What's happening
This bill allows certain Suffolk County Court Officers to ride the Long Island Rail Road for free as part of the MTA no fare program.
Why it matters
Expanding no-fare access to Suffolk County Court Officers enhances their ability to travel quickly and at no cost, potentially improving public safety and emergency response on the Long Island Rail Road.
By including court officers with peace officer status, the bill recognizes their law enforcement role and aligns their transit benefits with those of traditional police departments.
The change could increase the visible presence of uniformed officers on trains, which may deter crime and reassure commuters, especially during high-traffic or vulnerable times.
Mandating registration, reporting of work hours, and periodic re-validation for participants ensures accountability and helps the MTA manage the program effectively, balancing security benefits with oversight.
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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
Senator · Senate District 3
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- 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 Court Officers
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Steven Englebright
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5961
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 9, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CROCI -- 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 Court Officers Benevolent Association of Suffolk County 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 senior court officers, court officer sergeants, court officer lieutenants, court officer captains, court officer majors, court officer chiefs and court clerks who hold peace officer status of the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Suffolk 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.
LBD11419-01-7
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 Court Officers Benevolent Association of Suffolk County in the MTA Long Island Railroad no fare program
Purpose
To include senior court officers, court officer sergeants, court officer lieutenants, court officer captains, court officer majors, court officer chiefs and court clerks who hold peace officer status of the Court Officer Benevolent Association of Suffolk County, in the MTA Long Island Railroad no fare program.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends subdivision 14 of section 1266 of the public authorities law by adding certain members of the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Suffolk county, who hold peace officer status, to the no fare program for transportation on the Long Island Rail Road.
Section two is the effective date.
Justification
Members of the Court Officers Benevolent Association of Suffolk county serve the New York Court System by providing law enforcement and security services. These court officers are peace officers that maintain order within court facilities and carry firearms. Court officers that utilize the MTA Long Island Rail Road enhance passenger safety through their presence as law enforcement. By allowing these peace officers access to the no fare program on the Long Island Rail Road, the state of New York will be recognizing the important role these officers have with regard to public protection and public safety. Currently, police officers employed by NYC, Nassau and Suffolk; police officers of the cities, towns and villages of Nassau and Suffolk; State Police Officers; Port Authority Officers and other NYC Peace Officers are included in the MTA no-fare program.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implication
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.