What's happening
This bill requires the MTA and LIRR to allow all police officers and NYC fire marshals to ride the LIRR for free.
Why it matters
Expands free LIRR access to all police officers and NYC fire marshals. , not just those from specific agencies—potentially increasing uniformed presence on trains and platforms, which could enhance both perceived and actual rider safety.
Requires registration and periodic re-validation. for eligible officers and fire marshals, ensuring that only current, authorized personnel benefit from the program and providing the MTA with better data on who is riding for free.
Mandates transparency and accountability. by requiring a formal report on the program to state leaders before it launches, offering oversight and potentially influencing future transit policy based on reported outcomes.
May have fiscal and operational impacts. , as the expanded pool of free riders could affect LIRR revenue and capacity planning, while also possibly shifting the dynamics of fare enforcement and rail security.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free LIRR Rides for Officers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
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.
Free LIRR Rides for Officers
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Peter Abbate
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3945
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 21, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- 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 authorizing and requiring the metropolitan transportation authority, in consultation with the Long Island Rail Road, to implement a program to permit certain police officers and New York city fire marshals to ride on the Long Island Rail Road without cost
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 14 of section 1266 of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter 182 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
14. Notwithstanding any other provisions of law or the terms of any contract, the authority, in consultation with the Long Island Rail Road, shall establish and implement a no fare program for transportation on the Long Island Rail Road for police officers [employed by the city of New York, county of Nassau, Nassau county villages and cities, county of Suffolk, Suffolk county villages and towns, the division of state police, the port authority of New York and New Jersey, the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, the New York city housing authority and the New York city transit authority] as defined by section 1.20 of the criminal procedure law and New York city fire marshals. In establishing such program, which has as its goal increased protection and improved safety for its commuters, the authority and the Long Island Rail Road shall, among other things, consider: (a) requiring police officers and New York city fire marshals who ride without cost to register with the Long Island Rail Road as a condition of riding without cost; (b) requiring such officers to indicate during such registration process their regular working hours and the Long Island Rail Road trains that such officers expect to ride; and (c) periodically re-registering and re-validating such officers and New York city fire marshals. The authority and the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07958-01-9
S. 3945 2
Long Island Rail Road shall also have the power to consider other matters necessary to carry out the goals and objectives of this section.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that the no fare program shall be implemented on or before the one hundred twentieth day after this act shall have become a law and that a report containing the provisions of such program shall be made to the governor, the senate majority and minority leaders, the speaker of the assembly and the assembly minority leader, and the chairs of the senate and assembly transportation committees 30 days prior to implementing such program.
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 authorizing and requiring the metropolitan transportation authority, in consultation with the Long Island Rail Road, to implement a program to permit certain police officers and New York city fire marshals to ride on the Long Island Rail Road without cost
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of this bill amends Public Authorities Law section 1266(14) to add New York City fire marshals to the Long Island Railroad no fare program.
Section 2 of this bill provides that this act shall take effect imme- diately, provided, however, that the no fare program shall be imple- mented on or before the one hundred twentieth day after this act shall have become a law and that a report containing the provisions of such program shall be made to the governor, the senate majority and minority leaders, the speaker of the assembly and the assembly minority leader, and the chairmen of the senate and assembly transportation committees 30 days prior to implementing such program.
Justification
Allowing these fire marshals to participate in the no fare program will enhance public safety. Fire Marshals are trained, armed police officers, who are empowered to enforce all New York State laws and effectuate arrests. They are also either EMTs or paramedics trained to provide emergency medical treatment in emergency situations.
Legislative history
2018: S.3721 - Reported to Rules 2017: S.3721 - 3rd Reading Calendar 2016: S.7422 - Referred to Transportation
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that the no fare program shall be implemented on or before the one hundred twentieth day after this act shall have become a law and that a report containing the provisions of such program shall be made to the governor, the senate majority and minority leaders, the speaker of the assembly and the assembly minority leader, and the chairmen of the senate and assembly transportation committees 30 days prior to implementing such program.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.