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History
- Referred to transportation
Companion bill
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Establishes an office of the transit riders advocate to receive and resolve complaints affecting mass transit users of facilities of the metropolitan transportation authority
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Ron Kim
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing an office of the transit riders advocate for the purpose of receiving and resolving complaints affecting mass transit users of the facilities of the metropolitan transportation authority
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill would require the MTA to establish an office of transit riders advocate to accept, investigate, resolve and report on complaints made by mass transit riders.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill adds a new section 1279-d to the public authorities law to require the MTA to establish an office of transit riders advocate. The purpose of the office is to investigate and resolve complaints made by mass transit and paratransit riders of the MTA. A full-time director shall be appointed from a list of candidates submitted by the Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee.
The bill requires complaints to be resolved, to the maximum extent possible, within 60 days of their receipt.
The director of the office shall submit an annual report to the MTA board describing the activities performed by the office, evaluating and analyzing data generated from the complaints, and making recommendations, based on the complaints, on how to improve service. Within 60 days of the issuance of the report, the director shall conduct one public meeting in each borough to discuss its findings.
Section two requires the MTA to resolve all pending complaints within 60 days of the effective date of this Act. Any unresolved complaints will be transferred to the new office of transit riders advocate.
Section three provides that the director of the new office can be appointed on or before the effective date of this Act.
Section four provides that the act shall take effect six months after it becomes law.
Justification
The MTA is a public corporation created to provide a vital and essential service to millions of commuters and travelers. As such, it has a public responsibility to provide a simple and direct process to hear from its customers.
This bill would require the MTA to establish an office dedicated to receiving, investigating and resolving rider complaints. The bill would also require the MTA to prepare a report breaking down and analyzing the complaints filed with the MTA.
Prior legislative history
2015-16: New Senate Bill / A.7399 (Kim) - reported by Corporations and Codes to WAM 2013-14: A.5109-A (Brennan) - reported by Corporations and Codes to WAM 2012: A.9279 (Brennan) - reported by Corporations and WAM
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
To be determined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect six months after it becomes law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.