ASSEMBLY, No. 1615

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 29, 1996

By Assemblyman WISNIEWSKI, Assemblywoman FRISCIA and Assemblyman Dalton

An Act concerning rail transportation for disabled individuals and supplementing chapter 25 of Title 27 of the Revised Statutes.

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

    1. Notwithstanding any law, rule or regulation to the contrary, the governing board of the corporation shall not require a disabled individual, as defined in section 3 of P.L.1983, c.578 (C.27:25-27), who produces and shows to the conductor or person in charge of the train a properly validated reduced fare identification card issued by the corporation, to pay a surcharge for purchasing a ticket on board any train operated by the corporation.

    2. The board may promulgate, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), such rules and regulations as may be necessary to effectuate the purposes of this act.

    3. This act shall take effect on the 30th day after enactment.

STATEMENT

    New Jersey Transit's rail fare program requires all rail passengers to pay a $3 surcharge for purchasing a ticket while aboard a train, instead of purchasing a ticket at a selected train station ticket office or an automated ticket dispensing machine. Since disabled passengers are not always able to make the necessary arrangements for purchasing rail tickets prior to boarding a train, in order to meet their essential appointments (e.g., medical treatment), this bill provides that a qualified disabled individual who presents to the conductor a reduced fare identification card issued by New Jersey Transit, will not be required to pay this surcharge.

Prohibits NJT from requiring disabled individuals to pay a surcharge for purchasing tickets while on board an NJT train.