What's happening
This bill requires the MTA to hold an additional public hearing if over 75 people cannot attend due to insufficient seating.
Why it matters
Ensures greater public access and transparency. By requiring an additional hearing when over 75 people are turned away, the bill aims to make sure more voices are heard, especially on high-interest issues like fare hikes or service cuts.
Mandates proactive notification to excluded individuals. The MTA must collect and notify the people who couldn’t get in due to capacity, ensuring those most affected have a direct opportunity to participate in the rescheduled hearing.
Sets a standard for venue selection based on public interest. The MTA would be obligated to anticipate high turnout for controversial topics (like fare increases), and hold hearings in venues that can better accommodate large groups, potentially reducing future access issues.
Creates a legal threshold for what counts as “substantial” exclusion. By specifying “more than seventy-five persons,” the law provides a clear, enforceable standard for when additional hearings are triggered, removing ambiguity and increasing accountability.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Second Public Hearing
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 25
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1211
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 11, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ROZIC, KAVANAGH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the conduct of public hearings by the metropolitan transportation authority
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1263 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a new subdivision 10 to read as follows:
10. Where a substantial number of persons are unable to attend a public hearing as the result of insufficient seating capacity, one subsequent, additional hearing shall be required in order to comply with public hearing requirements. Such subsequent hearing shall be held in reasonable proximity to the location of the hearing which did not provide adequate public accommodations. An officer or employee of the authority shall record the names and addresses of any interested persons who are unable to enter a hearing room due to capacity limitations and shall notify such persons by mail of the date and location of the subsequent hearing, in addition to any other hearing notice requirements. Where the authority determines that extensive public interest is anticipated regarding the issue being addressed, a required hearing shall be held in a venue designed to accommodate such public participation. The authority shall presume that there is a substantial public interest in fare increases or service reductions. For the purposes of this subdivision, "substantial number" shall be interpreted to mean more than seventy-five persons.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00522-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.