BILL NUMBER:S6845

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the public authorities law, in
relation to enacting the "MTA board member attendance act"

PURPOSE:

Establishes a law to require MTA board members to attend at least half
of the public hearings on fare increases before voting on the increase
in order to encourage genuine public input into MTA decision making
and to ensure that MTA board members give due consideration to the
views of the riding public before raising fares.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Short title.

Section 2. Amends subdivision 3 of section 1263 of the public
authorities law to require that MTA board members be present for a
majority of public hearings on any fare increase in order to be able
to vote on such a proposal.

Section 3. Effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:

              

It is not enough for the MTA to hold hearings on a proposed fare hike.
MTA board members have to actually attend the hearings. Unfortunately,
the recent MTA fare hike hearings have been poorly attended by the MTA
board members. Fares for public transportation, which include subways,
buses, bridges and tunnels, are a monetary burden on New Yorkers. To
make a fair and educated decision on a proposed fare increase, the MTA
board members should hear first from the public. If the board members
do not care enough to attend fare hearings, they should not be allowed
to vote on the fare increase.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2013-14: A02346 (Rozic) - Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2011-12: A00204 (Lancman)- Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2009-10: A01243 (Lancman) - Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
2007-08: A09552 (Lancman) - Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This act shall take effect immediately.