What's happening
This bill requires the New York State Thruway Authority to publicly post meeting notices, agendas, and public comment sign-up lists online before board meetings.
Why it matters
Increases transparency and accountability. by ensuring the public has advance access to meeting information, making it easier to follow and influence board decisions that affect tolls, road policies, and other Thruway Authority matters.
Empowers public participation. by mandating a sign-up process for public comment, giving interested individuals and groups a guaranteed opportunity to voice concerns or support during official meetings.
Establishes clear minimum timelines. (two weeks for meeting notice, one week for agendas and public comment sign-up), which prevents last-minute changes and helps stakeholders prepare more effectively to engage with the board’s actions.
Albany, before your first meeting.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Public Meeting Notices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to transportation
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7107
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2020
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 requiring the New York state thruway authority to provide notice, a description of meeting details and a sign up list prior to meetings of the board
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 352 of the public authorities law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. (a) Prior to any meeting of the board, the board shall:
(i) not less than two weeks prior to such meeting, provide the public with notice of such meeting. Such notice shall include at a minimum, the date, time and location of such meeting;
(ii) not less than one week prior to such meeting, provide the public with a description of such meeting, setting forth the details of all items to be considered at such meeting; and
(iii) not less than one week prior to such meeting, provide any party with an interest in such meeting to sign up for public comment at such meeting.
(b) The notice, description of meeting details and sign up list required by paragraph (a) of this subdivision shall be made available and published in a conspicuous location on the website of the authority.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14565-01-9
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 requiring the New York state thruway authority to provide notice, a description of meeting details and a sign up list prior to meetings of the board
Purpose
To enact meaningful, transparent, accountable and democratizing provisions concerning the operation of the Board of the New York State Thruway Authority, including-notice to the public of meetings two weeks in advance; notice to the public of the specific meeting agenda one week in advance; and the opportunity for the public to sign-up and comment within one week of the meeting.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the Public Authorities law to provide reforms concern- ing how the New York State Thruway Authority currently operates board meetings, including the new specific requirements that the Authority:
1. Provide notice to the public of meetings two weeks in advance
2. Provide notice to the public of the specific meeting agenda one week in advance
3. Provide the opportunity for the public to sign-up and comment within one week of the meeting
4. Post all materials in a timely fashion on their website
Justification
The New York State Thruway Authority (NYSTA) is a public benefit corpo- ration celebrating its 70th Anniversary in 2020. The Authority oversees the most important and critical stretch of highway in the Empire State including duties relative to operation, maintenance and construction of nearly 600 miles of road. The original enacting statute spelled out few, if any, requirements in terms of public notice and comment concerning the actions of the Board, which often include major construction initi- atives, the granting of mega-contracts and toll, fee and fare increases.
Much like other large Boards, such as the MTA, for example, it is imper- ative that the NYSTA operate in a way that is accountable to the public. At present, the New York State Thruway Authority has no formal set meet- ing schedule, and provides 48 hours notice, at best-of meetings when they are called. A recent example in December of 2019 included a series of rushed, back-to-back meetings called with virtually no notice to anyone, which resulted in toll increases rushed through in virtual secrecy. No one from the public commented because there are no rules that require the Board to operate in a manner where they have to acknowledge the public even exists. This bill wisely cures an embarrass- ing and unacceptable ill.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None of significance noted.
Effective date
This law will take effect thirty days after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.