What's happening
This bill requires legislative approval for any proposed increases in fees, rentals, and charges for use of the New York State Thruway system.
Why it matters
Shifts final authority over Thruway fee and toll increases from the Thruway Authority to the state legislature. , increasing public accountability and political oversight in future decisions that affect drivers and businesses using the system.
Requires a detailed report and justification for any proposed increases. to be submitted to the legislature 180 days in advance, with financial information and any additional data lawmakers request, potentially resulting in more transparency and public scrutiny of toll hikes.
Exempts existing bondholder agreements from the new approval process. , ensuring that the state keeps its financial commitments to investors, while still allowing legislative control over new revenue measures not tied to prior agreements.
May make it politically harder to raise tolls or fees. , possibly limiting the Thruway Authority’s flexibility to respond quickly to rising costs or infrastructure needs, but giving the public a greater voice through their elected representatives.
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Legislature Must Approve Thruway Fee Hikes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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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.
Legislature Must Approve Thruway Hikes
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor James Tedisco
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8662
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
September 1, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring legislative approval of increases in fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 8 of section 354 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 2 of part TT of chapter 54 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdivision 8-a is added to read as follows:
8. Subject to agreements with noteholders or bondholders and legislative approval pursuant to subdivision eight-a of this section, to fix and collect such fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway or any part thereof necessary or convenient, with an adequate margin of safety, to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expense of maintenance and operation and to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the holders of its notes or bonds, and to establish the rights and privileges granted upon payment thereof; provided, however, that tolls may only be imposed for the passage through locks and lift bridges by vessels which are propelled in whole or in part by mechanical power; and provided further that no tolls shall be imposed or collected prior to the first day of April, nineteen hundred ninety-three.
8-a. The authority shall submit a written report to the legislature at least one hundred eighty days prior to the date when any proposed increase in fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system is scheduled to take effect. Such report shall include justification for the proposed increase, and information setting forth the current financial condition of the authority. The legislature may require any additional data or information that it deems necessary in such report. If the legislature, or the appropriate committees thereof, upon review of the report submitted to it by the authority, finds that the proposed
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05621-01-7
A. 8662 2
increases are not convenient or necessary to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expense of maintenance and operation of infrastructure existing prior to any proposed increase then no proposed increase shall take effect until approved by a majority vote of each house of the legislature. Provided, however, that legislative approval shall not be required to fix and collect such fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system or any part thereof, to produce sufficient revenue to fulfill the terms of any agreements, formed prior to the effective date of this subdivision, with the holders of its notes or bonds.
§ 2. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.