Creates a temporary state commission on tourism in central New York to study and prepare a sound business plan to develop a state-of-the-art transportation system to link community assets, and makes an appropriation therefor; the study shall include examination of the feasibility of developing a light rail system to connect Syracuse Hancock International Airport, the William F. Walsh Transportation Center, Syracuse University, DestiNY USA, ONCenter, and downtown Syracuse.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3054
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 22, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BARCLAY, KOLB, TOWNSEND -- Multi-Sponsored by --
M. of A. CROUCH, SALADINO -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Tourism, Arts and Sports Development
AN ACT creating a temporary state commission on tourism in central New
York to study and prepare a sound business plan to develop a state-of-
the-art transportation system to link community assets; making an
appropriation therefor; 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 on tourism in central New York
2 is hereby created to examine, evaluate, and make recommendations
3 concerning the development of a state-of-the-art transportation system
4 to link community assets. Such commission shall include in its study the
5 feasibility of the development of a light rail system to connect Syra-
6 cuse Hancock International Airport, the William F. Walsh Transportation
7 Center, Syracuse University, DestiNY USA, ONCenter, and downtown Syra-
8 cuse, in order to bring greater economic success to these areas and
9 their surrounding communities.
10 § 2. 1. The commission shall consist of the following fifteen members:
11 (a) the commissioner or his or her designated representative from the
12 departments of transportation, economic development, environmental
13 conservation, agriculture and markets and of the office of parks, recre-
14 ation and historic preservation;
15 (b) the chairperson or his or her designated representative of the New
16 York state thruway authority, the tourism advisory council, the upstate
17 New York tourism council and the downstate New York tourism council;
18 (c) a representative of travel and vacation related business and a
19 representative of an organization of automobile users and owners
20 appointed by the governor;
21 (d) a representative of Syracuse University;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03087-01-9
A. 3054 2
1 (e) a representative of the Greater Syracuse chamber of commerce;
2 (f) a representative of the Onondaga county executive branch; and
3 (g) a representative of the office of the mayor of the city of Syra-
4 cuse.
5 2. The chairman of the commission shall be the commissioner of trans-
6 portation. The members of the task force may elect a vice chairman,
7 secretary or such other officers as it may deem necessary for such terms
8 as its members shall determine.
9 3. Members of the commission, except for those representing New York
10 state departments, agencies, authorities or councils, shall serve for a
11 term of two years and may be reappointed in the same manner as provided
12 for their initial appointment.
13 4. A majority of the members of the commission shall constitute a
14 quorum for the transaction of any business or the exercise of any power
15 or function of the commission. An act, determination, or decision of the
16 members present and entitled to vote during the presence of a quorum
17 shall be held to be the act, determination or decision of the commis-
18 sion.
19 5. The commission shall meet at least quarterly at the call of the
20 chairman. Additional meetings may be called by the chairperson subject
21 to the giving of one week's notice, and shall be called by him or her at
22 the request of a majority of the members of the commission.
23 § 3. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel
24 as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions.
25 § 4. The commission may meet within and without the state, shall hold
26 public hearings, and shall have all the powers of a legislative commit-
27 tee pursuant to the legislative law.
28 § 5. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
29 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
30 incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
31 § 6. The commission shall make a preliminary report to the governor
32 and the legislature of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations
33 not later than one year after the effective date of this act, and a
34 final report of its findings, conclusions, and recommendations not later
35 than two years after the effective date of this act, and shall submit
36 with its reports such legislative proposals as it deems necessary to
37 implement its recommendations.
38 § 7. The sum of one hundred thousand dollars ($100,000), or so much
39 thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appropriated to pay the expenses
40 incurred, including personal service, in carrying out the provisions of
41 this act. Such moneys shall be payable out of the state treasury in the
42 general fund to the credit of the state purposes account after audit by
43 and on the warrant of the comptroller upon the vouchers certified or
44 approved by the chairperson or vice-chairperson of the commission as
45 prescribed by law.
46 § 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire September
47 30, 2011, when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
48 repealed.
