S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 959 2013-2014 Regular Sessions I N A S S E M B L Y (PREFILED) January 9, 2013 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. KELLNER, WEISENBERG, DINOWITZ, BARRON, MILLMAN, HOOPER, WEPRIN -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. FARRELL, GLICK, GOTT- FRIED -- read once and referred to the Committee on Cities AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to providing for improved access to taxicabs for persons with disabilities THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM- BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: 1 Section 1. Section 181 of the general municipal law, as amended by 2 chapter 579 of the laws of 1993, subdivision 1 as separately amended by 3 chapters 382 and 385 of the laws of 2012, is amended to read as follows: 4 S 181. Ordinances to regulate taxicabs and limousines. 1. The munici- 5 pal officers and boards in the several cities, towns and villages of 6 this state now having the authority to enact ordinances, may adopt ordi- 7 nances regulating: 8 [1.] (A) The registration and licensing of taxicabs and may limit the 9 number of taxicabs to be licensed and the county of Westchester may 10 adopt ordinances regulating the registration and licensing of taxicabs 11 and limousines and may limit the number to be licensed; the county of 12 Nassau may adopt ordinances regulating the registration of taxicabs and 13 limousines; and the county of Suffolk may adopt ordinances regulating 14 the registration of taxicabs, limousines, and livery vehicles; and the 15 county of Rockland may adopt local laws or ordinances regulating the 16 registration and licensing of taxicabs, limousines, and livery vehicles 17 and may limit the number to be licensed. 18 [2.] (B) Parking and passenger pick-up and discharge by taxicabs, 19 limousines and livery vehicles. Establishment of such ordinances and 20 regulations regulating parking and passenger pick-up and discharges may 21 be based upon recommendations from municipal planning officials or other 22 public entities and may address and take into consideration such 23 factors, including, but not limited to, geographic areas, vehicle type, EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD01883-01-3 A. 959 2 1 limiting the number of parked vehicles and activities undertaken while 2 parked, and periods of idling. 3 2. THE MUNICIPAL OFFICERS AND BOARDS IN ANY CITY HAVING A POPULATION 4 OF MORE THAN ONE MILLION SHALL NO LATER THAN APRIL THIRTIETH, TWO THOU- 5 SAND FIFTEEN ADOPT ORDINANCES PROVIDING: 6 (A) THAT "ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB" SHALL MEAN ANY VEHICLE THAT 7 (1) IS EQUIPPED WITH A LIFT, RAMP, OR ANY OTHER DEVICE, ARRANGEMENT OR 8 ALTERATION, SO IT IS CAPABLE OF TRANSPORTING PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL DISA- 9 BILITIES, INCLUDING THOSE WHO USE WHEELCHAIRS, SCOOTERS AND SIMILAR 10 DEVICES WHILE THEY REMAIN SEATED IN THEIR WHEELCHAIRS, SCOOTERS OR SIMI- 11 LAR DEVICES; 12 (2) COMPLIES WITH THE SPECIFICATIONS SET FORTH IN REGULATIONS PROMUL- 13 GATED UNDER THE AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT AND CODIFIED AT 49 14 C.F.R. SECTIONS 38.23, 38.25 AND 38.31, AS AMENDED, WHETHER OR NOT THOSE 15 REGULATIONS WOULD APPLY UNDER FEDERAL LAW; 16 (3) IS EQUIPPED WITH AN ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM FOR PERSONS WITH 17 HEARING IMPAIRMENT THAT IS CONNECTED WITH ANY INTERCOM, VIDEO OR AUDIO 18 SYSTEM, WHEN SUCH A SYSTEM IS INSTALLED; 19 (4) ASSURES THAT THE TECHNOLOGY UTILIZED BY TAXICABS IS COMPLIANT WITH 20 THE STANDARDS PROMULGATED BY THE COMMISSIONER OF TRANSPORTATION; 21 PROVIDED THAT A LOCAL AUTHORITY WITH OVERSIGHT OVER TAXICABS, LIMOUSINES 22 AND LIVERY VEHICLES MAY CONDUCT PILOT PROGRAMS TESTING NEW SYSTEMS; 23 (5) IS EQUIPPED WITH STANDARDIZED SIGNS PRINTED IN: (A) BRAILLE; AND 24 (B) LARGE-PRINT TEXT SO THAT SUCH SIGNS ARE VISIBLE TO PERSONS WITH LOW 25 VISION; 26 (6) PROVIDES SUFFICIENT FLOOR SPACE TO ACCOMMODATE A SERVICE ANIMAL; 27 AND 28 (7) IF POWERED BY A HYBRID-ELECTRIC POWER PLANT, IS EQUIPPED WITH AN 29 APPROPRIATE DEVICE TO ENABLE PERSONS WHO ARE BLIND TO HEAR THE APPROACH 30 OF THE VEHICLE AS READILY AS THEY CAN HEAR A CONVENTIONAL GASOLINE-POW- 31 ERED TAXICAB. 32 (B) THAT NO OWNER OF A TAXICAB SHALL PLACE ANY TAXICAB INTO SERVICE 33 SUBSEQUENT TO OCTOBER FIRST, TWO THOUSAND SIXTEEN WHICH TAXICAB IS NOT 34 AN ACCESSIBLE TAXICAB. 35 3. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "ASSISTIVE LISTENING SYSTEM" 36 SHALL MEAN SITUATIONAL-PERSONAL ACOUSTIC COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT 37 DESIGNED TO IMPROVE THE TRANSMISSION AND AUDITORY RECEPTION OF SOUND. 38 SUCH SYSTEM SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO THE USE OF STANDARD 39 AMPLITUDE MODULATION (AM), FREQUENCY MODULATION (FM), AUDIO INDUCTION 40 LOOP, INFRARED LIGHT SOUND, OR HARD WIRE SYSTEMS. 41 S 2. The commissioner of transportation shall promulgate any rules, 42 regulations and standards necessary to give effect of the provisions of 43 this act, including, but not limited to rules, regulations and standards 44 concerning the standardization of assistive listening technology avail- 45 able in taxicabs and the content of signs available in taxicabs to visu- 46 ally impaired persons. 47 S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.