What's happening
This bill allows Nassau County fire marshals to ride the Long Island Rail Road for free under the MTA's no fare program.
Why it matters
Expanding no-fare access to Nassau County fire marshals may improve safety and emergency response capabilities on the Long Island Rail Road, as these officials could be present and able to respond quickly to incidents during travel.
By treating fire marshals similarly to police officers regarding fare exemptions, the bill acknowledges their role as first responders and may help foster greater cooperation and coordination among emergency services on public transit.
This change could make it easier to recruit and retain qualified fire marshals by offering them a tangible benefit, potentially addressing staffing or morale concerns within Nassau County’s fire investigation and enforcement divisions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free LIRR Rides for Fire Marshals
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Reported and committed to finance
- Referred 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.
Free LIRR Rides for Marshals
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3720
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 26, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GOLDEN -- 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 including the Nassau county fire marshals in the MTA Long Island Railroad no fare program
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 14 of section 1266 of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter 182 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
14. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law or the terms of any contract, the authority, in consultation with the Long Island Rail Road, shall establish and implement a no fare program for transportation on the Long Island Rail Road for police officers employed by the city of New York, county of Nassau, Nassau county villages and cities, county of Suffolk, Suffolk county villages and towns, the division of state police, the port authority of New York and New Jersey, the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, the New York city housing authority [and], the New York city transit authority and chief fire marshals, assistant chief fire marshals, supervising fire marshals, fire marshals and fire marshal trainees in Nassau county. In establishing such program, which has as its goal increased protection and improved safety for its commuters, the authority and the Long Island Rail Road shall, among other things, consider: (a) requiring police officers who ride without cost to register with the Long Island Rail Road as a condition of riding without cost; (b) requiring such officers to indicate during such registration process their regular working hours and the Long Island Rail Road trains that such officers expect to ride; and (c) periodically re-registering and re-validating such officers. The authority and the Long Island Rail Road shall also have the power to consider other matters necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05671-01-7
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 including the Nassau county fire marshals in the MTA Long Island Railroad no fare program
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends Public Authorities Law section 1266(14) to add Nassau County Chief Fire Marshals, Assistant Chief Fire Marshals, Supervising Fire Marshals, Fire Marshals, and Fire Marshal Trainees to the Long Island Railroad no fare program.
Section 2 of this bill provides that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Allowing these fire marshals to participate in the no fare program will enhance public safety. Fire Marshals are trained, armed peace officers, who are empowered to enforce all New York State laws and effectuate arrests. They are also EMTs or paramedics trained to provide emergency medical treatment in emergency situations.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.7202 - Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
None.
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.