Subject to an appropriation for the 2017-18 state fiscal year, provides that farmers shall receive an exemption from tolls when transporting products to the city of New York for consumption in such city

5 Co-sponsors

• Patty Ritchie
• Rich Funke
• Tony Avella
• John J. Bonacic
• Robert Ortt

Title of bill

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to providing toll exemptions for farmers transporting their goods to the city of New York

Purpose

Provides that farmers shall receive an exemption from tolls when transporting product to NYC for consumption in the city.

Summary of provisions

Section 1: Public Authorities Law is amended by adding a new section 2858 to provide an exemption from any toll imposed by an authority for transportation across, on, or through any bridge, road, or tunnel, for any farmer or food producer who: a) farms or produces food, including fish and fish products, on a property located in the state of New York; and b.) is transporting such food to the city of New York for the purposes of consumption within such city. Any person exempt from a toll pursuant to this law shall also be exempt from any congestion pricing plan implemented in the City of New York. The thruway authority shall establish acceptable forms of proof to show that an individual is in compliance with this law and is eligible for such an exemption. Subject to appropriation. Section 2: Establishes the effective date.

Justification

New York farmers struggle under the most stringent regulations and onerous taxes in the country, yet produce the highest quality product. Many of these products are marketed in various ways in New York City. Consumers are able to express their preference and purchase these products in many restaurants, bodegas and farmers markets. However for the farmer to deliver their products to markets in the city, the farmer is subject to additional expenses of bridge tolls, tunnel tolls, and possibly an additional charge for delivery in certain areas of Manhattan. Farmers should be exempt from any toll imposed by public authority for transportation across, on, or through any bridge, road, or tunnel for the purposes of consumption within the city. The cost of fuel is escalating along with the cost of tolls. Farmers are stressed with the price of gas to transport their products to the city for consumption to make little profit after the cost of gas and tolls are included. To help offset these expenses, farmers should be exempt from tolls when transporting product to NYC for consumption in the city.

Legislative history

2015: S.3067/A.1494 Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2013, 2014: S.2084/A.1749 Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2011,2012: S.742/A.258A Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2009,2010: S.2427/A.3628 Referred Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2007,2008: S.7463/A.9917 Referred Transportation

Fiscal implications

Subject to appropriation.

Effective date

180 days after enactment into law.