AB1919 Summary:

BILL NOA01919
 
SAME ASSAME AS S04598
 
SPONSORLifton
 
COSPNSR
 
MLTSPNSR
 
 
Authorizes a study on implementing a greenhouse gas or carbon emissions fee or tax.
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AB1919 Actions:

BILL NOA01919
 
01/17/2017referred to ways and means
01/03/2018referred to ways and means
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AB1919 Committee Votes:

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AB1919 Floor Votes:

There are no votes for this bill in this legislative session.
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AB1919 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
 
BILL NUMBER: A1919
 
SPONSOR: Lifton
  TITLE OF BILL: An act authorizing a study on implementing a greenhouse gas or carbon emissions fee or tax   PURPOSE: To authorize a report on the impacts of a statewide greenhouse gas or carbon emission fee or tax.   SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: Section 1 directs the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to prepare a report for submission to the Environ- mental Conservation Committees of the Assembly and Senate related to implementing a statewide greenhouse gas or carbon emission fee or tax. The report shall: analyze the impact of greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon and methane, and the dangers posed to state residents due to climate change; analyze the potential environmental and policy benefits derived from a carbon tax; identify an effective structure for a carbon fee; evaluate the direct and indirect impact of a carbon fee on low-income households, consumers, industries and localities; evaluate the level of greenhouse gas emission: based on different rates of a carbon fee; evaluate how to treat imported and exported energy sources under a carbon fee; evaluate the impact of a carbon fee on jobs and wages; evaluate the per unit costs of specific types of fuel that would be subject to a carbon fee or tax; evaluate revenue allocation options from collection of a carbon fee or tax. Section 2 requires a written preliminary report to be submitted to the state legislature by December 1. 2018, and a final report on or before March 1, 2019. Section 3 requires at least two public hearings before release of the final report, to allow for public input in the study.   EXISTING LAW: None.   JUSTIFICATION: This greenhouse gas tax study bill is a critical component in moving New York State towards its target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% of 1990 levels by the year 2050. A greenhouse gas study will answer many important questions about the impacts of implementing a statewide greenhouse gas tax. Understanding the impacts to low-income families and neighborhoods, the environmental and policy benefits, the optimal taxa- tion level, and how to allocate the revenues generated by a greenhouse gas tax, among other concerns, will provide important information tailored to the specifics of New York State. Following the Paris Climate Agreement of December 2015, the global community has acknowledged the imminent threat posed by climate change and is demanding action. Already, New York State has witnessed the devastating effects of Hurricane Sandy and other extreme weather events. Many economists agree that a carbon/ greenhouse gas tax is one of the most effective ways to curb emissions, by accounting for the full costs of climate pollution through a market-based solution. A comprehensive carbon tax study can help pave the way for taking strong action on climate change.   LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2016: A10673; referred to Ways and Means.   FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.   EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.
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AB1919 Text:



 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                          1919
 
                               2017-2018 Regular Sessions
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    January 17, 2017
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced by M. of A. LIFTON -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Ways and Means
 
        AN  ACT  authorizing  a study on implementing a greenhouse gas or carbon
          emissions fee or tax
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section  1.  1.  The  New  York  state energy research and development
     2  authority  (NYSERDA)  is  hereby  directed  to  prepare  a  report   for
     3  submission  to  the  environmental conservation committees of the Senate
     4  and Assembly related to  implementing  a  statewide  greenhouse  gas  or
     5  carbon  emission fee or tax (hereinafter a carbon fee or tax) related to
     6  assisting the state in reducing or eliminating such greenhouse gases.
     7    The report shall:
     8    (a) analyze the current and future environmental impact of  greenhouse
     9  emissions,  including carbon and methane, and the dangers posed to resi-
    10  dents for climate change;
    11    (b) analyze the potential environmental and  policy  benefits  derived
    12  from a carbon tax;
    13    (c)  identify an effective structure for a carbon fee or tax to gener-
    14  ate revenue;
    15    (d) evaluate the direct and indirect impact of a carbon fee or tax  on
    16  low-income households, consumers, industries and localities;
    17    (e)  evaluate the direct and indirect regional and statewide impact of
    18  a carbon fee or tax;
    19    (f) evaluate whether the level of greenhouse gas emissions  reductions
    20  might  vary  based  on different rates of a carbon fee or tax, including
    21  determining the minimum level of such fee or  tax  needed  to  ensure  a
    22  significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions;
    23    (g) evaluate how to treat imported and exported energy sources under a
    24  carbon fee or tax;
    25    (h) evaluate the impact of a carbon fee or tax on jobs and wages;
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD07923-01-7

        A. 1919                             2
 
     1    (i) evaluate the impact of a carbon fee or tax on existing fees, state
     2  revenue  and  state  income taxes, including the regional greenhouse gas
     3  initiative;
     4    (j)  evaluate the per unit costs of specific types of fuels that would
     5  be subject to a carbon fee or tax; and
     6    (k) evaluate revenue allocation options, including assisting in  fund-
     7  ing  a transition to clean renewable energy, maximizing positive impacts
     8  and mitigating detrimental or unequal impacts on low and moderate income
     9  households, improving mass transit, implementing climate change  adapta-
    10  tion  measures such as making improvements in infrastructure, implement-
    11  ing agricultural adaptation measures, increasing protection of low-lying
    12  areas including coastlines, and enhancing emergency health  response  to
    13  extreme weather events.
    14    2.  NYSERDA  shall  submit  a  written preliminary report to the state
    15  legislature related to revenue and the environment on or before December
    16  1, 2018, and a final report on or before  March  1,  2019.  NYSERDA  may
    17  contract  with third parties as necessary to prepare the reports and any
    18  related recommendations.
    19    3. NYSERDA shall provide for public  input  in  the  study,  including
    20  holding  at  least  two  public  hearings  before  the  final  report is
    21  released.
    22    § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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