Bill Text: NY S01643 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

---

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 (Republican 2-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-03 - REFERRED TO TRANSPORTATION [S01643 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S01643-Introduced.html

---

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          1643

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                    January 13, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced by Sens. TEDISCO, BORRELLO -- 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 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
        S. 1643                             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.