What's happening
This bill requires the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to offer half fare rates to eligible veterans in New York State.
Why it matters
Expands transit affordability for veterans. , potentially reducing transportation costs for thousands who may be on fixed incomes, making it easier for them to access jobs, healthcare, and other services.
Establishes clear eligibility requirements. , limiting the benefit to honorably discharged veterans who are New York State residents and possess valid identification, which may help prevent misuse but could also create administrative hurdles for some veterans.
Aligns veterans’ benefits with those for other vulnerable groups. (such as individuals with serious mental illness already eligible for half fare), signaling greater state recognition of veterans’ needs in everyday living.
May lead to broader conversations about support for veterans. , possibly prompting further policy action in areas like housing, employment, or healthcare by highlighting gaps in current veteran assistance programs.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Half Fare Transit for Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Recommitted to rules
- Ordered to third reading cal.1820
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred to transportation
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–1
- Ordered to third reading cal.1415
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
Show 1 earlier action
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2164
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sens. SERINO, AVELLA, CROCI, FELDER, LARKIN, MURPHY -read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to a half fare rate program in the metropolitan transportation authority for veterans
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 16 of section 1266 of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter 25 of the laws of 2000, is amended to read as follows:
16. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the authority and any of its subsidiary corporations shall establish and implement a half fare rate program for, (a) persons with serious mental illness who are eligible to receive supplemental security income benefits as defined pursuant to title sixteen of the federal social security act and section two hundred nine of the social services law, and (b) veterans. For purposes of this subdivision "veteran" shall mean a member of the armed forces of the United States who served and was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from such service, and presents an authorized veteran identification card, and who is a citizen of the United States or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States and who is a resident of the state of New York at the time of application for the half fare rate program.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03769-01-7
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 a half fare rate program in the metropolitan transportation authority for veterans
Purpose
This bill would authorize the metropolitan transportation authority (MTA) and any of its subsidiary corporations to establish and implement a half fare rate for veterans.
Summary of provisions
Section one authorizes the MTA and its subsidiary corporations which include Metro-North and the Long Island Railroad to establish and implement a half fare rate for veterans.
Section two establishes the immediate effective date.
Existing law
Currently the MTA provides a half fare rate program for those with serious mental illness.
Justification
Those who serve our country in the armed forces deserve not only our respect, but our gratitude for the sacrifices and risks that they are willing to take to preserve our freedoms. Veterans should be entitled to certain benefits that express that gratitude for their service. This bill would provide a half fare program for New York State residents who have served as a member of our armed forces. New York has one of highest veteran populations in the country with a strong concentration of residents in the MTA region. However, according to the US Department of Veterans Affairs, our state has lost almost between 30 and 35% of our veteran population between 2000-2015 which in part can be attributed to-the state's high cost of living, particularly in the MTA region. By making the MTA region more affordable to live and travel in, we hope to keep veterans in our state.
The MTA has established a half fare program for those with a serious mental illness and this would expand that program to those who should be recognized for their service to our country.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.5545-A Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
Nominal fiscal implication to the MTA.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.