What's happening
This bill requires that any increase in credit card processing fees related to the congestion surcharge be passed on to passengers and shown separately on receipts.
Why it matters
Increases price transparency for passengers. By requiring that any additional credit card processing fees linked to the congestion surcharge be listed separately on receipts, passengers will see the true cost of their ride, including all extra fees, rather than having them hidden in the total.
Clarifies financial responsibility. The bill ensures that both the congestion surcharge and any related processing fee increases are directly passed to passengers, making it clear that these are not absorbed by drivers or companies, but are an explicit cost to the customer.
May impact total ride costs. Passengers paying by credit card could see a slightly higher total fare due to these fees being itemized and added on top of existing surcharges, potentially influencing payment choices or perceptions of ride affordability.
Promotes regulatory consistency. By mandating all regulatory agencies and fare meters to include these surcharges and related fees, the bill aims to create a uniform approach across for-hire vehicle services, reducing confusion and disputes over fare calculations.
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Who cares
For-hire vehicle passengers
They would have to pay any increase in credit card processing fees associated with the congestion surcharge, with that increase separately stated on any receipt provided.
For-hire transportation operators
They would be required to pass surcharge-related increases in credit card processing fees along to passengers rather than absorb those costs.
For-hire transportation receipt providers
They would need to separately state surcharge-related increases in credit card processing fees on receipts provided to passengers.
Headline styles
Show Card Fee on Receipts
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5962
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 16, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the tax law, in relation to credit card processing associated with the congestion surcharge
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph 1 of subdivision (b) of section 1299-b of the tax law, as added by section 2 of part NNN of chapter 59 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
(1) The surcharge imposed by this article, and any increase in credit card processing fees associated with the surcharge, must be passed along to passengers and separately stated on any receipt that is provided to such passengers. The passing along of such surcharge shall not be construed by any court or administrative body as the imposition of the surcharge on the person or entity that pays for the for-hire transportation trip. All regulatory agencies must adjust any fares that are authorized by them to include the surcharge imposed by this article, and must require that any meter or other instrument used in any for-hire vehicle regulated by it to calculate fares be adjusted to include the surcharge.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11800-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the tax law, in relation to credit card processing associated with the congestion surcharge
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this bill is to pass along the surcharge imposed by this article, and any increase in credit card processing fees associated with the surcharge to passengers. This bill also states that the passing along of such surcharge shall not be construed by any court or adminis- trative body as the imposition of the surcharge on the person or entity that pays for the for-hire transportation trip.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Paragraph 1 of subdivision (b) of section 1299-b of the tax law, as added by section 2 of part NNN of chapter 59 of the laws of 2018, is amended to read as follows:
(1) The surcharge imposed by this article, and any increase in credit card processing fees associated with the surcharge, will be passed along to the passenger and stated on any receipt that is provided to said passenger.
The passing along of such surcharge will not be construed by any court or administrative body as an imposition. All regulatory agencies must adjust any fares to include the surcharge imposed by this article, and must require that any meter or other instrument used in for-hire vehi- cles to calculate fares be adjusted to include the surcharge.
(2)This act shall take effect immediately
Difference between original and amended version (if applicable)
None.
Justification
Credit card companies charge merchants a fee to process a payment. This is costing the owner/operators of these for-hire vehicles 12.5 cents per trip, which equates to $6.25 per day, per vehicle, ultimately adding up to $2200 a year. Some agencies who manage up to 300 cars will effec- tively be paying $600,000 a year due to credit card processing fees. With this bill merchants will be able to offset the cost.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
Effective Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.