What's happening
This bill requires public transit to post signs and announcements reserving seats for pregnant, elderly, and disabled passengers.
Why it matters
Improves accessibility and comfort for vulnerable riders. By clearly marking and designating priority seating, the bill aims to make public transit more accommodating for pregnant, elderly, and disabled passengers, helping ensure they have access to seats when needed.
Promotes public awareness and social responsibility. Required signs and announcements serve as constant reminders, encouraging other passengers to give up their seats and foster a culture of respect and inclusivity on public transportation.
Standardizes priority seating practices. The bill creates uniform requirements for signage and announcements across all subway cars and buses, reducing confusion and making expectations clear for both riders and transit staff.
Supports non-English speakers and those with different literacy levels. By allowing signage to be graphic or in multiple languages, the bill ensures that information about priority seating reaches a broader audience, including those who may not read English fluently.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Post Priority Seating Signs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 61
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Print number 6403a
- Amend (t) and recommit 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.
Post Transit Priority Seating Signs
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6403--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2017
Introduced by Sen. RANZENHOFER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to priority seating for pregnant, elderly, and disabled passengers
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new section 1266-k to read as follows:
§ 1266-k. Priority seating for pregnant, elderly, and disabled passengers. 1. The authority shall post signage, which may take the form of a sticker, in each subway car and bus, in the manner and of the size and number, sufficient to be viewed by passengers in all parts of such subway car and bus which states, either graphically or in the languages the authority deems appropriate: "Please give up your seat for pregnant, elderly, or disabled passengers."
2. The authority shall post signage, which may take the form of a sticker, designating certain seats in such subway car and bus as reserved for pregnant, elderly or disabled passengers. Such signage shall state, either graphically or in the languages the authority deems appropriate: "These seats are reserved for pregnant, elderly, and disabled passengers."
3. In addition to the signage required in subdivisions one and two of this section, such information shall be included in any LED banner signs and any announcements made in subway cars or buses.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01935-09-7
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 priority seating for pregnant, elderly, and disabled passengers
Purpose
This bill requires the MTA to post signage over all mass transit seats indicating that individuals should give up their seats for the elderly, pregnant and disabled riders.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends the Public Authorities Law by adding a new section 1266-k.
Section 2 sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Riding the subway or taking a bus is part of nearly all New York City residents' daily routine. Under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), public transportation authorities are required to make priority seating available for riders with disabilities and senior citizens.
The New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) encourages riders to similarly give up their seats to pregnant individuals. While the MTA already designates a small number of priority seats, many commuters fail to give up their seats to priority passengers, who are then forced to stand for the entirety of their commute as a result. This bill will help to encourage commuters to give up their seats for disabled, elderly, and pregnant riders by requiring clear and conspicuous signage above ALL MTA seating, not merely priority seating.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
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.