Bill > S05778

This bill requires the metropolitan commuter transportation authority (which likely refers to the MTA) to hire a certified independent public accounting firm to conduct a comprehensive forensic audit. The audit must examine the authority's redundancies, inefficiencies, and governance system, and be performed according to generally accepted government auditing standards. The bill includes strict provisions to ensure the independence of the auditing firm, such as prohibiting the firm from providing audit services if its lead partners have worked with the authority in the past ten fiscal years or if any of its executives previously worked for the authority. The accounting firm must submit a detailed report within two years to various state officials, including the governor, state comptroller, and legislative leaders. The report must analyze inefficiencies, suggest ways to reduce redundancies, and propose up to six alternative governance structures for the authority. The authority is then required to adopt and implement one or more of these governance proposals within one year of the report's publication. The bill will take effect immediately and automatically expire two years after its enactment, ensuring it is a time-limited intervention to improve the authority's operations.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2025/S5778