S 8708: Requires that certain transportation facilities operated by public authorities implement traveler-friendly concession pricing which is no more than the average retail price of such items at similar commercial establishments within a certain radius; authorizes the office of the comptroller to conduct random audits and to enforce such pricing requirements.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 8708  IN SENATE January 7, 2026 ___________ Introduced by Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Transportation AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to requiring certain transportation facilities operated by public authorities to implement traveler-friendly concession pricing policies The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 2 397-c to read as follows: 3 § 397-c. Traveler-friendly concession pricing. 1. For the purposes of 4 this section, the following terms shall have the following meanings: 5 (a) "transportation facility" shall mean any rapid transit, commuter 6 railroad, omnibus, marine, airport and aviation facility or any thruway 7 rest areas, service areas or welcome centers within the state. 8 (b) "traveler-friendly concession pricing" shall mean the pricing of 9 food and beverages at rates no more than the average retail price of 10 such items at similar commercial establishments within a ten-mile radi- 11 us. 12 (c) "similar commercial establishment" shall mean a vendor not located 13 within the transportation facility that is comparable with the vendor 14 located within the transportation facility in terms of concept, 15 location, price rating, and category designation. 16 2. (a) Any transportation facility that is operated by a public 17 authority shall be required to adopt a traveler-friendly concession 18 pricing policy. 19 (b) Such pricing policy shall apply to all food and beverages sold by 20 vendors within the facility to the public. 21 (c) Each public authority operating a transportation facility shall 22 submit an annual compliance report to the office of the comptroller, 23 detailing: 24 (i) average concession prices; 25 (ii) comparable local market prices; and 26 (iii) evidence of compliance by vendors with the street pricing model. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD14222-03-6 
 S. 8708 2 1 (d) The office of the comptroller shall be authorized to conduct 2 random audits and enforce the provisions of this section. 3 § 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after 4 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend- 5 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen- 6 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and 7 completed on or before such effective date.