What's happening
This bill prohibits transferring funds from the dedicated highway and bridge trust fund to the state's general fund.
Why it matters
Ensures funds collected for highway and bridge projects are used exclusively for their intended purpose. , which could improve the state’s ability to maintain and upgrade critical transportation infrastructure.
Limits the ability of state officials to reallocate transportation funds during budget crises or for unrelated government expenses. , making it harder to “raid” the fund for short-term fiscal fixes.
Introduces a transparency requirement if any exception is made by future legislation. , mandating a detailed “diversion impact statement” that discloses the amount, cumulative history, and timing of any such diversion, helping the public and lawmakers understand the impacts of redirecting these funds.
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Who cares
State officers responsible for trust fund assets
The bill would bar them from diverting dedicated highway and bridge trust fund assets to the general fund or other governmental funds without an authorizing statute.
State legislators and budget staff
Legislation authorizing a diversion would need an impact statement listing its amount, cumulative diversions since the fund’s inception and the scheduled diversion dates.
Highway and bridge advocates
The bill would restrict diversions of dedicated funding to other governmental purposes while requiring disclosure of legislatively authorized diversions.
Headline styles
Protect Road Repair Funds
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to ways and means
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1720
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6489
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 25, 2017
Introduced by Sen. JACOBS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to prohibiting the transfer of dedicated highway and bridge trust fund balances to the general fund
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 89-b of the state finance law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6-a to read as follows:
6-a. (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, diversion of funds dedicated to the dedicated highway and bridge trust fund, is prohibited.
(b) All state officers with responsibility for the custody or investment of the dedicated highway and bridge trust fund or of its assets shall be prohibited from diverting fund assets into the general fund of the state or into any other fund maintained for the support of another governmental purpose. No diversion of funds can occur contrary to this section by an administrative act of the state officers with responsibility for the custody or investment of the fund, or any other person in the executive branch unless a statute is enacted into law authorizing a diversion that would otherwise be prohibited by this section.
(c) If any diversion of fund assets occurs by passage of legislation during a regular or extraordinary session of the legislature or the budget, diverting funds shall include a diversion impact statement which includes the following information:
(i) the amount of the diversion from the fund;
(ii) the cumulative amount of diversion from the fund since inception; and
(iii) the date or dates when the diversion is to occur.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10311-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the state finance law, in relation to prohibiting the transfer of dedicated highway and bridge trust fund balances to the general fund
Purpose
This bill aims to restore the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund as a reliable, predictable system for investment in long-term transportation assets.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one: adds a new subdivision 6-a to section 89-b of the state finance law prohibiting diversion of funds dedicated to the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund, to the general fund or otherwise.
Section two: sets the effective date.
Justification
In 1991, the Department of Motor Vehicle imposed fees and gas taxes to be directed into a special, newly created fund to pay for highway and bridge projects called the "Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund." New Yorkers pay billions annually in Department of Motor Vehicles fees and gas taxes, and out of $3.8 billion dollars generated annually, $3 billion is diverted out of the fund, leaving 22 percent of the money collected for new road and bridge projects. This bill seeks to restore the integrity to the Dedicated Highway and Bridge Trust Fund, so that these billions of dollars collected annually will go to their intended purpose, the upkeep and reconstruction of our critical highway and bridge infrastructure.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
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.