S 7747: Requires local community review and approval prior to the implementation of electric scooter programs and installation of electric scooter infrastructure in cities with a population of one million or more.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 7747 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE May 5, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in relation to requiring local community review and approval prior to the implementation of electric scooter programs and installation of electric scooter infras- tructure in cities with a population of one million or more The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new 2 section 1290 to read as follows: 3 § 1290. Local community review and approval prior to the implementa- 4 tion of electric scooter programs and installation of electric scooter 5 infrastructure in cities with a population of one million or more. 1. 6 For purposes of this section, the following terms shall have the follow- 7 ing meanings: 8 (a) "Electric scooter infrastructure" shall mean, but not be limited 9 to, any physical equipment used for the parking, charging, docking, 10 information dissemination, or operational support of shared electric 11 scooters. Parking shall include the use of a painted corral on a public 12 street or sidewalk. 13 (b) "Electric scooter" shall have the same meaning as such term is 14 defined pursuant to section one hundred fourteen-e of this chapter. 15 (c) "Electric scooter program" shall mean any service operated by a 16 city agency, including but not limited to the department of transporta- 17 tion, or a private organization or entity authorized through contract 18 with a city agency, offering shared electric scooters for short-term 19 public rental. 20 2. In any city having a population of one million or more, no electric 21 scooter program shall be implemented, and no permanent or semi-permanent 22 electric scooter infrastructure shall be installed on any street, side- EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD11811-02-5 
 S. 7747 2 1 walk, or other public space unless the following conditions have been 2 met: 3 (a) the proposed program or site plan has been submitted to the commu- 4 nity board, or similar community-based advisory body with jurisdiction 5 over the proposed implementation area, for review; and 6 (b) a public hearing has been held by such community board or body, 7 and a formal written recommendation has been issued concerning the 8 proposed program or installation. 9 3. The relevant city agency, including but not limited to the depart- 10 ment of transportation, shall give substantial consideration to the 11 recommendation issued pursuant to subdivision two of this section prior 12 to approving or issuing any permit for such program or installation. No 13 electric scooter program or associated electric scooter infrastructure 14 shall be implemented or installed in a district where the community 15 board has issued a disapproval recommendation. 16 4. The requirements of subdivision two of this section shall not apply 17 to emergency installations of electric scooter infrastructure necessary 18 to address immediate public safety or transportation needs, provided 19 timely notice is given to the applicable community board and any such 20 infrastructure is removed within ninety days unless approved pursuant to 21 subdivision two of this section. 22 5. Any permanent or semi-permanent electric scooter infrastructure 23 that was installed within five years prior to the effective date of this 24 section shall be subject to the review and recommendation process 25 described in subdivision two of this section. The relevant city agency 26 shall submit such existing infrastructure for community board review 27 within ninety days of the effective date of this section. Infrastructure 28 not receiving community board approval within ninety days of review 29 shall be subject to removal. 30 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.