What's happening
This bill adds New York State Court Officers Association members to the MTA Long Island Railroad no fare program.
Why it matters
Expands no-fare benefits to a new law enforcement group. By adding New York State Court Officers Association (NYSCOA) ranks—including officers, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, majors, and chiefs—to the program, the bill recognizes their role in public safety and aligns their travel privileges with those of other police agencies.
Could improve safety for LIRR commuters. More law enforcement officers riding the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) at no cost potentially increases the number of trained responders available in emergencies, supporting the program’s stated goal of improved protection for passengers.
May affect LIRR operating costs and logistics. Allowing additional personnel to ride for free could have budgetary implications for the LIRR and may require expanded registration and validation processes to track eligibility and usage.
Signals broader recognition of court officers’ law enforcement status. Including NYSCOA members in the no-fare program could be seen as a formal acknowledgment of their law enforcement authority and responsibilities, potentially influencing future policy or benefit discussions for this group.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free LIRR Rides for Court Officers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5535
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. KAMINSKY -- 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 certain members of the New York State Court Officers Association 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 officers, sergeants, lieutenants, captains, majors and chiefs of the New York State Court Officers Association. 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.
LBD10874-01-7
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 certain members of the New York State Court Officers Association in the MTA Long Island Railroad no fare program
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends subdivision 14 of section 1266 of the public authorities law as described in the bill.
Justification
The designated members of the New York State Court Officers Association who are allowed free fare on the Long Island Rail Road through this legislation are peace officers, trained in all aspects of public protection. They are also armed, and regularly trained and recertified in firearms. Their presence on the LIRR trains enhances safety for all passengers and those contributions should be recognized though a waiver of fare.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
Immediate
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.