Bill Text: NY S06645 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Bill 6645

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

Bill Title: Provides that the thruway authority shall issue permits for ambulances and fire vehicles exempting such vehicles from paying tolls on the thruway when engaged in an emergency operation.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Republican 7-2)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-21 - PRINT NUMBER 6645B [S06645 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-S06645-Introduced.html




                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          6645

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                       May 3, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  COMRIE -- 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  exempting
          ambulances  and  emergency medical services vehicles from paying tolls
          on the New York state thruway when engaged in an emergency operation

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

     1    Section  1.  Section  378-a of the public authorities law, as added by
     2  chapter 23 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
     3    § 378-a. Emergency service permits. 1. The authority is hereby author-
     4  ized and directed to [issue refunds for tolls incurred by ambulances  or
     5  fire  vehicles  engaged  in an emergency operation, or, at the option of
     6  the authority, to] issue emergency services permits  for  use  by  ambu-
     7  lances,  emergency  medical  services  vehicles, and fire vehicles which
     8  shall provide for travel at no charge between interchanges and  barriers
     9  while  such vehicles are engaged in an emergency operation. For purposes
    10  of this section, the term "ambulance" shall have  the  same  meaning  as
    11  such term is defined by section one hundred-b of the vehicle and traffic
    12  law, the term "fire vehicle" shall have the same meaning as such term is
    13  defined by section one hundred fifteen-a of the vehicle and traffic law,
    14  and  the  term "emergency operation" shall have the same meaning as such
    15  term is defined by section one hundred fourteen-b  of  the  vehicle  and
    16  traffic  law.  For  the  purposes  of  this section, the term "emergency
    17  medical services vehicle" shall mean  an  appropriately  equipped  motor
    18  vehicle  owned  or  operated  by an emergency medical services agency as
    19  defined in section three thousand one of the public health law and  used
    20  for  the  purpose of transporting emergency medical personnel and equip-
    21  ment to sick or injured persons. In any rules and regulations promulgat-
    22  ed for the implementation of this section, the authority  may  establish
    23  the  type  of documentation or other proof satisfactory to the authority

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10280-03-3
        S. 6645                             2

     1  that an ambulance or fire vehicle was engaged in an emergency  operation
     2  at the time a toll was incurred.
     3    2. If, upon the completion of an audit conducted by a certified public
     4  accountant selected by the authority, the authority can demonstrate that
     5  the issuance of [refunds or] permits as authorized in subdivision one of
     6  this  section causes a significant loss of revenue to the authority, the
     7  authority is authorized, pursuant to a resolution of the board, to offer
     8  such [refunds or] permits at a discount  of  the  cash  cost  per  mile;
     9  provided,  however,  that, prior to such board resolution, the authority
    10  shall hold at least two public hearings, at a time  and  location  which
    11  will,  to  the  extent  practicable,  maximize  the participation of the
    12  general public.
    13    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.