What's happening
This bill creates an Office of the Transit Riders Advocate to handle and resolve mass transit user complaints in New York.
Why it matters
Creates a dedicated, independent office within the MTA to champion the interests of riders. , with a director appointed from candidates vetted by a citizen advisory panel—potentially increasing transparency and accountability in transit operations.
Mandates swift response and resolution to transit complaints, setting a 60-day target for investigations and outcomes. this could lead to faster redress for rider issues and systemic improvements.
Requires annual public reporting and borough-level meetings to discuss findings and recommendations. , ensuring that data about transit user experiences and problems are shared openly and riders have ongoing opportunities for input.
Emphasizes public accessibility by mandating multilingual outreach, a prominent online presence, and a toll-free complaint hotline. , lowering barriers for diverse communities to get help and voice concerns.
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
MTA transit riders
A new advocate’s office would investigate and seek to resolve their complaints, protect complainants’ identities with limited exceptions, and aim to resolve complaints within 60 days where possible.
MTA paratransit users
The office would advocate for their health, safety, welfare and rights, with paratransit complaint data reported separately in its annual public report.
MTA leadership
The executive director would appoint the office’s director, while the board would set operating standards in consultation with the director.
Permanent Citizens Advisory Committee
The committee would submit director candidates, determine additional qualifications for the position and be consulted on the office’s recommendations.
Headline styles
Create Transit Riders Advocate Office
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Assembly Member · Assembly District 40
11 Co-sponsors
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.
Create Transit Rider Advocate Office
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor Tony Avella
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3336
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. KIM, ROSENTHAL, CUSICK, TITONE, COOK, M. G. MILL- ER, JAFFEE, ORTIZ, WEPRIN, PERRY, OTIS, ABINANTI -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. FARRELL, GLICK, GOTTFRIED, HIKIND, LENTOL, MOSLEY, MOYA, QUART, SOLAGES -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
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
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 1279-d to read as follows:
§ 1279-d. Office of the transit riders advocate. 1. Definitions. For the purposes of this section, the term "executive director" shall mean the individual appointed to serve as the chief executive officer of the authority pursuant to subdivision four of section twelve hundred sixtythree of this title.
2. Office established. There is hereby established within the authority an office of the transit riders advocate for the purpose of receiving and resolving complaints affecting mass transit users of the facilities of the authority and, where appropriate, referring complaints to appropriate investigatory agencies and acting in concert with such agencies.
3. Director. (a) The executive director shall appoint a full-time director to administer and supervise the office from a list of candidates submitted by the permanent citizens advisory committee. The director shall report directly to the executive director.
(b) The director shall be selected from among individuals with expertise and experience in the field of advocacy, and with other qualifications determined by the permanent citizens advisory committee to be appropriate for the position.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01239-01-7
A. 3336 2
(c) The director shall be authorized to employ qualified staff and other employees as may be required to perform the duties and responsibilities of the office.
(d) The director shall:
(i) identify, investigate and resolve complaints that are made by, or on behalf of, mass transit and paratransit users of the facilities of the authority and that relate to actions, inactions or decisions that may adversely affect the health, safety and welfare or rights of such users; and
(ii) provide information and services to assist mass transit and paratransit users in protecting their health, safety, welfare and rights, including but not limited to representing the interests of such users before governmental agencies and seeking appropriate administrative, legal and other remedies to protect their welfare, safety, health and rights.
(e) The board, in consultation with the director, shall establish in regulations standards for the operation of the office.
4. Review of complaint. (a) Upon receipt of a complaint, the director shall determine immediately whether there are reasonable grounds for an investigation. To the maximum extent possible, all complaints shall be resolved within sixty days of the receipt of the complaint. Such investigation shall be conducted in a manner prescribed in regulations.
(b) The director shall not disclose the identity of the complainant that made a complaint to the office of the transit riders advocate unless:
(i) the complainant or his or her legal representative gives written consent to the office of the transit riders advocate; or
(ii) pursuant to a court order.
5. Reporting requirements. (a) The director shall annually submit to the board a report and make such report available to the public:
(i) describing the activities carried out by the office during the prior calendar year;
(ii) containing and analyzing data relating to complaints for the purpose of identifying and resolving significant problems. The report shall report separately on data relating to complaints made by riders and users of the authority's paratransit services;
(iii) evaluating the problems experienced by, and the complaints made by or on behalf of, mass transit and paratransit users;
(iv) containing recommendations, after consultation with the permanent citizens advisory committee, for:
(A) protecting the health, safety and welfare and rights of the mass transit and paratransit users; and
(B) appropriate state legislation, rules and regulations and other action to improve the quality of services to the mass transit and paratransit users; and
(v) any other matters as the director determines to be appropriate.
(b) The information contained in such report shall be included in the annual report required pursuant to section twenty-eight hundred of this chapter.
(c) Within sixty days of the submission of the report, the director shall conduct at least one public meeting in each of the five boroughs of the city of New York to report on, explain and discuss the data and information contained in such report.
6. Public outreach. (a) The authority shall ensure that the mass transit users of the facilities of the authority and the general public are
A. 3336 3
fully informed and made aware of the office of the transit riders advocate and the complaint process, including but not limited to:
(i) establishing an easily identifiable and prominently displayed link on the authority's website;
(ii) establishing a toll-free number for complaints; and
(iii) displaying prominently the existence of the office and the tollfree number on buses, trains, subways and stations operated by the authority.
(b) Such information shall be set forth in English and such other languages as the authority deems necessary and appropriate.
§ 2. The metropolitan transportation authority shall, to the maximum extent possible, resolve all complaints described in subdivision 2 of section 1279-d of the public authorities law received by it prior to the effective date of this act within 60 days after the effective date of this act. Any unresolved complaints remaining with such authority on such date shall be transferred, along with any documents and records related thereto, to the office of the transit riders advocate established by section 1279-d of the public authorities law for resolution.
§ 3. The appointment of the director authorized by paragraph (a) of subdivision 3 of section 1279-d of the public authorities law shall be made on or before the effective date of this act.
§ 4. This act shall take effect six months after it shall have become a law.
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.