What's happening
The bill creates a no-fare program on MTA transit for current and retired police officers with valid pistol permits, granting retired officers peace officer powers while riding.
Why it matters
Expands free transit access to both current and retired police officers with valid pistol permits. , potentially increasing the number of trained law enforcement individuals present on subways, buses, and commuter rail lines, which may serve as a deterrent to crime or aid in emergency response.
Grants retired officers “peace officer” powers while riding,. meaning they could legally intervene in crimes and emergencies, carrying the legal protections and authority normally reserved for active-duty officers—this could affect how incidents on transit are handled and who is empowered to respond.
Requires registration and periodic revalidation for eligible officers using the no-fare program,. introducing oversight and accountability mechanisms while also allowing transit agencies to track which armed individuals are regularly present on their systems.
Assumes prior law enforcement training fulfills required peace officer training,. potentially lowering ongoing training burdens but raising questions about the currency of skills for retired officers who may not have recent field experience.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Free Transit for Police
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to transportation
- Referred to transportation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
509
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. PALUMBO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law and the criminal procedure law, in relation to establishing a no fare program for transportation on New York city transit authority systems, the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company for certain police officers and retired police officers
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, the New York city transit authority, and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, shall establish and implement a no fare program for transportation on the Long Island Rail Road, the New York city transit authority systems, and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company for current and retired police officers, who possess a valid pistol permit, employed by or retired from service with 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. 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 retired police officers who ride without cost to register with the Long Island Rail Road, the New York city transit authority, and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company as a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02146-01-5
condition of riding without cost; (b) requiring such officers to indicate during such registration process their regular working hours, if applicable, and the [Long Island Rail Road trains] specific subway, bus, railroad and paratransit services that such officers expect to ride; and (c) periodically re-registering and re-validating such officers. The authority [and the 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. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section 2.40 to read as follows: § 2.40 Retired police officers aboard MTA transportation services.
Retired police officers who ride free aboard the transportation services of the metropolitan transportation authority pursuant to subdivision fourteen of section twelve hundred sixty-six of the public authorities law shall be afforded all of the powers and protections afforded peace officers pursuant to the provisions of this article. The peace officer training requirements described in section 2.30 of this article shall be deemed fulfilled by the training such retired police officers received as part of their law enforcement employment.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
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 and the criminal procedure law, in relation to establishing a no fare program for transportation on New York city transit authority systems, the Long Island Rail Road and the Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company for certain police officers and retired police officers
Purpose
The intent of this legislation is to provide added protection and secu- rity for the transit passengers of the MTA by allowing retired police officers with a valid pistol permit to ride free.
Summary of provisions
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 allow retired police officers, who possess a valid pistol permit free access to MTA transportation system.
Section 2. The criminal procedure law is amended by adding a new section 2.40 which affords retired police officers riding free on the MTA trans- portation system the same powers and protections afforded peace offi- cers.
Section 3. Sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Allowing retired police officers free access to the MTA transportation system will supplement active police officers in the prevention of crime. Having more eyes and ears on the subways and trains will assist in passenger safety.
Legislative history
2024 S.8397
Fiscal implications
None to the State
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.