What's happening
This bill requires interviews of Port Authority employees to comply with any applicable collective bargaining agreements.
Why it matters
Strengthens union protections. By requiring that interviews of Port Authority employees respect current or most recent collective bargaining agreements, the bill reinforces union-negotiated rights and processes, ensuring that employees are not compelled to participate in interviews under terms that conflict with their contracts.
Limits unilateral management action. The amendment prevents the Port Authority from bypassing collectively negotiated employment terms during investigations or interviews, potentially reducing management leverage and protecting employees from unexpected or unfair questioning procedures.
Impacts labor relations climate. Codifying these protections could improve trust and morale among unionized employees by guaranteeing that their negotiated rights are upheld during internal reviews or investigations, possibly leading to fewer labor disputes.
Interstate cooperation required. The law only takes effect if New Jersey passes identical legislation, highlighting the need for coordination between the two states for any changes affecting the bi-state Port Authority, which could delay or complicate implementation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Protect Port Authority Interviews
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Vetoed memo.225
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.394
- Substituted for A6987
- Referred to governmental employees
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1486
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- 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.
Protect Port Authority Interviews
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5451
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 29, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend chapter 154 of the laws of 1921 relating to the port authority of New York and New Jersey, in relation to interviews of any officer or employee of the port authority or its subsidiaries
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subparagraph 4 of paragraph e of subdivision 6 of article IV of section 1 of chapter 154 of the laws of 1921 relating to the port authority of New York and New Jersey, as added by chapter 559 of the laws of 2015, is amended to read as follows:
(4) interview any officer or employee of the port authority or its subsidiaries on any matter related to the performance of such officer or employee's official duties. [To the extent that any portion of this paragraph is inconsistent with any current contractual obligations of the port authority, this paragraph shall not be applicable to those obligations until the earliest expiration of those terms under the contract] To the extent that the terms and conditions of employment of any employee are established by collective negotiations, any interview conducted pursuant to this paragraph must be in accordance with any applicable provisions of the current, or most recent, if expired, collective negotiations agreement covering the terms and conditions of employment of the employee;
§ 2. This act shall take effect upon the enactment into law by the state of New Jersey of legislation having an identical effect with this act, and upon the enactment into law by the state of New Jersey of legislation having an identical effect with chapter 559 of the laws of 2015 pursuant to section 6 of such chapter, but if the state of New Jersey shall have already enacted such legislation, then this act shall take effect immediately. The chairperson of the port authority shall
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02817-01-7
S. 5451 2
notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon the enactment into law of such legislation by both such states in order that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furtherance of effecting the provisions of section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend chapter 154 of the laws of 1921 relating to the port authority of New York and New Jersey, in relation to interviews of any officer or employee of the port authority or its subsidiaries
Purpose or general idea of bill
To amend the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015 to include a new reform added by the New Jersey State legislature.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one of the bill would require that any interview conducted by the inspector general must be in accordance with any applicable provisions of the current collective bargaining agreement.
Section two provides that this act shall take effect upon the enactment by the state of New Jersey of legislation having an identical effect with this act.
Justification
In December of 2015, Governor Cuomo signed into law, as chapter 559, the PANYNJ Transparency and Accountability Act of 2015. Since similar legislation must be enacted in New Jersey before the reforms can take effect, the New Jersey State legislature are taking the necessary steps to pass a similar bill.
The bill would provide necessary protections and coverage if a collective bargaining agreement has lapsed or until a new collective bargaining agreement is reached.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.8146 - Passed Senate / A.10731 - Referred to Governmental Employees.
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.