N.Y. Transportation Law § 216: State public transportation safety board

§ 216. State public transportation safety board. 1. There is hereby

created in the department a board, to be known as the state public

transportation safety board. Such board shall be responsible for the

investigation of accidents involving public transportation in the state,

including commuter rail, subways, rapid transit and buses. The board

shall also be responsible for the presentation of recommendations to all

public transportation operators and carriers to prevent the occurrence

of future accidents. Such board shall consist of the commissioner and

six other members, no more than three of whom shall belong to the same

political party. Two of the members of the board shall be selected by

the governor from a list submitted by the temporary president of the

senate and two from a list submitted by the speaker of the assembly. The

remaining two members shall be selected by the governor. One from each

category of selected members shall have competence and experience in

connection with the operation, design or management of public

transportation facilities and systems. Three of the members, other than

the commissioner, shall be from the metropolitan transportation

authority region and three members shall be from areas of the state

outside such region. All appointees to the board other than the

commissioner shall be upon the advice and consent of the senate. The

metropolitan transportation authority inspector general shall be an ex

officio member of the board but shall have no vote on matters arising

outside of the operations of the metropolitan transportation authority.

Provided, however, that with the exception of the commissioner, no

elected or appointed public officer or transportation authority member

shall be eligible for membership on such board. The governor shall

select a chairman from the members but the chairman shall be someone

other than the metropolitan transportation authority inspector general.

2. The board may be called to investigate any accident by the governor

or chairman. Alternatively, any board member may call for an

investigation with majority board concurrence.

3. Except for the commissioner and the metropolitan transportation

authority inspector general, the term of office of each such member

shall be six years, except that the members first selected shall serve

for terms of six years, five years, four years, three years, two years

and one year, respectively. Any member appointed to fill a vacancy

occurring otherwise than by expiration of a term shall be appointed for

the remainder of the unexpired term.

4. Members of the board, except the commissioner and the metropolitan

transportation authority inspector general, shall receive one hundred

fifty dollars per diem, not to exceed ten thousand dollars per annum

compensation for their services as members of the board, and each of

them shall be allowed the necessary and actual expenses which he shall

incur in the performance of his duties under this article.