What's happening
This bill requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to provide free transit fares at all times for New York City firefighters.
Why it matters
Extends a significant workplace benefit. By granting free, unrestricted MTA access to New York City firefighters, the bill recognizes their essential public safety role and could help with recruitment, retention, and morale.
Potentially improves emergency response. Free transit could enable off-duty or commuting firefighters to respond more quickly to emergencies, potentially increasing public safety in crisis situations.
Financial impact on the MTA and city budgets. The measure could reduce transit fare revenue, raising questions about how the MTA will absorb or offset these costs, which may affect broader transit funding and operations.
Sets a precedent for other public servants. This benefit, if enacted, could prompt similar calls from other municipal workers (e.g., police, EMTs, teachers), potentially expanding the scope and fiscal impact of such programs in the future.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free LIRR Rides for Firefighters
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
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.
Free LIRR Rides for Firefighters
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Martin J. Golden
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2786
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 23, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. M. G. MILLER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to authorizing and directing the metropolitan transportation authority to implement a free fare program for firefighters
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1266 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a new subdivision 14-a to read as follows:
14-a. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law or the terms of any contract, the authority and any of its subsidiary corporations, shall establish and implement a free fare program for transportation on New York city transit authority systems, the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company for firefighters and fire officers employed by the city of New York. The free fare program established and implemented pursuant to this subdivision shall be in operation during all hours in which such authority provides railroad, subway and/or omnibus services, and such program shall not be limited in operation to off-peak hours or to any other hours designated by the authority or its subsidiary corporations.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04974-02-7
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.