S 7679 NY

0likes☆Favorite🔕SubscribeShare

Skip to main content

New York State Assembly Speaker Carl E. Heastie

--> --> -->

Assembly Members

Legislative Info

Public Hearings

Speaker's Press

Assembly Reports

Committees & More

Bill Search Home Laws Legislative Calendar Public Hearing Schedule Assembly Calendars Assembly Committee Agenda Javascript must be enabled to properly view this page.

Bill No.: Summary Actions Committee&nbspVotes Floor&nbspVotes Memo Text LFIN Chamber&nbspVideo/Transcript S07679 Summary: BILL NO S07679B &nbsp SAME AS SAME AS A08169-B

&nbsp SPONSOR GOUNARDES &nbsp COSPNSR &nbsp MLTSPNSR &nbsp Amd §§1204-e, 1266-d, 1266-e & 1266-i, Pub Auth L &nbsp Relates to the powers and duties of the citizens advisory committee of the MTA and membership on the Long Island Rail Road commuter council, the Metro-North railroad commuter council, and the New York city transit riders council; provides such committee with access to certain information.

Go to top S07679 Text:

STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________

7679--B

2025-2026 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

April 29, 2025 ___________

Introduced by Sen. GOUNARDES -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation -- recom- mitted to the Committee on Transportation in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to membership on the Long Island rail road commuter council, the Metro-North railroad commuter council, and the New York city transit riders council, and in relation to the powers and duties of the permanent citizens advisory committee

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows:

1 Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "R.I.D.E.R 2 'Rider Interests Deserve Empowering Representation' Act". 3 § 2. The section heading and subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 1204-e of 4 the public authorities law, the section heading as added by chapter 483 5 of the laws of 1981 and as renumbered by section 2 of part H of chapter 6 25 of the laws of 2009, subdivisions 1 and 2 as amended by chapter 125 7 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read as follows: 8 New York city transit [ authority advisory ] riders council. 1. There is 9 hereby created the New York city transit authority advisory riders coun- 10 cil, to study, investigate, monitor , and make recommendations with 11 respect to the maintenance and operation of the New York city transit 12 authority, its subsidiaries , and the Staten Island rapid transit operat- 13 ing authority. Such council shall study and investigate all aspects of 14 the day to day operations of such authority, its subsidiaries and the 15 Staten Island rapid transit operating authority, monitor their perform- 16 ance and recommend changes to improve the efficiency of the operation 17 thereof. Such council shall study and make recommendations in regard to

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD11632-09-6

S. 7679--B 2

1 improving bicycle and pedestrian access on trains and buses, and at 2 bridges, stations and other facilities operated by the authority, its 3 affiliates and subsidiaries and the Staten Island rapid transit operat- 4 ing authority and submit such recommendations to the metropolitan trans- 5 portation authority on or before June first, two thousand twenty-two and 6 every five years thereafter. 7 2. Such council shall consist of sixteen members who shall be commu- 8 ters who regularly use the transportation services of such authorities. 9 Of the sixteen members, at least one member shall be a resident of Bronx 10 county, at least one member shall be a resident of Kings county, at 11 least one member shall be a resident of New York county, at least one 12 member shall be a resident of Richmond county, and at least one member 13 shall be a resident of Queens county. Six of such sixteen members shall 14 be appointed by the governor upon the recommendation of the mayor of the 15 city of New York[ ; ] , five upon the recommendation of the [ president ] 16 public advocate of the [ city council of the ] city of New York[ ; ] , and 17 five [ other members appointed upon the recommendation one by each of the 18 borough presidents of the boroughs of the city of New York. ] upon the 19 recommendation of local elected officials in consultation with the 20 borough president of such borough of the city of New York where the 21 member resides. Provided, however, that one member recommended by the 22 mayor of New York shall have a demonstrated expertise or interest in the 23 promotion and development of improved bicycle and pedestrian access at 24 bridges, stations and other facilities operated by the metropolitan 25 transportation authority, as created by section twelve hundred sixty- 26 three of this article, and such authority's affiliates and subsidiaries. 27 The [ chairman ] chairperson shall be a member selected by the membership 28 of the committee. Each of the members shall serve for a term of two 29 years[ , provided, however, that of the first appointments, two appointed 30 upon the recommendation of the mayor and two appointed upon the recom- 31 mendation of the president of the city council shall serve for a term of 32 one year ]. Vacancies occurring other than by expiration of term shall be 33 filled in the same manner as the original appointments for the balance 34 of the unexpired term but shall be subject to the provisions of subdivi- 35 sion five of section twelve hundred sixty-six-i of this article . 36 § 3. The section heading and subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 1266-d of 37 the public authorities law, the section heading as added by chapter 482 38 of the laws of 1981, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 125 of the laws 39 of 2022, and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 802 of the laws of 40 2021, are amended to read as follows: 41 Long Island rail road [ commuter's ] commuter council. 1. There is here- 42 by created the Long Island rail road [ commuter's ] commuter council, to 43 study, investigate, monitor and make recommendations with respect to the 44 maintenance and operation of the Long Island rail road. Such council 45 shall study and investigate all aspects of the day to day operations of 46 such railroad, monitor its performance and recommend changes to improve 47 the efficiency of the operation thereof. Such council shall study and 48 make recommendations in regard to improving bicycle and pedestrian 49 access at bridges, stations , and other facilities operated by the Long 50 Island [ Railroad ] Rail Road and submit such recommendations to the 51 metropolitan transportation authority on or before June first, two thou- 52 sand twenty-two and every five years thereafter. 53 2. Such council shall consist of thirteen members who shall be commu- 54 ters who regularly use the transportation services of such railroad, and 55 who shall be residents of Nassau, Suffolk, Queens , or [ Brooklyn ] Kings 56 county. Members shall be appointed by the governor upon the recommenda-

S. 7679--B 3

1 tion of local elected officials in consultation with the county execu- 2 tive of [ each such ] Nassau or Suffolk county, provided, however, that 3 such members shall be chosen from a list of ten names submitted by each 4 such county executive and provided further however that no more than six 5 members of such council shall be residents of either such county. 6 Provided, however, that one member shall be appointed on the recommenda- 7 tion of a local elected official in consultation with the borough presi- 8 dent of Queens and one member shall be appointed on the recommendation 9 of a local elected official in consultation with the borough president 10 of Brooklyn. Provided, however, that one member [ shall be ] , appointed 11 [ who has a ] upon the recommendation of a local elected official in 12 consultation with the county executive or borough president of such 13 county or borough where the member resides shall have demonstrated 14 expertise or interest in the promotion and development of improved bicy- 15 cle and pedestrian access at bridges, stations and other facilities 16 operated by the authority and its affiliates and subsidiaries. Vacancies 17 occurring in the membership of the council shall be filled in the same 18 manner as original appointments, provided, however, that if the appoint- 19 ment prior to the vacancy was made upon the recommendation of the Nassau 20 or Suffolk county executive, such vacancy shall be filled from a list of 21 three names submitted by each such county executive , and provided, 22 further, that such appointments shall be subject to the provisions of 23 subdivision four of section twelve hundred sixty-six-i of this title . 24 § 4. The section heading and subdivisions 1 and 2 of section 1266-e of 25 the public authorities law, the section heading as added by chapter 482 26 of the laws of 1981, subdivision 1 as amended by chapter 125 of the laws 27 of 2022, and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 802 of the laws of 28 2021, are amended to read as follows: 29 Metro-North [ rail ] railroad commuter council. 1. There is hereby 30 created the Metro-North [ rail ] railroad commuter council to study, 31 investigate, monitor and make recommendations with respect to the main- 32 tenance and operation of those portions of, if any, the Hudson, Harlem, 33 New Haven, Penn Access, Pascack Valley and Port Jervis commuter railroad 34 lines remaining within the metropolitan commuter transportation 35 district. Such council shall study and investigate all aspects of the 36 day to day operation of such railroad lines, monitor their performance 37 and recommend changes to improve the efficiency of the operation there- 38 of. Such council shall study and make recommendations in regard to 39 improving bicycle and pedestrian access at bridges, stations and other 40 facilities operated by such railroad lines and submit such recommenda- 41 tions to the metropolitan transportation authority on or before June 42 first, two thousand twenty-two and every five years thereafter. 43 2. Such council shall consist of twelve members and shall be commuters 44 who regularly use the transportation services of such railroad lines. At 45 least five of such members shall be residents of the county of Westches- 46 ter. Of the other seven members, at least one of such members shall be a 47 resident of each of the counties of Rockland, Putnam, Dutchess, Orange 48 and Bronx, provided that such county has not withdrawn from the metro- 49 politan commuter transportation district pursuant to section twelve 50 hundred seventy-nine-b of this title; provided further, should only the 51 county of Putnam remain in the metropolitan commuter transportation 52 district then membership on such council shall consist of eight members, 53 six of whom reside in the county of Westchester and two of whom reside 54 in the county of Putnam. Members shall be appointed by the governor. In 55 making such appointments the governor shall consult with and solicit 56 recommendations from local officials and to the extent possible appoint

S. 7679--B 4

1 members who represent the ridership of the several commuter railroad 2 lines. Provided, however, that one member shall be appointed who has a 3 demonstrated expertise or interest in the promotion and development of 4 improved bicycle and pedestrian access at bridges, stations and other 5 facilities operated by the authority and its affiliates and subsid- 6 iaries. Vacancies occurring in the membership of the council shall be 7 filled in the same manner as original appointments but shall be subject 8 to the provisions of subdivision four of section twelve hundred sixty- 9 six-i of this title . 10 § 5. Section 1266-i of the public authorities law, as added by section 11 10 of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as 12 follows: 13 § 1266-i. The permanent citizens advisory committee. 1. There is here- 14 by established a permanent citizens advisory committee. The members of 15 the committee shall consist of the following members: the Long Island 16 Rail Road [ commuter's ] commuter council, the Metro-North railroad commu- 17 ter council, and the New York city transit [ authority advisory ] riders 18 council, as defined in section twelve hundred four-e of this [ chapter ] 19 article . 20 2. Such committee shall serve as a coordinating council of the Long 21 Island Rail Road commuter council, the Metro-North railroad commuter 22 council, and the New York city transit riders council, providing a 23 regional and balanced perspective to such councils' work. Such committee 24 shall be a source of advice to the authority and its subsidiaries and 25 affiliates regarding matters of finance, operations, management, plan- 26 ning, service issues, and the capital program plans established in 27 section twelve hundred sixty-nine-b of this title as well as any other 28 capital plans of such authority. Such committee shall have the same 29 access to information of the authority and its subsidiaries and affil- 30 iates as the Long Island Rail Road commuter council, the Metro-North 31 railroad commuter council, and the New York city transit riders council. 32 3. The members of the Long Island Rail Road commuter council, the 33 Metro-North railroad commuter council, and the New York city transit 34 riders council shall receive no compensation for their services but 35 shall be reimbursed for actual and necessary expenses incurred in the 36 performance of their duties. 37 4. (a) Appointments to the Long Island Rail Road commuter council, the 38 Metro-North railroad commuter council, and the New York city transit 39 riders council shall be made as prescribed in section twelve hundred 40 sixty-six-d, twelve hundred sixty-six-e, or twelve hundred four-e of 41 this article, respectively, except that if recommendations for members 42 have not been made by an elected official endowed with the power to make 43 such recommendation in such respective sections within ninety days of a 44 vacancy on the Long Island Rail Road commuter council, the Metro-North 45 railroad commuter council, or the New York city transit riders council, 46 interim appointments may be made upon the recommendation of the execu- 47 tive committee and staff of the permanent citizens advisory committee. 48 The interim appointments described herein shall last for the balance of 49 the unexpired term or until an elected official endowed with the power 50 to make a recommendation in section twelve hundred sixty-six-d, twelve 51 hundred sixty-six-e, or twelve hundred four-e of this article makes such 52 recommendation for appointment and such appointment is confirmed by the 53 governor, whichever is sooner. 54 (b) Notice of the appointments described herein shall be included in 55 the official meeting minutes of the permanent citizens advisory commit- 56 tee.

S. 7679--B 5

1 5. The committee shall also have employees who do not serve on the 2 commuters and riders councils described in this section, but who are 3 employed by the authority to serve the committee. 4 6. The permanent citizens advisory committee and the authority may 5 enter into agreements with each other to facilitate the provisions of 6 this section. 7 § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

Go to top

Sitemap

Request Information

Directions and Maps