Vainieri Huttle Bill Aiming at Transparency and Accountability Reforms at PANYNJ Clears Assembly Panel

            (TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle that will provide transparency and accountability reforms at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) cleared the Assembly Transportation and Independent Authorities Committee on Thursday.

            “Over the past several years, we in the legislature repeatedly sought to pass measures which would provide transparency and oversight reforms to the Port Authority, only for them to be conditionally vetoed on two separate occasions by ex-Governor Christie,” said Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen). “Now it is time for us to pass these meaningful reforms which have been desperately needed since the agency’s leaders hastily approved fare hikes in 2011.”

            The bill (A-1708) has several main provisions, including:

• annual financial statements;
• a process for selling property;
• an annual reporting to the legislatures and governors of NJ and NY;
• a needs assessment by an independent entity before any toll increase;
• open public meetings;
• the creation of a whistleblower access and assistance program and;
• defining roles for officers and committees within the Authority.