NY State Senate Bill 2015-S5437

Senate Bill S5437

Vetoed By Governor

2015-2016 Legislative Session

Establishes metropolitan transportation authority disabled riders' council

download bill text pdf

Archive: Last Bill Status Via A5267 - Vetoed by Governor

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Vetoed By Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Nov 20, 2015	tabled vetoed memo.229
Nov 10, 2015	delivered to governor
Jun 16, 2015	returned to assembly passed senate substituted for s5437
Jun 16, 2015	substituted by a5267 ordered to third reading cal.1630 committee discharged and committed to rules
May 14, 2015	referred to transportation

Votes

- Jun 16, 2015 - Floor Vote
  A5267
  
  63
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Floor Vote: Jun 16, 2015
      
      aye (63)
      
      Addabbo Jr.
      
      Amedore
      
      Avella
      
      Bonacic
      
      Boyle
      
      Breslin
      
      Carlucci
      
      Comrie
      
      Croci
      
      DeFrancisco
      
      Diaz
      
      Dilan
      
      Espaillat
      
      Farley
      
      Felder
      
      Flanagan
      
      Funke
      
      Gallivan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Golden
      
      Griffo
      
      Hamilton
      
      Hannon
      
      Hassell-Thompson
      
      Hoylman-Sigal
      
      Kennedy
      
      Klein
      
      Krueger
      
      LaValle
      
      Lanza
      
      Larkin
      
      Latimer
      
      Libous
      
      Little
      
      Marcellino
      
      Marchione
      
      Martins
      
      Montgomery
      
      Murphy
      
      Nozzolio
      
      O'Mara
      
      Ortt
      
      Panepinto
      
      Parker
      
      Peralta
      
      Perkins
      
      Ranzenhofer
      
      Ritchie
      
      Rivera
      
      Robach
      
      Sampson
      
      Sanders Jr.
      
      Savino
      
      Serino
      
      Serrano
      
      Seward
      
      Skelos
      
      Squadron
      
      Stavisky
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Valesky
      
      Venditto
      
      Young
  Jun 16, 2015 - Rules Committee Vote
  S5437
  
  25
  
  Aye
  
  0
  
  Nay
  
  0
  
  Aye with Reservations
  
  0
  
  Absent
  
  0
  
  Excused
  
  0
  
  Abstained
  - - Rules Committee Vote: Jun 16, 2015
      
      aye (25)
      
      Bonacic
      
      Breslin
      
      Carlucci
      
      Dilan
      
      Espaillat
      
      Farley
      
      Flanagan
      
      Gianaris
      
      Hannon
      
      Hassell-Thompson
      
      Krueger
      
      LaValle
      
      Larkin
      
      Libous
      
      Little
      
      Marcellino
      
      Montgomery
      
      Nozzolio
      
      Parker
      
      Perkins
      
      Seward
      
      Skelos
      
      Stewart-Cousins
      
      Valesky
      
      Young

2015-S5437 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A5267
Law Section:: Public Authorities Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §1263, add §1266-k, Pub Auth L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: S1386, A3954
2011-2012: S1238, A745
2013-2014: S1284, A945
2017-2018: S3617, A3599
2019-2020: A2937

2015-S5437 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Establishes the metropolitan transportation authority riders' council for persons with disabilities; provides for membership and powers and duties.

2015-S5437 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                BILL NUMBER:S5437

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public authorities law, in
relation to the board of the metropolitan transportation authority;
and in relation to the establishment of the metropolitan transit
authority riders' council for people with disabilities

PURPOSE:  To establish an advisory council which has a non-voting
member seat on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority which is
comprised by regular transit users, who are also people with
disabilities, in order to ensure better oversight of how the Authority
accommodates riders with disabilities.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:  The bill establishes the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority Riders' Council for People with Disabilities
to study and investigate all aspects of the day-to-day operations of
the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and its subsidiaries,
monitor its performance, and make recommendations to improve its
operation.

The bill requires that the Council shall consist of fifteen members
who are regular transit users and who arc people with disabilities.
One member shall be appointed by the governor on the recommendation of
the mayor of the city of New York; one on the recommendation of the
president of the city council; one on the recommendation of the Now
York state comptroller; one on the recommendation of each of the

borough presidents of the city of New York; one on the recommendation
of each of the county executives of Suffolk, Westchester, Rockland,
Putnam, Dutchess, and Orange. Each of the members shall serve for
two-year terms. The Council shall select a Chair from its membership.
Vacancies shall be filled in the same manner as the original
appointments for the balance of the original member's term.

The bill requires that the members of the Council will receive no
compensation but will be reimbursed for necessary expenses.

The bill requires that the Council shall provide support services to
its members so that they may perform their duties, including but not
limited to transportation, telecommunication, and accessible
technology support. The Chair may hire staff and consultants for any
funds made available to the Council.

The bill allows that the Council may request and shall receive
assistance and data from any political subdivision of the state to
enable it to properly carry out its duties.

The bill creates an additional non-voting member of the Metropolitan
Transportation Authority who shall serve an eighteen-month term and is
recommended to the governor by the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority Riders' Council for People with Disabilities.

The bill provides a definition for "disability" and "disabled."

JUSTIFICATION:  In New York City, only 53 out of 468 MTA passenger
stations are ADA-compliant for people in wheelchairs. Elevator and
escalator maintenance problems are rampant and little is done to alert
riders who depend on these facilities about breakdowns and alternative


routes. The hard of hearing are unable to make sense of train
announcements even though technology exists that could improve this,
platform gaps, a noted problem on the Long Island Railroad, are of a
particular threat to the safety of the visually impaired. The recent
closure of station agent booths and the elimination of many station
agent personnel disproportionately impact those with disabilities.
New York City and its commuter rails are far behind other major cities
in accommodating the needs of riders with disabilities.

One of the most important ways we can begin to address this crisis is
to correct the lack of representation of people on the board of the
MTA itself, In 2006, Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer
published The State of Repairs: Examination of Elevator and Escalator
Maintenance and Repairs in New York City's Subway System. In this
report, he concluded that while the MTA does have the New York City
Transit Riders Council "they are not charged with the specific
responsibly of representing the needs of disabled riders. And while
the MTA has an ADA compliance coordination committee, it is informal
and not comprised of appointed members. A legislatively-mandated body
representing disabled riders is needed to ensure the issues of the
disability community are identified and addressed."

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: New Bill

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect immediately.

2015-S5437 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  5437

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                              May 14, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  GOLDEN -- 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 the board  of
  the  metropolitan  transportation  authority;  and  in relation to the
  establishment of the metropolitan transit  authority  riders'  council
  for people with disabilities

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

  Section 1.  Subparagraphs 1 and 2 of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of
section 1263 of the public authorities law, subparagraph 1 as amended by
section 3 of part H of chapter 25 of the laws of 2009 and subparagraph 2
as amended by chapter 549 of the laws of 1994, are amended  to  read  as
follows:
  (1)  There is hereby created the "metropolitan transportation authori-
ty." The authority shall be a body corporate and politic constituting  a
public  benefit  corporation. The authority shall consist of TWENTY-FOUR
MEMBERS AND SHALL INCLUDE a [chairman] CHAIRPERSON, sixteen other voting
members, and  [two]  THREE  non-voting  and  four  alternate  non-voting
members, as described in subparagraph two of this paragraph appointed by
the  governor  by  and  with  the  advice and consent of the senate. Any
member appointed to a term commencing on or after  June  thirtieth,  two
thousand  nine  shall  have  experience  in one or more of the following
areas:  transportation,  public  administration,  business   management,
finance,  accounting,  law,  engineering,  land  use, urban and regional
planning, management of large capital projects, labor relations, or have
experience in some other area of activity central to the mission of  the
authority.  Four of the sixteen voting members other than the [chairman]
CHAIRPERSON shall be appointed on  the  written  recommendation  of  the
mayor  of  the  city of New York; and each of seven other voting members
other than the [chairman] CHAIRPERSON shall be appointed after selection
from a written list of three recommendations from  the  chief  executive

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06902-02-5

S. 5437                             2

officer  of  the  county  in  which the particular member is required to
reside pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision.  Of  the  members
appointed  on recommendation of the chief executive officer of a county,
one  such member shall be, at the time of appointment, a resident of the
county of Nassau, one a resident of the county of Suffolk, one  a  resi-
dent  of  the  county  of  Westchester,  one a resident of the county of
Dutchess, one a resident of the county of Orange, one a resident of  the
county  of Putnam and one a resident of the county of Rockland, provided
that the term of any member who is a resident of a county that has with-
drawn from the metropolitan commuter transportation district pursuant to
section twelve hundred seventy-nine-b  of  this  [article]  TITLE  shall
terminate  upon the effective date of such county's withdrawal from such
district. Of the five voting members, other than the  [chairman]  CHAIR-
PERSON,  appointed by the governor without recommendation from any other
person, three shall be, at the time of  appointment,  residents  of  the
city of New York and two shall be, at the time of appointment, residents
of  such  city or of any of the aforementioned counties in the metropol-
itan commuter transportation district. The  [chairman]  CHAIRPERSON  and
each of the members shall be appointed for a term of six years, provided
however, that the [chairman] CHAIRPERSON first appointed shall serve for
a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-one, provided that
thirty days after the effective date of [the] chapter TWENTY-FIVE of the
laws of two thousand nine [which amended this subparagraph], the term of
the  [chairman]  CHAIRPERSON  shall expire; provided, further, that such
[chairman] CHAIRPERSON may continue to discharge the duties  of  his  or
her  office  until  the  position of [chairman] CHAIRPERSON is filled by
appointment by the governor upon the advice and consent  of  the  senate
and  the  term  of  such new [chairman] CHAIRPERSON shall terminate June
thirtieth,  two  thousand  fifteen.  The  sixteen  other  members  first
appointed  shall  serve  for  the  following terms: The members from the
counties of Nassau and Westchester shall each serve for  a  term  ending
June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five; the members from the coun-
ty  of  Suffolk  and  from  the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and
Rockland shall each serve for a term  ending  June  thirtieth,  nineteen
hundred  ninety-two;  two  of the members appointed on recommendation of
the mayor of the city of New York shall each serve  for  a  term  ending
June  thirtieth,  nineteen hundred eighty-four and, two shall each serve
for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred  eighty-one;  two  of
the  members appointed by the governor without the recommendation of any
other person shall each serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen
hundred eighty-two, two shall each serve for a term ending June  thirti-
eth,  nineteen hundred eighty and one shall serve for a term ending June
thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-five. The  two  non-voting  and  four
alternate  non-voting members shall serve until January first, two thou-
sand one. The members from the counties of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam  and
Rockland shall cast one collective vote.
  (2)  There  shall be [two] THREE non-voting members and four alternate
non-voting members of the authority, as referred to in subparagraph  one
of this paragraph.
  The  first non-voting member shall be a regular [mass transit] user of
the MASS TRANSIT facilities of the authority and be recommended  to  the
governor  by  the  New York city transit authority advisory council. The
first alternate non-voting member shall be a regular mass  transit  user
of the facilities of the authority and be recommended to the governor by
the Metro-North commuter council. The second alternate non-voting member
shall  be a regular mass transit user of the facilities of the authority

S. 5437                             3

and be recommended  to  the  governor  by  the  Long  Island  Rail  Road
commuter's council.
  The  second  non-voting member shall be recommended to the governor by
the labor organization representing the majority  of  employees  of  the
Long  Island  Rail  Road. The third alternate non-voting member shall be
recommended to the governor by the labor organization  representing  the
majority of employees of the New York city transit authority. The fourth
alternate  non-voting member shall be recommended to the governor by the
labor organization representing the majority of employees of the  Metro-
North  Commuter  Railroad  Company.  The  [chairman]  CHAIRPERSON of the
authority, at his direction,  may  exclude  such  non-voting  member  or
alternate  non-voting  member from attending any portion of a meeting of
the authority or of any committee established pursuant to paragraph  (b)
of  subdivision  four of this section held for the purpose of discussing
negotiations with labor organizations.
  The non-voting member and the two alternate non-voting members repres-
enting the New York [York] city transit authority advisory council,  the
Metro-North  commuter  council, and the Long Island Rail Road commuter's
council shall serve eighteen month rotating terms, after which  time  an
alternate  non-voting  member shall become the non-voting member and the
rotation shall continue until each alternate member has served at  least
one  eighteen  month  term  as a non-voting member. The other non-voting
member and alternate non-voting members representing the New  York  city
transit  authority,  Metro-North Commuter Railroad Company, and the Long
Island Rail Road labor organizations shall serve eighteen month rotating
terms, after which time an alternate non-voting member shall become  the
non-voting  member  and the rotation shall continue until each alternate
member has served at least one  eighteen  month  term  as  a  non-voting
member.  The  transit  authority and the commuter railroads shall not be
represented concurrently by the two non-voting members during  any  such
eighteen month period.
  THE THIRD NON-VOTING MEMBER SHALL BE A REGULAR USER OF THE MASS TRANS-
IT FACILITIES OF THE AUTHORITY AND BE RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNOR BY THE
METROPOLITAN  TRANSPORTATION  AUTHORITY  RIDERS' COUNCIL FOR PEOPLE WITH
DISABILITIES AND SHALL SERVE AN EIGHTEEN MONTH TERM.
  S 2. Paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of  section  1263  of  the  public
authorities  law, as amended by section 4 of part H of chapter 25 of the
laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
  (a) (1) There  is  hereby  created  the  "metropolitan  transportation
authority."  The authority shall be a body corporate and politic consti-
tuting a public benefit corporation. The authority shall  consist  of  a
[chairman  and]  CHAIRPERSON,  sixteen other VOTING members appointed by
the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate, AND THREE
NON-VOTING AND  FOUR  ALTERNATE  NON-VOTING  MEMBERS,  AS  DESCRIBED  IN
SUBPARAGRAPH TWO OF THIS PARAGRAPH APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR BY AND WITH
THE  ADVICE  AND  CONSENT OF THE SENATE.  Any member appointed to a term
commencing on or after June thirtieth,  two  thousand  nine  shall  have
experience  in  one or more of the following areas of expertise:  trans-
portation, public administration, business management, finance, account-
ing, law, engineering, land use, urban and regional planning, management
of large capital projects, labor relations, or have experience  in  some
other  area of activity central to the mission of the authority. Four of
the sixteen members other  than  the  [chairman]  CHAIRPERSON  shall  be
appointed  on the written recommendation of the mayor of the city of New
York; and each of seven other members other than the  [chairman]  CHAIR-
PERSON  shall  be appointed after selection from a written list of three

S. 5437                             4

recommendations from the chief executive officer of the county in  which
the  particular  member is required to reside pursuant to the provisions
of this subdivision. Of the members appointed on recommendation  of  the
chief  executive  officer  of a county, one such member shall be, at the
time of appointment, a resident of the county of Nassau; one a  resident
of  the  county of Suffolk; one a resident of the county of Westchester;
and one a resident of the county of Dutchess,  one  a  resident  of  the
county of Orange, one a resident of the county of Putnam and one a resi-
dent of the county of Rockland, provided that the term of any member who
is  a  resident  of  a  county  that has withdrawn from the metropolitan
commuter transportation district  pursuant  to  section  twelve  hundred
seventy-nine-b  of  this [article] TITLE shall terminate upon the effec-
tive date of such county's withdrawal from such district.  Of  the  five
members,  other than the [chairman] CHAIRPERSON, appointed by the gover-
nor without recommendation from any other person, three shall be, at the
time of appointment, residents of the city of New York and two shall be,
at the time of appointment, residents of such city  or  of  any  of  the
aforementioned  counties  in  the  metropolitan  commuter transportation
district. The [chairman] CHAIRPERSON and each of the  members  shall  be
appointed for a term of six years, provided however, that the [chairman]
CHAIRPERSON  first  appointed shall serve for a term ending June thirti-
eth, nineteen hundred eighty-one, provided that thirty  days  after  the
effective  date of [the] chapter TWENTY-FIVE of the laws of two thousand
nine [which amended this paragraph], the term of the  [chairman]  CHAIR-
PERSON shall expire; provided, further, that such [chairman] CHAIRPERSON
may continue to discharge the duties of his office until the position of
[chairman] CHAIRPERSON is filled by appointment by the governor upon the
advice  and  consent  of  the senate and the term of such new [chairman]
CHAIRPERSON shall terminate June thirtieth, two  thousand  fifteen.  The
sixteen  other  members  first  appointed  shall serve for the following
terms: The members from the counties of  Nassau  and  Westchester  shall
each  serve  for  a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-
five; the members from the county of Suffolk and from  the  counties  of
Dutchess, Orange, Putnam and Rockland shall each serve for a term ending
June   thirtieth,  nineteen  hundred  ninety-two;  two  of  the  members
appointed on recommendation of the mayor of the city of New  York  shall
each  serve  for  a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-
four and, two shall each serve for a term ending June  thirtieth,  nine-
teen  hundred  eighty-one;  two of the members appointed by the governor
without the recommendation of any other person shall each  serve  for  a
term  ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-two, two shall each
serve for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty and  one
shall  serve  for a term ending June thirtieth, nineteen hundred eighty-
five. The members from the counties  of  Dutchess,  Orange,  Putnam  and
Rockland shall cast one collective vote.
  (2)  THERE  SHALL  BE  THREE  NON-VOTING  MEMBERS  AND  FOUR ALTERNATE
NON-VOTING MEMBERS OF THE AUTHORITY, AS REFERRED TO IN SUBPARAGRAPH  ONE
OF THIS PARAGRAPH.
  THE FIRST NON-VOTING MEMBER SHALL BE A REGULAR USER OF THE MASS TRANS-
IT FACILITIES OF THE AUTHORITY AND BE RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNOR BY THE
NEW  YORK  CITY  TRANSIT AUTHORITY ADVISORY COUNCIL. THE FIRST ALTERNATE
NON-VOTING MEMBER SHALL BE A REGULAR MASS TRANSIT USER OF THE FACILITIES
OF THE AUTHORITY AND BE RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNOR BY  THE  METRO-NORTH
COMMUTER  COUNCIL.  THE  SECOND  ALTERNATE  NON-VOTING MEMBER SHALL BE A
REGULAR MASS TRANSIT USER OF THE FACILITIES  OF  THE  AUTHORITY  AND  BE

S. 5437                             5

RECOMMENDED  TO  THE  GOVERNOR  BY  THE LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD COMMUTER'S
COUNCIL.
  THE  SECOND  NON-VOTING MEMBER SHALL BE RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNOR BY
THE LABOR ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE MAJORITY  OF  EMPLOYEES  OF  THE
LONG  ISLAND  RAIL  ROAD. THE THIRD ALTERNATE NON-VOTING MEMBER SHALL BE
RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNOR BY THE LABOR ORGANIZATION  REPRESENTING  THE
MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES OF THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY. THE FOURTH
ALTERNATE  NON-VOTING MEMBER SHALL BE RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNOR BY THE
LABOR ORGANIZATION REPRESENTING THE MAJORITY OF EMPLOYEES OF THE  METRO-
NORTH  COMMUTER  RAILROAD  COMPANY. THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AUTHORITY, AT
HIS DIRECTION, MAY EXCLUDE SUCH NON-VOTING MEMBER OR ALTERNATE  NON-VOT-
ING  MEMBER  FROM ATTENDING ANY PORTION OF A MEETING OF THE AUTHORITY OR
OF ANY COMMITTEE ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO PARAGRAPH  (B)  OF  SUBDIVISION
FOUR  OF  THIS  SECTION  HELD FOR THE PURPOSE OF DISCUSSING NEGOTIATIONS
WITH LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.
  THE NON-VOTING MEMBER AND THE TWO ALTERNATE NON-VOTING MEMBERS REPRES-
ENTING THE NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT AUTHORITY ADVISORY COUNCIL, THE  METRO-
NORTH COMMUTER COUNCIL, AND THE LONG ISLAND RAIL ROAD COMMUTER'S COUNCIL
SHALL SERVE EIGHTEEN MONTH ROTATING TERMS, AFTER WHICH TIME AN ALTERNATE
NON-VOTING  MEMBER  SHALL  BECOME THE NON-VOTING MEMBER AND THE ROTATION
SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL EACH ALTERNATE MEMBER HAS SERVED AT LEAST ONE EIGH-
TEEN MONTH TERM AS A NON-VOTING MEMBER. THE OTHER NON-VOTING MEMBER  AND
ALTERNATE  NON-VOTING  MEMBERS  REPRESENTING  THE  NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT
AUTHORITY, METRO-NORTH COMMUTER RAILROAD COMPANY, AND  THE  LONG  ISLAND
RAIL ROAD LABOR ORGANIZATIONS SHALL SERVE EIGHTEEN MONTH ROTATING TERMS,
AFTER  WHICH  TIME  AN  ALTERNATE  NON-VOTING  MEMBER  SHALL  BECOME THE
NON-VOTING MEMBER AND THE ROTATION SHALL CONTINUE UNTIL  EACH  ALTERNATE
MEMBER  HAS  SERVED  AT  LEAST  ONE  EIGHTEEN MONTH TERM AS A NON-VOTING
MEMBER. THE TRANSIT AUTHORITY AND THE COMMUTER RAILROADS  SHALL  NOT  BE
REPRESENTED  CONCURRENTLY  BY THE TWO NON-VOTING MEMBERS DURING ANY SUCH
EIGHTEEN MONTH PERIOD.
  THE THIRD NON-VOTING MEMBER SHALL BE A REGULAR USER OF THE MASS TRANS-
IT FACILITIES OF THE AUTHORITY AND BE RECOMMENDED TO THE GOVERNOR BY THE
METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY RIDERS' COUNCIL  FOR  PEOPLE  WITH
DISABILITIES AND SHALL SERVE AN EIGHTEEN MONTH TERM.
  S  3.  The  public  authorities law is amended by adding a new section
1266-k to read as follows:
  S 1266-K. METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY  RIDERS'  COUNCIL  FOR
PERSONS  WITH DISABILITIES. 1. THERE IS HEREBY CREATED THE "METROPOLITAN
TRANSIT AUTHORITY RIDERS' COUNCIL  FOR  PEOPLE  WITH  DISABILITIES",  TO
STUDY,  INVESTIGATE,  MONITOR,  AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS WITH RESPECT TO
THE ACCOMMODATION OF THE NEEDS AND CONVENIENCE OF PEOPLE WITH  DISABILI-
TIES  TO  THE METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES
WITHIN THE METROPOLITAN COMMUTER TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT.  SUCH  COUNCIL
SHALL  STUDY AND INVESTIGATE ALL ASPECTS OF THE DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS OF
SUCH AUTHORITY AND ITS  SUBSIDIARIES,  MONITOR  THEIR  PERFORMANCE,  AND
RECOMMEND CHANGES TO IMPROVE THE EFFICIENCY OF THE OPERATION THEREOF ALL
WITH RESPECT TO THE ACCOMMODATION OF THE NEEDS AND CONVENIENCE OF PEOPLE
WITH DISABILITIES.
  2.  SUCH  COUNCIL SHALL CONSIST OF FIFTEEN MEMBERS WHO SHALL BE COMMU-
TERS WHO REGULARLY USE THE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES OF  SUCH  AUTHORITIES
AND  WHO ARE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AS DEFINED IN ANY APPLICABLE STATE
OR FEDERAL LAW.  EACH MEMBER SHALL BE APPOINTED  BY  THE  GOVERNOR,  ONE
UPON  THE  RECOMMENDATION OF THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; ONE UPON
THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE  CITY  OF
NEW YORK; ONE UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE NEW YORK STATE COMPTROLLER;

S. 5437                             6

FIVE OTHER MEMBERS UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF EACH OF THE BOROUGH PRESI-
DENTS  OF THE BOROUGHS OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK; ONE UPON THE RECOMMENDA-
TION BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF NASSAU; ONE UPON THE  RECOMMENDATION  BY
THE  COUNTY  EXECUTIVE  OF  SUFFOLK;  ONE UPON THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE
COUNTY EXECUTIVE OF WESTCHESTER; ONE  UPON  THE  RECOMMENDATION  BY  THE
COUNTY  EXECUTIVE OF ROCKLAND; ONE UPON THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE COUNTY
EXECUTIVE OF PUTNAM; ONE UPON THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE
OF DUTCHESS; AND ONE UPON THE RECOMMENDATION BY THE COUNTY EXECUTIVE  OF
ORANGE.  THE  CHAIR  SHALL BE A MEMBER SELECTED BY THE MEMBERSHIP OF THE
COMMITTEE.  EACH OF THE MEMBERS SHALL SERVE FOR A  TERM  OF  TWO  YEARS.
VACANCIES THAT OCCUR OTHER THAN BY EXPIRATION OF TERM SHALL BE FILLED IN
THE  SAME  MANNER  AS  THE  ORIGINAL APPOINTMENTS FOR THE BALANCE OF THE
UNEXPIRED TERM.
  3. THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION FOR  THEIR
SERVICES  BUT  SHALL  BE  REIMBURSED  FOR  ACTUAL AND NECESSARY EXPENSES
INCURRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES.
  4. TO THE EXTENT THAT ANY FUNDS ARE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL  FOR
THE  PURPOSES  OF THIS SUBDIVISION, THE COUNCIL MAY PROVIDE RESOURCES AS
ARE NECESSARY TO PROVIDE SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE COUNCIL AS NECESSARY OR
CONVENIENT TO ALLOW MEMBERS TO PERFORM THEIR DUTIES INCLUDING,  BUT  NOT
LIMITED TO, TRANSPORTATION, TELECOMMUNICATIONS AND ACCESSIBLE TECHNOLOGY
SUPPORT, AND MAY EMPLOY ADDITIONAL STAFF AND CONSULTANTS AND INCUR OTHER
EXPENSES  TO  CARRY OUT ITS DUTIES, TO BE PAID FROM AMOUNTS WHICH MAY BE
MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL FOR SUCH PURPOSE.
  5. THE COUNCIL MAY REQUEST AND  SHALL  RECEIVE  FROM  ANY  DEPARTMENT,
DIVISION,  BOARD,  BUREAU,  COMMISSION,  AGENCY, PUBLIC AUTHORITY OF THE
STATE OR ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THEREOF SUCH ASSISTANCE AND  DATA  AS
WILL  ENABLE  IT PROPERLY TO CARRY OUT ITS ACTIVITIES UNDER THIS SECTION
AND EFFECTUATE THE PURPOSES SET FORTH IN THIS SECTION.
  S 4. This act shall take effect immediately; provided that the  amend-
ment  to  subparagraphs  1  and  2  of paragraph (a) of subdivision 1 of
section 1263 of the public authorities law made by section one  of  this
act  shall  be subject to the expiration and reversion of such paragraph
pursuant to chapter 549 of the laws of 1994 as amended, when  upon  such
date the provisions of section two of this act shall take effect.

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