STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2669
2011-2012 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 19, 2011
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Introduced by M. of A. SCHROEDER -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to create a temporary state commission to review and report on
the usefulness of the state authorities and providing for the repeal
of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. A temporary state commission created to review and report
2 on the usefulness of all state authorities, as defined in subdivision 1
3 of section 2 of the public authorities law, hereinafter referred to as
4 the commission, is hereby created to develop and propose legislation
5 recommending which state authorities shall remain and which state
6 authorities shall be dissolved and/or consolidated, and the appropriate
7 state and local agencies or offices to assume the various responsibil-
8 ities and obligations of such authorities.
9 § 2. The commission shall consist of fifteen members to be appointed
10 as follows: seven members to be appointed by the governor; three members
11 to be appointed by the temporary president of the senate; three members
12 to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly; one member to be
13 appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and one to be appointed
14 by the minority leader of the assembly. A chair of the commission shall
15 be appointed by the governor from among his appointees. Vacancies shall
16 be filled in the same manner as the original appointments.
17 § 3. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
18 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
19 incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
20 § 4. To the maximum extent feasible, the commission shall be entitled
21 to request and receive and shall utilize and be provided with such
22 facilities, resources, and data of any department, division, board,
23 bureau, commission, or agency of the state or any political subdivision
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06781-01-1
A. 2669 2
1 thereof as it deems necessary or desirable to carry out properly its
2 powers and duties hereunder.
3 § 5. The commission is hereby empowered to subpoena and enforce the
4 attendance of witnesses, to administer oaths or affirmations and examine
5 witnesses under oath, to require the production of any books, records or
6 papers deemed relevant or material, and to perform any other functions
7 that are necessary or appropriate to fulfill its duties and responsibil-
8 ities, and the governor shall give and grant to the commissioners all
9 powers and authority that may be given or granted to persons appointed
10 by the governor for such purpose pursuant to section 6 of the executive
11 law.
12 § 6. The commission shall issue a final report no later than December
13 1, 2012, setting forth its findings and conclusions and making such
14 recommendations as it shall deem necessary and proper. In addition, the
15 commission shall issue such interim reports as it shall deem necessary,
16 including an interim report no later than May 15, 2012.
17 § 7. The commission shall submit its report and recommendation for
18 each state authority. Such recommendation may include, but not be limit-
19 ed to; leaving an authority in its current form, the dissolution of an
20 authority, consolidation of similar authorities, and the transfer of
21 responsibilities and obligations to state agencies.
22 § 8. The commission's report shall include, but shall not be limited
23 to:
24 1. the number of state authorities which are currently in existence;
25 2. the name and location of each state authority;
26 3. the number of employees, and the salary of each person employed by
27 a state authority;
28 4. the operating budget of each state authority;
29 5. the expenditures of each state authority;
30 6. the debts and assets of each state authority;
31 7. the extent to which there is oversight and accountability for each
32 state authority; and
33 8. the public perception of each state authority.
34 § 9. Once the commission created in section one of this act is estab-
35 lished, each state authority shall submit a letter to such commission
36 justifying such state authority's existence.
37 § 10. This act shall take effect immediately, provided that the
38 members of the commission created by this act shall be appointed within
39 thirty days of such date; and provided, further, that this act shall
40 remain in effect until one hundred twenty days after the commission
41 submits the report required by section six of this act, at which time
42 this act shall expire and be deemed repealed.
