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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________

                                         1568

                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y

                                      (PREFILED)

                                    January 7, 2009
                                      ___________

       Introduced  by M. of A. BRODSKY, CANESTRARI, DESTITO, FIELDS, O'DONNELL,
         BENJAMIN, MAISEL, PRETLOW, GALEF, CLARK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
         A. BRENNAN, CAHILL, CAMARA, COOK,  DIAZ,  EDDINGTON,  FARRELL,  GLICK,
         GOTTFRIED, GREENE, HOOPER, HOYT, JACOBS, KOON, LIFTON, LUPARDO, McENE-
         NY,  MILLMAN,  PAULIN,  PEOPLES, PHEFFER, REILLY, P. RIVERA, ROBINSON,
         ROSENTHAL, TITUS, WEISENBERG -- read once and referred to the  Commit-
         tee on Judiciary

       AN  ACT  to  amend the public authorities law, the not-for-profit corpo-
         ration law, the general municipal law and the eminent domain procedure
         law, in relation to eminent domain reform

         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

    1    Section  1.  Short  title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
    2  the "eminent domain reform act".
    3    S 2. The public authorities law is amended by  adding  a  new  section
    4  1831-b to read as follows:
    5    S  1831-B. EXERCISE OF POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN; LIMITATIONS. THE LOCAL
    6  LEGISLATIVE BODY OF EACH CITY, TOWN, OR VILLAGE IN WHICH  THE  AUTHORITY
    7  SEEKS  TO  EXERCISE THE POWER OF EMINENT DOMAIN SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY
    8  TO APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE ANY EXERCISE OF SUCH POWER  BY  THE  AUTHORITY.
    9  EVERY  SUCH LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY SHALL APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE ANY EXER-
   10  CISE OF SUCH POWER BY MAJORITY VOTE. WHERE APPLICABLE IN  THE  ENACTMENT
   11  OF  LOCAL  LAWS,  THE  CHIEF  EXECUTIVE  OFFICER OF SUCH LOCALITY IF THE
   12  OFFICE OF SUCH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER  IS  ELECTIVE  SHALL  APPROVE  OR
   13  DISAPPROVE SUCH LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY'S DECISION, SUBJECT TO ANY APPLI-
   14  CABLE RIGHT TO OVERRIDE.
   15    S  3.  Paragraph (i) of section 1411 of the not-for-profit corporation
   16  law is relettered paragraph (j) and a new paragraph (i) is added to read
   17  as follows:

        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD04815-01-9

       A. 1568                             2

    1    (I) MUNICIPAL INPUT.  THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY OF EACH  CITY,  TOWN,
    2  OR  VILLAGE  IN  WHICH  ANY  PART OF THE REAL PROPERTY TO BE ACQUIRED IS
    3  LOCATED SHALL HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO APPROVE  OR  DISAPPROVE  ANY  CORPO-
    4  RATION'S  USE  OF EMINENT DOMAIN. EACH SUCH LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY SHALL
    5  APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE ANY PROPOSED CORPORATE USE OF THE POWER OF EMINENT
    6  DOMAIN  BY  MAJORITY  VOTE.  WHERE  APPLICABLE IN THE ENACTMENT OF LOCAL
    7  LAWS, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SUCH LOCALITY IF THE OFFICE OF SUCH
    8  CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER IS ELECTIVE SHALL  APPROVE  OR  DISAPPROVE  SUCH
    9  GOVERNING BODY'S DECISION, SUBJECT TO ANY APPLICABLE RIGHT TO OVERRIDE.
   10    S  4.  The  general  municipal  law is amended by adding a new section
   11  858-c to read as follows:
   12    S 858-C. MUNICIPAL INPUT. THE GOVERNING BODY OF EACH  CITY,  TOWN,  OR
   13  VILLAGE FOR WHOSE BENEFIT, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, AN AGENCY IS ESTABLISHED
   14  SHALL  HAVE  THE  AUTHORITY  TO  APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE ANY AGENCY USE OF
   15  EMINENT DOMAIN. EACH SUCH GOVERNING BODY SHALL APPROVE OR DISAPPROVE THE
   16  USE OF EMINENT DOMAIN BY MAJORITY VOTE. WHERE APPLICABLE IN  THE  ENACT-
   17  MENT  OF LOCAL LAWS, THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SUCH LOCALITY IF THE
   18  OFFICE OF SUCH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER  IS  ELECTIVE  SHALL  APPROVE  OR
   19  DISAPPROVE  SUCH  GOVERNING  BODY'S  DECISION, SUBJECT TO ANY APPLICABLE
   20  RIGHT TO OVERRIDE.
   21    S 5. Section 103 of the eminent domain procedure  law  is  amended  by
   22  adding two new subdivisions (H) and (I) to read as follows:
   23    (H)  "ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT" MEANS ANY PROJECT FOR WHICH ACQUI-
   24  SITION OF REAL PROPERTY MAY BE REQUIRED FOR A PUBLIC  USE,  BENEFIT,  OR
   25  PURPOSE  WHERE  SUCH  PUBLIC  USE,  BENEFIT, OR PURPOSE IS PRIMARILY FOR
   26  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND WHERE THE CONDEMNEE'S REAL PROPERTY IS  A  HOME
   27  OR DWELLING.
   28    (I) FOR THE PURPOSES OF ARTICLE TWO OF THIS CHAPTER:
   29    (1) "HOME" MEANS OWNER-OCCUPIED RESIDENTIAL PREMISES CONSISTING OF NOT
   30  MORE THAN SIX DWELLING UNITS.
   31    (2)  "DWELLING" MEANS RESIDENTIAL PREMISES CONSISTING OF NOT MORE THAN
   32  THIRTY DWELLING UNITS, NONE OF WHICH IS OCCUPIED BY  AN  OWNER  OF  SUCH
   33  PREMISES.
   34    (3)  IN  THE CASE OF COOPERATIVE APARTMENT CORPORATIONS, TITLE TO THAT
   35  PORTION OF REAL PROPERTY OWNED BY A COOPERATIVE APARTMENT CORPORATION IN
   36  WHICH A TENANT-STOCKHOLDER OF SUCH CORPORATION  RESIDES,  AND  WHICH  IS
   37  REPRESENTED  BY  HIS OR HER SHARE OR SHARES OF STOCK IN SUCH CORPORATION
   38  AS DETERMINED BY ITS OR THEIR PROPORTIONAL  RELATIONSHIP  TO  THE  TOTAL
   39  OUTSTANDING STOCK OF THE CORPORATION, INCLUDING THAT OWNED BY THE CORPO-
   40  RATION, SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE VESTED IN SUCH TENANT-STOCKHOLDER NOTWITH-
   41  STANDING THE NUMBER OF DWELLING UNITS IN SUCH RESIDENTIAL PREMISES, THUS
   42  QUALIFYING A COOPERATIVE APARTMENT AS A HOME.
   43    S  6.  Subdivision  (B) of section 204 of the eminent domain procedure
   44  law is amended to read as follows:
   45    (B) The condemnor, in its determination and findings,  shall  specify,
   46  but shall not be limited to the following:
   47    (1)  the  public  use, benefit or purpose to be served by the proposed
   48  public project;
   49    (2) the approximate location for the proposed public project  and  the
   50  reasons for the selection of that location;
   51    (3)  the general effect of the proposed project on the environment and
   52  residents of the locality;
   53    (4) A DECLARATION TO SUCH EFFECT IF  THE  PRIMARY  PUBLIC  PURPOSE  IS
   54  DETERMINED  TO BE FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WHERE ONE OR MORE CONDEMNEES'
   55  HOMES OR DWELLINGS ARE TO BE AFFECTED; AND
   56    [(4)] (5) such other factors as it considers relevant.

       A. 1568                             3

    1    S 7. The eminent domain procedure law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
    2  section 204-a to read as follows:
    3    S  204-A.  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT  CONDEMNATION  FINDINGS AND HOMEOWNER
    4  PROTECTION. (A) IF THE CONDEMNOR DETERMINES PURSUANT TO  PARAGRAPH  FOUR
    5  OF  SUBDIVISION (B) OF SECTION TWO HUNDRED FOUR OF THIS ARTICLE THAT THE
    6  PRIMARY PUBLIC PURPOSE OR  BENEFIT  IS  FOR  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT,  THE
    7  CONDEMNOR,  IN  COOPERATION WITH THE GOVERNMENT OF THE LOCALITY IN WHICH
    8  THE REAL PROPERTY TO BE ACQUIRED IS LOCATED SHALL PREPARE  A  COMPREHEN-
    9  SIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN FOR THE AFFECTED AREA.  THE COMPREHENSIVE
   10  ECONOMIC  DEVELOPMENT  PLAN  SHALL  INCLUDE,  BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, THE
   11  ACTUAL OR EXPECTED BENEFITS  OF  THE  PROJECT,  INCLUDING  THE  EXPECTED
   12  INCREASED  TAX  REVENUE OR EXPECTED CREATION OF JOBS, THE TYPES OF BUSI-
   13  NESSES OR INDUSTRY THAT WILL USE THE CONDEMNED  PROPERTY,  AND  ALTERNA-
   14  TIVES  TO THE PLAN. WHEN A DRAFT COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN
   15  IS CREATED, THE CONDEMNOR, IN COOPERATION WITH  THE  GOVERNMENT  OF  THE
   16  LOCALITY IN WHICH THE REAL PROPERTY TO BE ACQUIRED IS LOCATED SHALL HOLD
   17  AT  LEAST  ONE  PUBLIC  HEARING TO COMPILE AND ANALYZE PUBLIC INPUT. THE
   18  PUBLIC HEARING SHALL BE HELD IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE PROVISIONS  OF  THIS
   19  ARTICLE  AT  A  LOCATION REASONABLY PROXIMATE TO THE REAL PROPERTY WHICH
   20  MAY BE ACQUIRED  FOR  SUCH  PROJECT.  THEREAFTER,  THE  CONDEMNOR  SHALL
   21  COMPLETE A FINAL COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN TO BE SUBMITTED
   22  TO  THE LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODY, SUBJECT TO ANY APPLICABLE RIGHT TO OVER-
   23  RIDE FOR ITS APPROVAL.   TO MOVE FORWARD WITH  THE  PROJECT,  THE  LOCAL
   24  LEGISLATIVE  BODY  MUST APPROVE THE PLAN BY A MAJORITY VOTE, AND IT MUST
   25  ALSO BE APPROVED BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER OF SUCH LOCALITY IF  THE
   26  OFFICE OF SUCH CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER IS ELECTIVE.
   27    (B)  THE  CONDEMNOR  SHALL  ALSO  CREATE A HOMEOWNER IMPACT ASSESSMENT
   28  STATEMENT. THE CONDEMNOR, IN THE HOMEOWNER IMPACT ASSESSMENT  STATEMENT,
   29  SHALL  ASSESS  THE  ACTUAL  HARM TO AFFECTED CONDEMNEES' THAT WOULD LOSE
   30  THEIR HOMES OR DWELLINGS AND  COMPARE  SUCH  HARM  WITH  THE  REASONABLY
   31  EXPECTED  COMMUNITY  BENEFITS,  INCLUDING  BUT  NOT  LIMITED  TO HOW THE
   32  CONDEMNOR JUSTIFIES THE TAKING OF THE CONDEMNEES'  HOMES  OR  DWELLINGS.
   33  THE  HOMEOWNER IMPACT ASSESSMENT STATEMENT SHALL BE COMPLETED SIMULTANE-
   34  OUSLY WITH THE COMPREHENSIVE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PLAN UNDER SUBDIVISION
   35  (A) OF THIS SECTION. THE HOMEOWNER IMPACT ASSESSMENT STATEMENT SHALL  BE
   36  MADE WIDELY AVAILABLE.
   37    (C)  IN  CASES WHERE A CONDEMNEE'S HOME OR DWELLING IS ACQUIRED FOR AN
   38  ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECT, THE CONDEMNOR SHALL, IN  ADDITION  TO  ANY
   39  OTHER  COMPENSATION  REQUIREMENTS  UNDER  THIS  ARTICLE,  COMPENSATE THE
   40  CONDEMNEE A MINIMUM OF ONE HUNDRED FIFTY  PERCENT  OF  THE  FAIR  MARKET
   41  VALUE  OF THE REAL PROPERTY. RESIDENTS WHO ARE DISPLACED BY THE ECONOMIC
   42  DEVELOPMENT PROJECT SHALL ALSO BE COMPENSATED AT LEAST ONE HUNDRED FIFTY
   43  PERCENT OF THE ANNUAL RENT OF SUCH DWELLING.
   44    S 8. Subdivision (A) of section 207 of the  eminent  domain  procedure
   45  law,  as  amended by chapter 356 of the laws of 1982, is amended to read
   46  as follows:
   47    (A) Any person or persons  jointly  or  severally,  aggrieved  by  the
   48  condemnor's  determination  and  findings  made  pursuant to section two
   49  hundred four of this article, may seek judicial review  thereof  by  the
   50  appellate  division  of  the  supreme  court, in the judicial department
   51  embracing the county wherein the proposed facility  is  located  by  the
   52  filing of a petition in such court within [thirty] NINETY days after the
   53  condemnor's completion of its publication of its determination and find-
   54  ings pursuant to section two hundred four [herein] OF THIS ARTICLE. Such
   55  petition  shall  be  accompanied  by proof of service of a demand on the
   56  condemnor to file with said court a copy of a written transcript of  the

       A. 1568                             4

    1  record  of the proceeding before it, and a copy of its determination and
    2  findings. Upon receipt of such petition and demand, the condemnor  shall
    3  forthwith  deliver  to  the court a copy of the record and a copy of its
    4  determination  and findings. The proceeding shall be heard on the record
    5  without requirement of reproduction. If such proposed public improvement
    6  is located in more than one judicial department, such proceeding may  be
    7  brought  in  any  one,  but  only one, of such departments, and all such
    8  proceedings with relation to any single public project shall be  consol-
    9  idated with that first filed.  IF THE CONDEMNOR SUBSTANTIALLY ALTERS THE
   10  SCOPE OF THE PROJECT OR THE DETERMINATION AND FINDINGS, THEN THE CONDEM-
   11  NEE  SHALL  HAVE AN ADDITIONAL NINETY DAYS FROM THE CONDEMNOR'S PUBLICA-
   12  TION OF SUCH ALTERATION, WHICH PUBLICATION IS HEREBY REQUIRED,  TO  SEEK
   13  JUDICIAL REVIEW UNDER THIS SECTION.
   14    S 9. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after
   15  it shall have become a law.
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