Bill Text: NY A02836 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Directs the New York thruway authority to develop and implement a toll discount program waiving additional costs for tolls related to travel on the New York state thruway for certain individuals who do not maintain an E-Z Pass account.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - referred to corporations, authorities and commissions [A02836 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A02836-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          2836

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    January 27, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M.  of  A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
          Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

        AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to directing the
          New York state thruway authority  to  develop  and  implement  a  toll
          discount  program waiving additional costs for tolls related to travel
          on the New York state thruway for certain individuals who do not main-
          tain an E-ZPass account

          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 "thruway
     2  toll equality act".
     3    § 2. The public authorities law is amended by  adding  a  new  section
     4  378-b to read as follows:
     5    § 378-b. E-ZPass discount program. 1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or
     6  regulation  to the contrary, the authority shall establish and implement
     7  a discount  plan  waiving  any  costs,  including  fees,  penalties  and
     8  surcharges,  beyond the amount of actual tolls incurred during travel on
     9  the New York state thruway system for qualified  residents  who  do  not
    10  have  an  E-ZPass  account or transponder and who receive a toll bill by
    11  mail.  Qualified residents shall pay an amount  for  tolls  not  greater
    12  than  the amount paid by individuals who maintain an E-ZPass account, in
    13  good standing, linked to a bank account or credit card.
    14    2. As used in this section, a "qualified resident" means an individual
    15  who:
    16    (a) is a full-time resident of the state;
    17    (b) receives benefits pursuant to the supplemental  nutrition  assist-
    18  ance  program  (SNAP)  or the special supplemental nutrition program for
    19  women, infants and children (WIC) or who receives vouchers  pursuant  to
    20  Section 8 of the Housing Act of 1937;
    21    (c)  owns  or rents a vehicle utilized for travel on the state thruway
    22  system; and

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD05629-01-3
        A. 2836                             2

     1    (d) does not maintain an E-ZPass account or have an E-ZPass  transpon-
     2  der.
     3    3.  (a)  The  authority  shall not generate a bill or other demand for
     4  payment for tolls incurred by qualified residents until the  earlier  of
     5  (i) the toll amount due reaches a threshold of thirty dollars, or (ii) a
     6  period of one year.
     7    (b)  If  a  bill for tolls is not paid within one hundred twenty days,
     8  fees and charges may be assessed as determined by the authority.
     9    4. (a) The provisions of this section shall apply only to persons  who
    10  do not otherwise qualify for an E-ZPass discount program.
    11    (b)  The  provisions  of  this  section shall not apply to any E-ZPass
    12  charges incurred for any travel originating in  or  terminating  in  any
    13  other state.
    14    §  3.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
    15  have become a law.    Effective  immediately,  the  addition,  amendment
    16  and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation
    17  of  this  act  on  its  effective  date  are  authorized  to be made and
    18  completed on or before such effective date.