What's happening
This bill requires the MTA to allow riders to transfer expired fare balances for up to two years after expiration.
Why it matters
Protects Riders’ Money. By allowing riders to reclaim expired fare balances for up to two years, the bill safeguards the funds that individuals load onto MTA cards, reducing the risk of lost money due to accidental expiration.
Ensures Fairness for Infrequent Users. Occasional riders, tourists, or those who temporarily stop using MTA services would benefit, as they’re less likely to lose unused balances simply because they didn’t ride frequently enough to use up their fare.
Promotes Trust and Customer Satisfaction. Instituting a formal expired-fare transfer policy could improve public perception of the MTA, making the system appear more customer-friendly and potentially encouraging greater use or retention of fare cards.
Limits MTA Windfall from Expired Funds. By requiring the MTA to return or transfer expired balances, the bill curbs the authority’s ability to keep unclaimed fare money, ensuring those funds remain accessible to the public rather than absorbed as surplus revenue.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Transfer of Expired Fares
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.483
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.667
- Substituted for A2512
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1400
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Print number 1616a
Show 2 earlier actions
- Amend and recommit to transportation
- Referred to transportation
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.
Let Riders Transfer Expired Fares
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Jeffrey Dinowitz
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1616--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the metropolitan transportation authority to establish an expired fare transfer policy; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
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 1266-k to read as follows:
§ 1266-k. Expired fare transfer policy. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the authority shall, within ninety days of the effective date of this section, establish an expired fare transfer policy that may be amended from time to time. Such policy shall provide any person who purchases a fare the ability to transfer any remaining balance for two years after such fare is deemed expired.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on December 31, 2022.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03495-03-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the metropolitan transportation authority to establish an expired fare transfer policy; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure that riders of the Metropolitan Transit Authority mass-transit system do not forfeit pre-paid funds due to administrative decisions relating to the expiration of said funds after a certain time period.
Summary of provisions
Section one of this bill amends the Public Authorities Law by adding a new section, 1266-k, which would require the Metropolitan Transit Authority establish an expired fare transfer policy within ninety days of the enactment of this new section that may be amended from time to time. The policy is required to provide MetroCard holders with the ability to transfer the expired far balance from an existing MetroCard to a new MetroCard for two years after the fare is deemed expired.
Section two of this bill provides that this act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on December 31, 2022.
Justification
Currently upon purchasing a pay-per-ride MetroCard the rider is given an expiration date that typically ranges anywhere from six months to two years time. During this time, the MetroCard holder can use the card until the balance he or she has pre-paid is spent. When the expiration date is reached, the rider then has two years within which he or she can transfer the remaining balance of the expired card to a new MetroCard. The Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) has administratively decided that after two years has passed, any unclaimed balance will no longer be refunded. This bill would ensure that the MTA cannot change this policy to reduce the refund period from two to one years.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.2266-A - Referred to Transportation 2015: S.2266 - Referred to Transportation 2014: S.2109-A - Referred to Transportation 2013: S.2109 - Referred to Transportation 2012: S.3840 - Referred to Transportation 2011: S.3840 - Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
None to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed on December 31, 2022.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.