Requires the Triborough bridge and tunnel authority to reimburse certain individuals from transit deserts when they travel into the central business district who need medical treatment or are providing religious services; provides that such reimbursement shall be one hundred percent of all associated fees.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A3856
SPONSOR: Williams TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing
reimbursement for certain individuals residing in transit deserts
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would require the Tri borough bridge and tunnel authority to
implement a reimbursement program for all central business district
tolls for cars entering such district from a transit desert for medical
treatment and for religious services.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one 8-a. defines a "transit desert" as an area located in a city
with a population of a million or more that lacks a subway system and is
heavily car dependent.-Section one 8-b. defines "medical treatment" to
include but not be limited to anesthesiology, bariatrics and nutrition,
cancer treatment among several others.-Section one 8-c. defines "reli-
gious leader".-Section one 8-d. defines "religious services".Section two
amends Section 1704-a of the vehicle and traffic law to provide that the
Tri borough bridge and tunnel authority Implement a reimbursement
program for one hundred percent of all central business district tolls,
fees and other charges for cars entering such district from a transit
desert for the purpose of medical treatment and those entering to
provide religious services.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSION (IF APPLICABLE):
amended to include religious services.
JUSTIFICATION:
residents residing in a transit desert are heavily dependent on the use
of private vehicles to travel for medical treatment and should be reim-
bursed 100 percent by the Tri borough bridge and tunnel authority for
such travel.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.8413 of 2023/2024
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
N/A
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have
become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3856
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 30, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. WILLIAMS -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to providing
reimbursement for certain individuals residing in transit deserts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 1703 of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
2 adding four new subdivisions 8-a, 8-b, 8-c and 8-d to read as follows:
3 8-a. "Transit desert" shall mean an area located in a city with a
4 population of a million or more that lacks a subway system and is heavi-
5 ly car dependent. Such area shall include, but not be limited to the
6 following zip codes, some part of, 10301, 10304, 10306, 10307, 10308,
7 10309, 10310, 10312, 11234, 11229, 11236, 11357, 11358, 11360, 11361,
8 11379, 11411, 11412, 11413, 11422, 11423, 11427, 11428, 11432, 11433,
9 11434, 11581, 11691, 11692, 11693, 11694, 11695 and 11697.
10 8-b. "Medical treatment" shall include, but not be limited to, the
11 following services, anesthesiology, bariatrics and nutrition, cancer
12 treatment, pediatric care, dentistry, emergency care, endocrinology, eye
13 care, immunology and rheumatology, mental health, nephrology, neurology,
14 obstetrics & gynecology, occupational medicine, orthopedic care, otolar-
15 yngology, palliative care, pathology, plastic and reconstructive
16 surgery, primary care, pulmonary and critical care medicine, radiology,
17 rehabilitation, surgery, urgent care, and urology.
18 8-c. "Religious leader" shall include any member of the clergy or
19 laity who is engaged in the work assigned by the church or the denomi-
20 nation of which such individual is a member.
21 8-d. "Religious services" shall include rites and/or rituals performed
22 by a religious leader.
23 § 2. Section 1704-a of the vehicle and traffic law is amended by
24 adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07384-01-5
A. 3856 2
1 5. (a) The Triborough bridge and tunnel authority shall implement a
2 reimbursement program for one hundred percent of all central business
3 district tolls, fees and other charges assessed for certain cars enter-
4 ing such district from a transit desert, as defined in subdivision
5 eight-a of section seventeen hundred three of this article. Such cars
6 shall include those entering to seek medical treatment, as defined in
7 subdivision eight-b of section seventeen hundred three of this article,
8 and those entering to provide religious services as defined in subdivi-
9 sion eight-d of section seventeen hundred three of this article. To
10 qualify for such reimbursement, individuals shall be required to provide
11 both proof of residency and documentation from either their medical
12 treatment provider or by the church or the denomination of which such
13 individual is a member.
14 (b) Such reimbursement shall occur monthly by the Triborough bridge
15 and tunnel authority after receipt of the documentation required under
16 paragraph (a) of this subdivision.
17 (c) The Triborough bridge and tunnel authority shall create a standard
18 form to provide to medical treatment providers and churches or other
19 denominations necessary to effectuate such reimbursement program.
20 § 3. This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
21 have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or
22 repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of
23 this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed
24 on or before such effective date.
