What's happening
This bill requires the MTA to provide free transportation at all times to New York City EMTs and paramedics.
Why it matters
Reduces personal transportation costs for EMTs and paramedics. , effectively increasing their take-home pay and potentially improving job satisfaction and retention for these critical first responders.
Applies to all MTA-operated services. (NYC subways, buses, Long Island Rail Road, and Metro-North), ensuring comprehensive coverage—not just the subway system—no matter where EMTs and paramedics live or work.
Guarantees free transit access at all times, not just off-peak hours. , acknowledging that EMTs and paramedics often work irregular or overnight shifts and need reliable, affordable transportation 24/7.
May encourage more efficient emergency response. by making it easier for EMTs and paramedics to get to work or respond to emergencies quickly, especially during citywide disruptions or emergencies when personal transportation is limited.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Transit for NYC EMTs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
9978
IN ASSEMBLY
March 4, 2020
Introduced by M. of A. DenDEKKER, ABBATE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to authorizing and directing the metropolitan transportation authority to implement a free fare program for emergency medical technicians and paramedics
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1266 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a new subdivision 14-a to read as follows:
14-a. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law or the terms of any contract, the authority and any of its subsidiary corporations, shall establish and implement a free fare program for transportation on New York city transit authority systems, the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company for emergency medical technicians and paramedics employed by the city of New York. The free fare program established and implemented pursuant to this subdivision shall be in operation during all hours in which such authority provides railroad, subway and/or omnibus services, and such program shall not be limited in operation to off-peak hours or to any other hours designated by the authority or its subsidiary corporations.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD15621-01-0
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.