Requires cameras at all offices operating the paratransit transportation program in NYC

BILL NUMBER:S6325B

Title of bill

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the New York city paratransit transportation program

Purpose

Requires cameras at all offices operating the paratransit transportation program in NYC.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one amends the public authorities law by adding a new section 1269-h.

Section two states that this act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth 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 is authorized to be made on or before such date.

Justification

The American with Disabilities Act ("ADA") requires that all public transportation agencies in the United States provide paratransit services to people with physical or mental disabilities, who cannot use public bus or train service. MTA New York City Transit provides paratransit service to New Yorkers with disabilities through the Access-a-Ride program. Access-a-Ride serves approximately 150,000 registrants and makes about 27.000 trips per week. In order to determine eligibility for Access-a-Ride, MTA New York City Transit requires applicants to have a face-to-face interview at an Access-a-Ride approved assessment center. Access-a-Ride applicants are required to bring a passport sized photograph with their completed application, when attending an evaluation. If an applicant does not bring a photograph to the evaluation center, the application will not be accepted. Many Access-a-Ride applicants suffer from physical or mental disabilities that make traveling to multiple locations in one day very difficult. Some New York State agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, have the capability to photograph applicants at their locations. It would be very convenient for seniors and persons with disabilities to simply be able to fill out an application at home and travel directly to an Access-a-Ride evaluation center, without having to further travel to have their photograph taken. This bill will require whichever agency is designated to operate paratransit offices to install and operate photo cameras in each office as a service for their clientele, including seniors and persons with disabilities, who may otherwise face a substantial burden by having to travel to one location to obtain the required photograph and to another to submit the completed application.

Legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

Negligible.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a low. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or before such date.