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.
