STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6690--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 15, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. CRESPO, PICHARDO, RAMOS, RODRIGUEZ, JONES,
D'URSO, CAHILL, DICKENS, ORTIZ, LUPARDO, THIELE, RIVERA, GALEF,
BARRON, TAYLOR, HUNTER, GIGLIO, WILLIAMS, JAFFEE, COOK, ARROYO, NIOU,
KOLB, SIMON, DE LA ROSA, BENEDETTO, JOYNER, BLAKE, DAVILA -- read once
and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations -- recommit-
ted to the Committee on Governmental Operations in accordance with
Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to establish a commission to be known as the "New York State
Temporary Commission on the Threat of Rising Oceans"; and providing
for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. There is hereby established a temporary commission to be
2 known as the "New York State Temporary Commission on the Threat of
3 Rising Oceans", hereinafter referred to in this act as the "commission".
4 § 2. 1. The commission shall be composed of 17 members appointed in
5 accordance with subdivision two of this section.
6 2. The members shall be appointed for the life of the commission as
7 follows:
8 (a) 3 shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
9 (b) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
10 (c) 3 shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
11 (d) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and
12 (e) 9 shall be appointed by the governor.
13 3. The members of the commission shall be individuals who have know-
14 ledge or expertise, whether by experience or training, in matters to be
15 studied by the commission under subdivision seven of this section.
16 4. The temporary president of the senate, the minority leader of the
17 senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the assembly
18 and the governor shall make his or her respective appointments not later
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09717-02-0
A. 6690--A 2
1 than 60 days after the effective date of this act. Any vacancy that
2 occurs during the life of the commission shall not affect the powers of
3 the commission and shall be filled in the same manner as the original
4 appointment not later than 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
5 5. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to conduct
6 business, but the commission may establish a lesser quorum for conduct-
7 ing hearings scheduled by the commission. Each member shall have 1 vote
8 and the vote of each member shall be accorded the same weight. The
9 commission may establish, by majority vote, any other rules for the
10 conduct of the commission's business, insofar as such rules are not
11 inconsistent with this section or other applicable law.
12 6. The commission shall conduct a comprehensive study on the threat of
13 rising ocean levels.
14 (a) The matters studied by the commission under this subdivision shall
15 include, but not be limited to:
16 (1) the threat of rising oceans on shoreline communities, their
17 infrastructure, and residents;
18 (2) options available to protect New York City and Long Island from
19 rising oceans and provide a cost estimate for such options;
20 (3) options available to protect New York Harbor from rising oceans,
21 including, but not limited to, the building of a sea wall and its asso-
22 ciated costs;
23 (4) international infrastructure in place to protect other regions
24 from rising oceans and provide a comparative description of what other
25 nations have done to address that threat in those regions and at what
26 costs;
27 (5) a review of the current flood zone designations of shoreline and
28 waterfront communities; and
29 (6) the potential of a public awareness campaign and for such outreach
30 to inform residents of impacted communities and those in projected flood
31 zones on how to prepare for possible damage by rising oceans.
32 (b) Not later than March 1, 2022, the commission shall submit to the
33 governor, the senate, and the assembly a comprehensive report on the
34 commission's findings and conclusions. Such report shall address each
35 matter studied by the commission.
36 7. The commission shall have the power to hold hearings, at such sites
37 and to act at such times and places, to take such testimony, and to
38 receive such evidence as the commission considers advisable to carrying
39 out its duties under this subdivision.
40 8. Members of the commission shall receive no compensation but shall
41 be reimbursed for their actual and necessary expenses in the performance
42 of their duties pursuant to this act.
43 § 3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire April 1,
44 2022 when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
45 repealed.