What's happening
This bill requires legislative approval for any proposed increases in fees, rentals, and charges for using the New York thruway system.
Why it matters
Increases legislative oversight and transparency. by requiring the New York State Legislature to review and approve any proposed hikes in thruway fees, rentals, or charges, ensuring that changes cannot be made unilaterally by the Thruway Authority.
Mandates early notification and detailed reporting. the Thruway Authority must submit a comprehensive report justifying any proposed increase, including financial condition details, at least 180 days in advance, giving lawmakers and the public time to scrutinize the proposal.
Limits fee hikes to essential needs. by allowing increases only if they are necessary and convenient to maintain or operate existing infrastructure, rather than for expansion or other purposes, thereby potentially protecting users from unnecessary or excessive charges.
Protects prior financial agreements. by exempting existing bond or note agreements from the legislative approval requirement, reducing potential legal or financial complications with pre-existing contracts.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Legislature Must OK Thruway Hikes
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
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.
Legislature Must Approve Thruway Fees
In Senate Committee · Transportation · Sponsor James Tedisco
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7377
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring legislative approval of increases in fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 8 of section 354 of the public authorities law, as amended by section 2 of part TT of chapter 54 of the laws of 2016, is amended and a new subdivision 8-a is added to read as follows:
8. Subject to agreements with noteholders or bondholders and legislative approval pursuant to subdivision eight-a of this section, to fix and collect such fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway or any part thereof necessary or convenient, with an adequate margin of safety, to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expense of maintenance and operation and to fulfill the terms of any agreements made with the holders of its notes or bonds, and to establish the rights and privileges granted upon payment thereof; provided, however, that tolls may only be imposed for the passage through locks and lift bridges by vessels which are propelled in whole or in part by mechanical power; and provided further that no tolls shall be imposed or collected prior to the first day of April, nineteen hundred ninety-three.
8-a. The authority shall submit a written report to the legislature at least one hundred eighty days prior to the date when any proposed increase in fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system is scheduled to take effect. Such report shall include justification for the proposed increase, and information setting forth the current financial condition of the authority. The legislature may require any additional data or information that it deems necessary in such report. If the legislature, or the appropriate committees thereof, upon review of the report submitted to it by the authority, finds that the proposed
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05175-01-9
A. 7377 2
increases are not convenient or necessary to produce sufficient revenue to meet the expense of maintenance and operation of infrastructure existing prior to any proposed increase then no proposed increase shall take effect until approved by a majority vote of each house of the legislature. Provided, however, that legislative approval shall not be required to fix and collect such fees, rentals and charges for the use of the thruway system or any part thereof, to produce sufficient revenue to fulfill the terms of any agreements, formed prior to the effective date of this subdivision, with the holders of its notes or bonds.
§ 2. Severability. If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this act shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment shall have been rendered.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
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.