N.Y. Public Authorities Law § 1279-c: The office of legislative and community input

§ 1279-c. The office of legislative and community input. 1. The

chairperson of the authority shall establish the office of legislative

and community input for the purpose of communicating information to, and

receiving comments, concerns and recommendations from, members of the

legislature, and members of the permanent citizens advisory committee to

the authority, as defined in section twelve hundred sixty-six-i of this

chapter, on the following:

(a) the operations of the rapid transit, omnibus and commuter rail

line facilities of the authority including, but not limited to:

(i) the quality of service provided on any rapid transit, omnibus, and

commuter rail line or route;

(ii) the frequency of operating service on the authority's mass

transit facilities;

(iii) the maintenance and condition of the authority's mass transit

facilities including, but not limited to, rapid transit and commuter

rail stations, railcars, buses, rail lines, fare collection systems and

sound systems; and

(iv) proposed service changes, including any reductions or expansion

of services, as it relates to the authority's mass transit facilities;

and

(b) any proposed, submitted and/or approved capital program plan, its

components, elements and projects, and associated expenditures. Any such

comments, concerns and recommendations relating to the capital program

plan, its components, elements and projects, and associated expenditures

shall be taken into consideration in the development of the current and

each successive capital program plan and/or any amendment to such plan.

2. The office shall establish a process to ensure timely notification

of the receipt of, and response to, comments, concerns, and

recommendations by members of the legislature or members of the

permanent citizens advisory committee to the authority.

3. The chair and office shall prepare a report containing the

following information:

(a) a compilation of the comments, concerns, and recommendations

received by the office;

(b) how these comments, concerns or recommendations were or will be

addressed, such as the authority's response by the incorporation or

initiation of system and operational adjustments, improvements or

expansions if applicable; and

(c) how these comments, concerns or recommendations were or will be

addressed, such as the authority's response by changing or amending the

capital plan, as well as providing status updates on the progress of

such plan.

4. Such report shall on a biannual basis, commencing September first,

two thousand nine, be submitted to the governor, the temporary president

of the senate and the speaker of the assembly, be posted on the

authority's website and also be made readily available to the public.