BILL NUMBER:S3630

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation
to the New York city paratransit transportation program

PURPOSE:  Requires cameras at all offices operating the paratransit
transportation program in NYC.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the public authorities law by adding a new section
1269-h.

Section two states that this act shall take effect on the one hundred
twentieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately,
the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation neces-
sary for the implementation of this act on its effective date is author-
ized to be made on or before such date.

JUSTIFICATION:  The American with Disabilities Act ("ADA") requires that
all public transportation agencies in the United States provide para-
transit services to people with physical or mental disabilities, who
cannot use Public bus or train,service. MTA New York City Transit
provides paratransit service to New Yorkers with disabilities through
the Access-a-Ride program. Access-a-Ride serves approximately 150,000
registrants and makes about 27.000 trips per week. In order to determine
              

eligibility for Access-a-Ride, MTA New York City Transit requires appli-
cants to have a face-to-face interview at an Access-a-Ride approved
assessment center. Access-a-Ride applicants are required to bring a
passport sized photograph with their completed application, when attend-
ing an evaluation. If an applicant does not bring a photograph to the
evaluation center, the application will not be accepted. Many Access-a-
Ride applicants suffer from physical or mental disabilities that make
traveling to multiple locations in one day very difficult. Some New York
State agencies, including the Department of Motor Vehicles, have the
capability to photograph applicants at their locations. It would be very
convenient for seniors and persons with disabilities to simply be able
to fill out an application at home and travel directly to an Access-a-
Ride evaluation center, without having to further travel to have their
photograph taken. This bill will require whichever agency is designated
to operate paratransit offices to install and operate photo cameras in
each office as a service for their clientele, including seniors and
persons with disabilities, who may otherwise face a substantial burden
by having to travel to one location to obtain the required photograph
and to another to submit the completed application.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2012: S.6325 - Referred to Transportation/ A.8955
- Referred to Transportation

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Negligible.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth
day after it shall have become a low. Effective immediately, the addi-
tion, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for
the implementation of this act on its effective date is authorized to be
made on or before such date.