What's happening
This bill gives individual voting power to the representatives from Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Rockland counties on the MTA board.
Why it matters
Enhances Local Representation. By granting individual voting power to Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, and Rockland county representatives on the MTA board, residents in these areas gain a stronger, direct voice in decisions affecting their transit services and funding.
Addresses Equity Concerns. Previously, these four counties had to share a single collective vote, effectively diluting their influence compared to other counties. Individual votes help ensure each county’s unique needs and priorities are more fairly represented.
Potential for Policy Shift. With each county able to vote independently, there may be changes in how MTA resources are allocated or which projects are prioritized, possibly leading to more attention to suburban and commuter needs outside New York City.
Could Influence MTA Accountability. Direct votes from more counties may increase pressure on the MTA to justify decisions and spending that impact a broader swath of the region, making the authority more accountable to a wider range of stakeholders.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Give Hudson Valley MTA Votes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
10 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
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.
Give Counties Full MTA Votes
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor William J. Larkin Jr.
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
459
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 9, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER, JAFFEE, ZEBROWSKI, GALEF, CAHILL, SKAR- TADOS, MAYER, BARRETT, SKOUFIS, BUCHWALD, WALKER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. RIVERA -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to granting each of the representatives of the counties of Dutchess, Putnam, Orange and Rockland on the metropolitan transportation authority a vote
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1263 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 3 of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
(1) There is hereby created the "metropolitan transportation authority." The authority shall be a body corporate and politic constituting a public benefit corporation. The authority shall consist of a chairman, sixteen other voting members, and two non-voting and four alternate non-voting members, as described in subparagraph two of this paragraph appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. Any member appointed to a term commencing on or after June thirtieth, two thousand nine shall have experience in one or more of the following areas: transportation, public administration, business management, finance, accounting, law, engineering, land use, urban and regional planning, management of large capital projects, labor relations, or have experience in some other area of activity central to the mission of the authority. Four of the sixteen voting members other than the chairman shall be appointed on the written recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York; and each of seven other voting members other than the chairman shall be appointed after selection from a written list of three recommendations from the chief executive officer of the county in which the particular member is required to reside pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. Of the members appointed
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03982-01-7
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on recommendation of the chief executive officer of a county, one such member shall be, at the time of appointment, a resident of the county of Nassau, one a resident of the county of Suffolk, one a resident of the county of Westchester, one a resident of the county of Dutchess, one a resident of the county of Orange, one a resident of the county of Putnam and one a resident of the county of Rockland, provided that the term of any member who is a resident of a county that has withdrawn from the metropolitan commuter transportation district pursuant to section twelve hundred seventy-nine-b of this article shall terminate upon the effective date of such county's withdrawal from such district. Of the five voting members, other than the chairman, appointed by the governor without recommendation from any other person, three shall be, at the time of appointment, residents of the city of New York and two shall be, at the time of appointment, residents of such city or of any of the aforementioned counties in the metropolitan commuter transportation district. The chairman and each of the members shall be appointed for a term of six years, provided however, that the chairman first appointed shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-one, provided that thirty days after the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand nine which amended this subparagraph, the term of the chairman shall expire; provided, further, that such chairman may continue to discharge the duties of his or her office until the position of chairman is filled by appointment by the governor upon the advice and consent of the senate and the term of such new chairman shall terminate June thirtieth, two thousand fifteen. The sixteen other members first appointed shall serve for the following terms: The members from the counties of Nassau and Westchester shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five; the members from the county of Suffolk and from the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two; two of the members appointed on recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-four and, two shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-one; two of the members appointed by the governor without the recommendation of any other person shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-two, two shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty and one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five. The two non-voting and four alternate non-voting members shall serve until January first, two thousand one. [The members from the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall cast one collective vote.]
§ 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1263 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 4 of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
(a) There is hereby created the "metropolitan transportation authority." The authority shall be a body corporate and politic constituting a public benefit corporation. The authority shall consist of a chairman and sixteen other members appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. Any member appointed to a term commencing on or after June thirtieth, two thousand nine shall have experience in one or more of the following areas of expertise: transportation, public administration, business management, finance, accounting, law, engineering, land use, urban and regional planning, management of large capital projects, labor relations, or have experience in some other area of activity central to the mission of the authority. Four of
A. 459 3
the sixteen members other than the chairman shall be appointed on the written recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York; and each of seven other members other than the chairman shall be appointed after selection from a written list of three recommendations from the chief executive officer of the county in which the particular member is required to reside pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision. Of the members appointed on recommendation of the chief executive officer of a county, one such member shall be, at the time of appointment, a resident of the county of Nassau; one a resident of the county of Suffolk; one a resident of the county of Westchester; [and] one a resident of the county of Dutchess[,]; one a resident of the county of Orange[,]; one a resident of the county of Putnam; and one a resident of the county of Rockland, provided that the term of any member who is a resident of a county that has withdrawn from the metropolitan commuter transportation district pursuant to section twelve hundred seventy-nine-b of this article shall terminate upon the effective date of such county's withdrawal from such district. Of the five members, other than the chairman, appointed by the governor without recommendation from any other person, three shall be, at the time of appointment, residents of the city of New York and two shall be, at the time of appointment, residents of such city or of any of the aforementioned counties in the metropolitan commuter transportation district. The chairman and each of the members shall be appointed for a term of six years, provided however, that the chairman first appointed shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-one, provided that thirty days after the effective date of the chapter of the laws of two thousand nine which amended this paragraph, the term of the chairman shall expire; provided, further, that such chairman may continue to discharge the duties of his office until the position of chairman is filled by appointment by the governor upon the advice and consent of the senate and the term of such new chairman shall terminate June thirtieth, two thousand fifteen. The sixteen other members first appointed shall serve for the following terms: The members from the counties of Nassau and Westchester shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five; the members from the county of Suffolk and from the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-two; two of the members appointed on recommendation of the mayor of the city of New York shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-four and, two shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-one; two of the members appointed by the governor without the recommendation of any other person shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-two, two shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty and one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five. [The members from the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall cast one collective vote.]
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the amendments to subparagraph 1 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1263 of the public authorities law made by section one of this act shall be subject to the expiration and reversion of such paragraph pursuant to section 3 of chapter 549 of the laws of 1994, as amended, when upon such date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
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