Bill Text: NY A06455 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Prohibits the operation of NYC transit authority subways or trains without at least one conductor on board; requires a conductor on any subway or train operated by such authority whenever the subway or train has more than two cars attached to the engine.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 36-0)

Status: (Engrossed) 2024-06-07 - REFERRED TO RULES [A06455 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A06455-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          6455

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                     April 11, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M.  of A. CHANDLER-WATERMAN -- read once and referred to
          the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions

        AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring the
          New York city transit authority to have  at  least  one  conductor  on
          board

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

     1    Section 1.  The legislature finds and declares that, the New York city
     2  transit authority, through its operation of the  New  York  city  subway
     3  system,  the  largest  public  transit system in the world, provides the
     4  primary means of commuting for many millions of New York  residents  and
     5  visitors every day of the week. With an estimated average of over 10,000
     6  passengers  loaded  onto  each  train during rush hours, the presence of
     7  trained New York city transit authority personnel, other than the  engi-
     8  neer, on each train is necessary and should always be required to ensure
     9  improved safety for passengers during emergencies, which may occur while
    10  in subway tunnels or traveling over bridges.
    11    The  legislature  further finds and declares that the tragic events of
    12  September 11, 2001, which launched the war of  terror  against  America,
    13  has  tremendously heightened the need to significantly increase security
    14  and safety for commuters on New  York  city  subway  trains.  Also,  the
    15  recent  conviction  of Zarein Ahmedzay, who was caught buying explosives
    16  and admitted to having planned an attack on the  New  York  city  subway
    17  system  makes it imperative that we recognize the role of conductors and
    18  other authority personnel assigned on passenger trains as first  respon-
    19  ders,  and  the  front  line defense to potentially save lives and limit
    20  casualties in the event of a terrorist attack.
    21    § 2. The public authorities law is amended by  adding  a  new  section
    22  1205-b to read as follows:
    23    §  1205-b.  Conductor  required.  Any  subway or train operated by the
    24  authority for the purpose of transporting passengers shall have at least

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07772-01-3
        A. 6455                             2

     1  one conductor on board. For the  purposes  of  this  section,  the  term
     2  "conductor"  shall  mean  the  person other than the driver, engineer or
     3  motorman primarily charged with all aspects  of  the  operation  of  the
     4  railroad  locomotive, subway or train, who shall assist in the operation
     5  of the train and be primarily responsible for the opening and closing of
     6  the doors and other safety aspects of the train.  A conductor  shall  be
     7  required  on  any subway or train operated by the authority whenever the
     8  subway or train has more than two cars attached to the engine thereof.
     9    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.