What's happening
This bill exempts honorably discharged veterans from New York State Thruway tolls and reimburses the authority for lost revenue.
Why it matters
Improves economic support for veterans. By exempting honorably discharged veterans from thruway tolls, the bill directly reduces transportation costs for potentially tens of thousands of New Yorkers, making it more affordable for veterans to commute, access services, or visit family.
Sets a precedent for veteran recognition. The bill creates a formal, ongoing mechanism for acknowledging veterans’ service through a tangible benefit, which could influence future state or national policies supporting veterans.
Ensures financial stability for the Thruway Authority. By providing for state reimbursement of up to $100,000 per fiscal year for lost toll revenue, the bill aims to balance veterans’ benefits with the operational needs of the thruway system, preventing potential funding shortfalls.
Requires administrative action and implementation. The measure tasks both the Thruway Authority and Department of Transportation with creating and managing the exemption process, which may involve new administrative procedures and public outreach to ensure eligible veterans can access the benefit.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Thruway Tolls for Veterans
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Held for consideration in corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4100
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 1, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. KOLB, HAWLEY, BRABENEC -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. GIGLIO -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law and the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to the exemption of certain veterans from tolls collected by the New York state thruway authority
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 361 of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter 621 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
(a) In addition to the powers conferred by the vehicle and traffic law, the authority is hereby authorized to promulgate such rules and regulations for the use and occupancy of the thruway as may be necessary and proper for the public safety and convenience, for the preservation of its property and for the collection of tolls and provided further that the authority, in consultation with the departments of environmental conservation and transportation, is hereby authorized to promulgate rules and regulations necessary to implement a heavy duty vehicle roadside inspection program pursuant to section 19-0320 of the environmental conservation law. Such rules and regulations shall authorize the exemption from the collection of such tolls upon honorably discharged veterans of the armed forces of the United States. Such exemption shall be in such form and manner as the commissioner may provide.
§ 2. Subdivision 4 of section 1630 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended to read as follows:
4. Charging of tolls, taxes, fees, licenses or permits for the use of the highway or any of its parts, where the imposition thereof is authorized by law. No such toll shall be imposed by the New York state thruway authority upon honorably discharged veterans of the armed forces of the United States.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04084-01-9
A. 4100 2
§ 3. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commissioner of transportation is authorized and directed to reimburse the New York state thruway authority for any loss in net revenue, up to one hundred thousand dollars per fiscal year, due to the exemption from tolls upon honorably discharged veterans of the armed forces of the United States authorized pursuant to paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 361 of the public authorities law.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.