What's happening
This bill increases the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority board from ten to twelve members, adding two appointed by the Niagara County Legislature.
Why it matters
Increases Niagara County's voice in transit decisions. By adding two board members appointed by the Niagara County Legislature, the bill gives Niagara County a direct say in the oversight and strategic direction of the regional transportation authority, which previously had a stronger Erie County influence.
Could impact funding and service priorities. With more representation from Niagara County, there may be shifts in how resources are allocated, the types of transit projects prioritized, and how services are distributed across the two counties.
May change board dynamics and decision-making. Expanding the board to twelve members can alter voting outcomes, coalition-building, and the overall governance culture of the authority, potentially leading to new alliances or policy shifts.
Reflects regional population and political changes. The amendment acknowledges changing demographics or political pressures, ensuring the authority’s leadership more accurately reflects the communities it serves.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Add Two Transit Board Members
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
288
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. ORTT -- 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 the composition of the Niagara Frontier transportation 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 1299-c of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter 220 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows:
(a) There is hereby created the "Niagara Frontier transportation authority." The authority shall be a body corporate and politic constituting a public benefit corporation. The authority shall consist of a chairman, [ten] twelve other members and shall have two non-voting members as described in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subdivision appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. The chairman and all members shall be residents of the district. Of the [ten] twelve members other than the chairman, one shall be appointed upon the written recommendation of the Erie county executive [and], one shall be appointed upon the written recommendation of the Erie county legislature and two shall be appointed upon the written recommendation of the Niagara county legislature. The chairman and each of the members shall be appointed for a term of eight years, provided however, that the chairman first appointed shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-three, and of the eight other members first appointed, one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred sixty-eight, two shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred sixty-nine, one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy, two shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-one, one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-two and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02449-01-9
S. 288 2
one shall serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-three. The term of one of the members appointed to memberships first created by law after April first, nineteen hundred sixty-nine shall end on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-four, and the term of the other such member shall end on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred seventy-five. Following the expiration of any term ending on or after June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-seven, each member shall be appointed for a term of five years beginning on the day after the expiration date of such prior term; provided, however, that the term of the member first appointed upon the written recommendation of the Erie county executive and the term of the member first appointed upon the written recommendation of the Erie county legislature shall be for a term ending on June thirtieth, nineteen hundred ninety-six.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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 the composi- tion of the Niagara Frontier transportation authority
Purpose or general idea of bill
Increases the membership to 12 that make up the NFTA. These two members shall be appointed upon the written recommendation of the Niagara County legislature.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1 amends paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of section 1299-c of the public authorities law as amended by chapter 220 of the laws of 2012 by increasing from 10 to 12 the members of the NFTA. Further, this section requires two appointees be made upon the written recommendation of the Niagara County legislature.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
The NFTA operates both in Erie and Niagara Counties and is composed of a 10 member board. As it is currently composed one member is appointed upon the recommendation of the Erie County Executive, and another is appointed by the Erie County Legislature. Currently Niagara County has no representation on the board. This legislation would seek to extend the same amount of representation to Niagara County that Erie County currently has.
Prior legislative history
S. 1752 of 2017/2018; Passed Senate S. 6360 of 2016; Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
None.
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.