S2472-2013 Actions

• Jan 17, 2013: REFERRED TO CORPORATIONS, AUTHORITIES AND COMMISSIONS

S2472-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S2472               REVISED 1/29/13

TITLE  OF BILL:  An act to amend chapter 47 of the laws of 1931 relating
to declaring the policy of the states of New  York  and  New  Jersey  in
regard  to  certain vehicular bridges and tunnels within the port of New
York district, in relation to economic impact statements  prior  to  the
increase of tolls for the use of bridges and tunnels

PURPOSE  OR  GENERAL  IDEA  OF  BILL: This legislation requires the Port
Authority to acquire an economic impact statement  prior  to  increasing
bridge and tunnel tolls.

SUMMARY  OF  SPECIFIC  PROVISIONS:  The Port Authority can only increase
their tolls of any project operated by  the  authority  within  30  days
after  the  issuance  of  an  economic  impact statement on the proposed
increase. This statement, conducted by an independent contractor, is  to
show  the effects of the proposed increase in tolls as it relates to the
surrounding communities.

JUSTIFICATION: The Port Authority Officials have acknowledged that there
is an overall  economic  impact  upon  the  entire  metropolitan  region
resulting  from increases in tolls connecting the bridges and tunnels in
New York City and New Jersey. It is important that  before  any  further
toll  increases  are  imposed  at these facilities, by either MTA or the
Port Authority that the people of the State of  New  York,  particularly
those  living in the metropolitan region, are advised of the detrimental
impact that further toll increases would have on the regional economy.

PRIOR   LEGISLATIVE   HISTORY:      2012:   S.6034   -    Referred    to
Corporations/A.0348 - Referred to Corporations
2010:  S.1819-  Referred  to  Transportation/A.7155 - Referred to Corpo-
rations
2009: S.1819- Referred  to  Transportation/A.7155-  Referred  to  Corpo-
rations
2008: S.3031- Referred to Transportation/A.2504- Referred to Corporation
2007: S.3032- Referred to Transportation/A.2504- Referred to Ways & Mean
2006: S.3446- Referred to Transportation/A.6646- Passed Assembly
2005:  S.3446-  Referred  to  Transportation/A.6646-  Referred to Corpo-
rations
2004: S.1547- Referred  to  Transportation/A.341S-  Referred  to  Corpo-
rations
2003: S.1547- Referred to Transportation/A.3415-Referred to Corporations
2002: S.1432- Referred to Transportation/A.4038-Referred to Corporations
2001:  S.1432-  Referred  to  Transportation/A.  4038-Referred to Corpo-
rations
2000: S.2148- Referred to Transportation/A.  4443-  Referred  to  Corpo-
rations
1999:  S.2148-  Referred  to  Transportation/A. 4443- Referred to Corpo-
rations
1998: S.6224- Referred to Transportation/A.  9438-  Referred  to  Corpo-
rations

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE  DATE:  This act shall take effect upon the enactment into law
by the state of New Jersey of legislation having  an  identical  effect;
but  if  the  state of New Jersey shall have already enacted such legis-
lation, then this act shall take effect immediately  and  provided  that
the  state  of  New  Jersey  shall  notify the legislative bill drafting
commission upon the  occurrence  of  the  enactment  of  the  provisions
Provided  for  in  this act in order that the commission may maintain an
accurate and timely effective data base of the official text of the laws
of the state of New York in furtherance of effecting the  provisions  of
section  44  of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public offi-
cers law.

S2472-2013 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                         2472
 2013-2014 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 January 17, 2013
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  LANZA  -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations,  Authorities
 and Commissions
 

AN ACT to amend chapter 47 of the laws of 1931 relating to declaring the
 policy  of  the states of New York and New Jersey in regard to certain
 vehicular bridges and tunnels within the port of New York district, in
 relation to economic impact statements prior to the increase of  tolls
 for the use of bridges and tunnels
 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 11 of chapter  47  of  the
 laws  of 1931 relating to declaring the policy of the states of New York
 and New Jersey in regard to certain vehicular bridges and tunnels within
 the port of New York district, as amended by chapter 807 of the laws  of
 1955, is amended to read as follows:

 The port authority is hereby authorized to make and enforce such rules
 and  regulations and to establish, levy and collect such tolls and other
 charges in connection with any vehicular bridges and  tunnels  which  it
 may now or hereafter be authorized to own, construct, operate or control
 (including  the said Holland tunnel and the said Midtown Hudson tunnel),
 as it may deem necessary, proper or  desirable,  which  said  tolls  and
 charges  shall  be  at  least  sufficient  to  meet  the expenses of the
 construction, operation and maintenance thereof, and to provide for  the
 payment  of,  with interest upon, and the amortization and retirement of
 bonds or other securities or obligations issued or incurred  for  bridge
 or  tunnel  purposes.  There  shall  be  allocated  to  the  cost of the
 construction, operation and maintenance of  such  bridges  and  tunnels,
 such  proportion  of  the  general  expenses of the port authority as it
 shall deemed properly chargeable thereto.    NOTWITHSTANDING  ANY  OTHER
 PROVISION  OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, NO TOLL OR OTHER CHARGE IN CONNECTION
 WITH ANY VEHICULAR BRIDGE OR TUNNEL SHALL BE INCREASED  UNTIL  NOT  LESS
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD00821-01-3
 
       S. 2472                             2
 THAN  THIRTY  DAYS AFTER THE ISSUANCE OF AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT ON
 THE PROPOSED INCREASE. SUCH ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT SHALL BE ISSUED BY
 AN INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR ENGAGED BY THE AUTHORITY BASED ON A  STUDY  OF
 THE  ECONOMIC  IMPACT  OF  SUCH  PROPOSED  INCREASE OF THE TOLL OR OTHER
 CHARGE UPON ALL COMMUNITIES AFFECTED THEREBY.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect upon the enactment  into  law  by  the
 state  of  New  Jersey of legislation having an identical effect; but if
 the state of New Jersey shall have  already  enacted  such  legislation,
 then  this act shall take effect immediately and provided that the state
 of New Jersey shall notify the legislative bill drafting commission upon
 the occurrence of the enactment of the provisions provided for  in  this
 act  in  order  that  the commission may maintain an accurate and timely
 effective data base of the official text of the laws of the state of New
 York in furtherance of effecting the provisions of  section  44  of  the
 legislative law and section 70-b of the public officers law.

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