SB3027 Summary

• Creates the Intercity Passenger Rail Fund as a special fund in the State treasury for operation of intercity passenger rail services through Amtrak, funded by income tax checkoffs, gifts, grants, and awards.

• Eliminates the requirement beginning June 30, 2015 for Amtrak to certify ticket sales to the State Treasurer and removes the corresponding $50-per-ticket transfer from the General Revenue Fund to the Intercity Passenger Rail Fund.

• Modifies the Downstate Public Transportation Fund to change the annual increase formula from a fixed 10% to a percentage based on actual transfers into the fund, effective fiscal year 2019.

• Establishes a new formula for transfers to the Downstate Transit Improvement Fund beginning fiscal year 2019 based on net resources and available balance changes in the Downstate Public Transportation Fund.

• Changes the Roadside Memorial Fund to be administered by the Department of Veterans' Affairs rather than the Department of Transportation, to be used for cartage and erection of veterans' headstones instead of roadside memorial fees.