What's happening
This bill requires gas stations to provide devices and assistance for disabled motorists to signal and receive help dispensing fuel.
Why it matters
Ensures greater independence and convenience for disabled drivers. by mandating that gas stations offer a way for motorists with disability plates to easily signal for assistance and receive help fueling, without paying extra fees.
Sets clear requirements for accessibility. the signaling device must be installed at accessible heights and accompanied by ADA-compliant signage, making it easier for disabled individuals to identify and use the service.
Balances small business concerns. by giving single-station owners up to a year to comply and larger owners three years for full compliance, as well as exempting stations with only one employee on duty and remote fueling controls from these requirements.
Promotes statewide consistency and clarity. by specifying that the rule applies to both New York and out-of-state (or federal) disability plates and by detailing which types of stations and staffing arrangements are covered.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Help Disabled Drivers at Pumps
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer protection
- Referred to consumer protection
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.
Help Disabled Drivers at Pumps
In Assembly Committee · Economic Development · Sponsor Thomas Abinanti
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4824
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 26, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to providing gas station assistance to disabled motorists
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 396-bb of the general business law are renumbered subdivisions 3 and 4 and a new subdivision 2 is added to read as follows:
2. a. Any gasoline station offering the public sale of gasoline at self-service islands shall provide a minimum of one self-service island device that allows a disabled person, parked at that station in a vehicle displaying a disabled license plate issued by New York state or a valid disabled license plate issued by any other state, or a valid disabled license plate issued by the federal government, to signal an employee that the driver requires assistance in dispensing motor fuel. An attendant shall then arrive to dispense motor fuel at no additional cost beyond the price that the fuel is being offered to the general public. A device shall be installed that alerts the employee inside the building that assistance is required at the pump, and shall be mounted between thirty-four and forty-eight inches from the ground. A sign shall be conspicuously posted at the self-service station that meets the American Disability Act Accessibility Guidelines identifying the call device and the hours when assistance will be available and operable from the vehicle.
b. The gasoline station shall not be required to provide the service provided for in paragraph a of this subdivision during times when such station is being operated on a remote control basis by only one employee and a passenger in that vehicle is reasonably capable of dispensing motor fuel. Paragraph a of this subdivision shall not apply to gasoline
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04464-01-9
S. 4824 2
stations that are operated by one cashier and remote control equipment for dispensing motor fuel.
c. If an owner owns only one gasoline station in New York state, then that gas station must be in compliance within one year of the effective date of this subdivision. If an owner owns more than one gasoline station in New York state then the owner must make at least fifty percent of those gasoline stations compliant with this subdivision within one year of the effective date of this subdivision. In either case the owner must be in compliance within three years of the effective date of this subdivision.
§ 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 general business law, in relation to providing gas station assistance to disabled motorists
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will provide a disabled motorist that has physical disabili- ties with an opportunity to receive assistance when filling his or her gas tank at a self service gas station.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill would amend Section Subdivision 2 and 3 of section 396-bb of the general business law and renumber it to 3 and 4. A new subdivision 2 is added to include the following:
Section 2. a. Any gasoline station offering the public sale of gasoline at self-service islands shall provide a minimum of one self-service island device that allows a disabled person parked at that station in a vehicle, displaying a disabled license plate issued by New York State or a valid disabled license Plate issued by any other state, to signal an employee that the driver requires assistance in dispensing motor fuel. An attendant will then arrive to dispense motor fuel at no additional cost beyond the price that the fuel is being offered to the general public. A device shall be installed that alerts the employee inside the building that assistance is required at the pump, and shall be mounted between thirty-four and forty-eight inches from the ground. A sign shall be conspicuously posted at the self-service station that meets the Amer- ican Disability Act Accessibility Guidelines identifying the call device and the hours when assistance will be available and operable from the vehicle.
b. The gasoline station will not be required to provide this service during times when the fueling station is being operated on a remote control basis by only one employee and a passenger in that vehicle is reasonably capable of dispensing motor fuel. Paragraph a of this subdi- vision shall not apply to gasoline stations that are operated by one cashier and remote control equipment for dispensing motor fuel.
c. If an owner owns only one gasoline station in New York State, then that gas station must be in compliance within one year of the effective dates of this subdivision. If an owner owns more than one gasoline station in New York State then the owner must make at least fifty percent of those gasoline stations compliance. If an owner owns more than one gas station in New York State then the owner must make at least fifty percent of those gas stations compliant with this subdivision within one year of the effective date of this subdivision. In either case the owner must be in compliance within three years of the effective date of this subdivision.
This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
This bill meets a need for thousands of disabled motorist traveling in New York State and makes gas stations more compliant with the spirit and law of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Prior legislative history
2017-18: S.3645 - REFERRED TO CONSUMER PROTECTION 2015-16: S.1926/A.936 -Referred to Consumer Protection 2013-14: S.2837/A.1231- Referred to Consumer Protection 2011-12: S.3507/A.9482- Referred to Consumer Protection 2009-10: S.6886 - Died in Consumer Protection
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately after passage of bill.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.