the holding of certain public hearings to the quorum requirements for the transaction of business for the New York City Transit Authority and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority.
The legislation will require a quorum at hearings to consider (i) to increase the rate of fares or tolls to be charged, (ii) to close or reduce access to a passenger station; or (iii) to discontinue or reduce service to any rapid transit or omnibus route.
In the case of any other public hearings required by law, there shall be no less than four members of the authority present; provided, however, that such requirement shall not apply to hearings required by the Federal Transit Administration or the eminent domain procedure law.
Justification
The MTA has held public hearings where few or none of the members of the MTA board have been present. The MTA board does not currently interpret a public hearing as the transaction of business.
In 1990, a similar bill, requiring a quorum at all public hearings was passed by the Senate and the Assembly (S.1252-A/A.1851, 1990). The bill was not submitted to the Governor as the MTA agreed to have a sufficient number of board members attend public hearings. The MTA agreed to follow the provisions of a compromise measure, A.12100, 1990. The provisions of this bill are the same as A.12100, 1990.
Recently, at public hearings regarding service reductions, only three or four members attended the public hearings. Often the public hearing process is the only opportunity that the public has to directly express their views to the MTA board at a convenient time and place. The purpose of public hearings is to insure that there is interaction between the public and the people charged with making decisions on the operation of the transportation system.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Shall take effect on September 1st in the year after it becomes law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.