Relates to exempting members of the New York state police from tolls associated with entering on or exiting Ward's island.
Summary
S09499 would amend the Public Authorities Law to create a new toll exemption for members of the New York State Police. Under the bill, a personal vehicle used by a state police member would not be charged a toll when entering or exiting Ward’s Island, so long as the travel is for the performance of official duties. The exemption is limited to tolls associated with access to Ward’s Island and applies only to vehicles used by state police members in the course of their work.
The bill also directs the relevant authority to establish the application process for the exemption and to require whatever information it reasonably needs. The measure would take effect 30 days after becoming law, with immediate authorization for any rules or regulations needed to implement it. In practical terms, it would create a narrow statutory exception to existing toll rules for a specific law enforcement group and location.
Impact
This bill would add a new section 1266-o to the Public Authorities Law, creating a targeted toll exemption for New York State Police members traveling to or from Ward’s Island on official duty. It would affect the tolling authority responsible for Ward’s Island access by requiring it to process exemption applications and waive tolls for qualifying state police vehicles. The bill does not broadly alter toll policy statewide, but it would carve out a specific statutory exception for law enforcement use of personal vehicles in official operations.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests strong support for the bill, as the Senate Transportation Committee approved it unanimously by a 13-0 vote. No committee transcript is available, so there is no recorded debate or detailed public discussion in the provided materials. Based on the vote and the narrow scope of the measure, the bill appears to have been viewed as a practical administrative exemption rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
No explicit points of contention are shown in the provided record. Any potential concerns would likely center on whether toll exemptions for state police should be limited to official duties, how the authority verifies eligibility, and whether similar exemptions should be extended to other public safety personnel or government vehicles. However, the unanimous committee vote indicates that no significant opposition was recorded at that stage.
Exempts military members based at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, New York and Fort Wadsworth, Staten Island, New York on active duty who reside in NYC from the payment of E-ZPass tolls associated with the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge.
Authorizes active members of the New York state and local police and fire retirement system to purchase service credit for service with the Long Island Railroad Company police department.
Authorizes the transfer of memberships for certain members of the New York state and local police and fire retirement system who previously held a membership with the New York state and local employees' retirement system back to such retirement system.
Relates to the determination of salary base for members of the New York city police pension fund; provides that the salary base for members of the New York city police pension fund whose employment with the police department of the city of New York commenced on or after July 1, 2000 shall be determined in the same manner as members whose employment commenced prior to such date.
Relates to the determination of salary base for members of the New York city police pension fund; provides that the salary base for members of the New York city police pension fund whose employment with the police department of the city of New York commenced on or after July 1, 2000 shall be determined in the same manner as members whose employment commenced prior to such date.