What's happening
This bill requires the MTA to provide at least a 25% fare discount for full-time undergraduate students at all times.
Why it matters
Significantly lowers transportation costs for full-time undergraduates. , making commuting to college more affordable and potentially expanding access to higher education for those with financial constraints.
Requires the discount to apply at any time, not just off-peak hours. , ensuring students who attend classes, jobs, or internships at varied times all benefit equally, rather than being restricted to less convenient travel windows.
Mandates the MTA to create and manage the discount program. , which could involve administrative changes, new verification processes, and updates to fare systems—potentially impacting how quickly and efficiently the program rolls out.
Could affect MTA revenue and budgeting. , as a mandated fare discount for a large group may require the authority to adjust financial planning, possibly influencing service levels, funding needs, or fare structures for other riders.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Student Transit Fare Discount
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred 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.
Student Transit Fare Discounts
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor William Colton
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2755
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 29, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to rates of fare on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
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 19 to read as follows:
19. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the authority and any of its subsidiary corporations shall establish and implement a discount fare rate program, such discount to be no less than twenty-five percent of the regular fare, for full-time undergraduate students attending an accredited college. The discount fare rate 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. The chairman shall establish and implement all rules and regulations necessary to effectuate this subdivision.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04634-01-9
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 rates of fare on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority
Purpose or general idea of bill
Establishes a discount fare rate of no less than 25% for undergraduate students attending an accredited college full time on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority system.
Summary of specific provisions
Amends § 1266 of the public authorities law by adding a new subdivision 19 providing for a discount fare rate program of no less than twenty- five percent of the regular fare for full-time undergraduate students attending an accredited college.
Justification
A college education is essential in today's economy. With the increases to property taxes, utilities, gasoline, and with the growing unemploy- ment rate, parents are hard pressed to continue funding increased costs associated with a college education. With the increases to property taxes, utilities, gasoline, and with the growing unemployment rate, parents are hard pressed to continue funding increased costs associated with a college education. Students who are funding their higher educa- tion on their own through student loans and work are in a worse position due to tuition and fee increases.
People who graduated from one of the CUNY institutions between 1970 and 1997 pay an estimated $708 million per year more in City and State taxes than if they had not earned a college degree. Their annual spending is $4.6 billion higher than if they had not gone to college.
This legislation will lower transportation costs for those who are attending an accredited college full-time. College students and their families need all the help they can get to make a college education possible.
An additional significant benefit of this legislation would be encourag- ing the use of public transportation which provides environmental bene- fits to all residents. Use of public transportation can lower air pollution and help New York State comply with environmental standards.
Prior legislative history
S 8628 COMRIE Same as A 6485 Colton
Fiscal implications
Based upon the history of discount programs in the 1990s, it is antic- ipated that no loss of revenue from the discounted fares would be real- ized due to the amount of additional revenues generated from new riders in the system.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.