New York A 4505: Establishes an office of the transit riders advocate to receive and resolve complaints affecting mass transit users of facilities of the metropolitan transportation authority

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A04505 Summary:

BILL NOA04505 

&nbsp

SAME ASSAME AS S03940

&nbsp

SPONSORHyndman

&nbsp

COSPNSR

&nbsp

MLTSPNSR

&nbsp

Add §1279-m, Pub Auth L

&nbsp

Establishes an office of the transit riders advocate to receive and resolve complaints affecting mass transit users of facilities of the metropolitan transportation authority.

Go to top A04505 Actions:

BILL NOA04505 

&nbsp

02/04/2025referred to corporations, authorities and commissions

01/07/2026referred to corporations, authorities and commissions

Go to topA04505 Committee&nbspVotes:

Go to topA04505 Floor&nbspVotes:

There are no Assembly votes for this bill in this legislative session.

Go to topA04505 Text:

 STATE OF NEW YORK
 ________________________________________________________________________

 4505

 2025-2026 Regular Sessions

 IN ASSEMBLY

 February 4, 2025
 ___________

 Introduced by M. of A. HYNDMAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
 tee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

 AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to establishing
 an office of the transit riders advocate for the purpose of receiving
 and resolving complaints affecting mass transit users of the facili-
 ties of the metropolitan transportation authority

 The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
 bly, do enact as follows:

 1 Section 1. The public authorities law is amended by adding a new
 2 section 1279-m to read as follows:
 3 § 1279-m. Office of the transit riders advocate. 1. Definitions. For
 4 the purposes of this section, the term "executive director" shall mean
 5 the individual appointed to serve as the chief executive officer of the
 6 authority pursuant to subdivision four of section twelve hundred sixty-
 7 three of this title.
 8 2. Office established. There is hereby established within the authori-
 9 ty an office of the transit riders advocate for the purpose of receiving
 10 and resolving complaints affecting mass transit users of the facilities
 11 of the authority and, where appropriate, referring complaints to appro-
 12 priate investigatory agencies and acting in concert with such agencies.
 13 3. Director. (a) The executive director shall appoint a full-time
 14 director to administer and supervise the office from a list of candi-
 15 dates submitted by the permanent citizens advisory committee. The direc-
 16 tor shall report directly to the executive director.
 17 (b) The director shall be selected from among individuals with exper-
 18 tise and experience in the field of advocacy, and with other qualifica-
 19 tions determined by the permanent citizens advisory committee to be
 20 appropriate for the position.
 21 (c) The director shall be authorized to employ qualified staff and
 22 other employees as may be required to perform the duties and responsi-
 23 bilities of the office.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD05385-01-5

 A. 4505 2

 1 (d) The director shall:
 2 (i) identify, investigate and resolve complaints that are made by, or
 3 on behalf of, mass transit and paratransit users of the facilities of
 4 the authority and that relate to actions, inactions or decisions that
 5 may adversely affect the health, safety and welfare or rights of such
 6 users; and
 7 (ii) provide information and services to assist mass transit and para-
 8 transit users in protecting their health, safety, welfare and rights,
 9 including but not limited to representing the interests of such users
 10 before governmental agencies and seeking appropriate administrative,
 11 legal and other remedies to protect their welfare, safety, health and
 12 rights.
 13 (e) The board, in consultation with the director, shall establish in
 14 regulations standards for the operation of the office.
 15 4. Review of complaint. (a) Upon receipt of a complaint, the director
 16 shall determine immediately whether there are reasonable grounds for an
 17 investigation. To the maximum extent possible, all complaints shall be
 18 resolved within sixty days of the receipt of the complaint. Such inves-
 19 tigation shall be conducted in a manner prescribed in regulations.
 20 (b) The director shall not disclose the identity of the complainant
 21 that made a complaint to the office of the transit riders adv