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

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

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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-Amended.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                         6645--A

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                       May 3, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by Sens. COMRIE, BORRELLO -- read twice and ordered printed,
          and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation --
          recommitted 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

        AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the  issuance
          of permits to exempt ambulances and fire 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 and fire vehicles which shall provide for  travel  at  no  charge
     8  between  interchanges and barriers while such vehicles are engaged in an
     9  emergency operation. For purposes of this section, the term  "ambulance"
    10  shall  have  the  same  meaning  as  such term is defined by section one
    11  hundred-b of the vehicle and traffic law, the term "fire vehicle"  shall
    12  have  the  same  meaning  as such term is defined by section one hundred
    13  fifteen-a of the vehicle and traffic law, and the term "emergency opera-
    14  tion" shall have the same meaning as such term is defined by section one
    15  hundred fourteen-b of the vehicle and traffic  law.  In  any  rules  and
    16  regulations  promulgated  for  the  implementation  of this section, the
    17  authority may establish the type of documentation or other proof  satis-
    18  factory  to  the authority that an ambulance or fire vehicle was engaged
    19  in an emergency operation at the time a toll was incurred.
    20    2. If, upon the completion of an audit conducted by a certified public
    21  accountant selected by the authority, the authority can demonstrate that

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD10280-05-4
        S. 6645--A                          2

     1  the issuance of [refunds or] permits as authorized in subdivision one of
     2  this section causes a significant loss of revenue to the authority,  the
     3  authority is authorized, pursuant to a resolution of the board, to offer
     4  such  [refunds  or]  permits  at  a  discount of the cash cost per mile;
     5  provided, however, that, prior to such board resolution,  the  authority
     6  shall  hold  at  least two public hearings, at a time and location which
     7  will, to the extent  practicable,  maximize  the  participation  of  the
     8  general public.
     9    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.