NY Legis L § 83-H (2021)
2021 New York Laws LEG - Legislative Article 5-A - Legislative Commissions 83-H - Legislative Commission on State-Local Relations.

* § 83-h. Legislative  commission on state-local relations. 1. (a) The legislature hereby finds that a strong relationship  between  the  state and  its  counties,  cities, towns, villages, school districts and other units of government is central to the effective provision of  government services  for  the benefit of the people of the state. This relationship encompasses state mandates  on  local  governments  to  provide  certain services  and perform certain activities; state limits on the ability of local governments to provide services, raise revenue and incur debt; and state programs of assistance to relieve local governments of  a  portion of  the  responsibility  for raising revenues to meet the costs of local services.  Categorical  programs  of   state   assistance   help   local governments finance specific services of importance to the people of the state,  while  programs  of  state  general  purpose  aid  provide local governments with general assistance in meeting the  costs  of  services, including state mandated activities.  (b)  The  legislature  further  finds  that  proposals  to amend state categorical or general purpose assistance programs, to  shift  costs  or responsibilities between the state and local governments, or to alter or impose local taxing, borrowing or spending limits should be evaluated in the  context  of  all the various elements of state-local relations. The variation among local governments,  including  fiscal  condition,  local economy and demand for services, should be considered, and opportunities for intergovernmental cooperation and efficiencies should be identified.   2.  A  legislative  commission  on  state-local  relations  is  hereby established to examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the state's system of aid to localities, the division  of  state  and  local responsibilities,  state mandates on local governments and limits on the ability of local governments to raise revenue,  incur  debt  and  manage resources. The commission shall make such recommendations as it may deem necessary  to  provide  an  equitable  system  of  state  aid  to  local governments, to encourage the most effective  use  of  state  and  local resources,  to  preserve  the  fiscal  integrity of both state and local governments and otherwise to  strengthen  the  partnership  between  the state and its local governments.   3.  The  commission  shall  consist  of ten members to be appointed as follows: three members of the senate shall be appointed by the temporary president of  the  senate;  three  members  of  the  assembly  shall  be appointed  by  the  speaker  of  the assembly; two members of the senate shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members of the assembly shall  be  appointed  by  the  minority  leader  of  the assembly.  From  among  the  members so appointed, a chairman and a vice chairman shall be designated  by  the  joint  action  of  the  temporary president  of  the  senate  and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy that  occurs  in  the  commission  or  in  the  chairmanship   or   vice chairmanship  shall  be  filled in the same manner in which the original appointment or designation was made. No member, officer, or employee  of the  commission  shall  be  disqualified  from  holding any other public office or employment, nor shall he forfeit any such office or employment by reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding  the  provisions of any general, special, or local law, ordinance, or city charter.   4.  The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's  functions and fix their compensation within the amounts made available therefor.   5.  Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of the legislature for all purposes.   6. The commission in addition to the above mentioned powers shall have all the powers and privileges of a  legislative  committee  pursuant  to this chapter.    7.  For  the  accomplishment  of  its purpose, the commission shall be authorized and empowered to undertake any  study,  inquiry,  survey,  or analysis  it  may deem relevant through its own personnel in cooperation with or by agreement with any other public or private agency.   8.  The  commission may require and shall receive from any department, board, bureau, commission, authority, office, or  other  instrumentality of  the state, and from any county, city, town or village of this state, such  facilities,  assistance,  and  data,  as  it  deems  necessary  or desirable for proper execution of its powers and duties.   9.  The  commission may hold public or private hearings and shall have full powers to subpoena witnesses and all records or data it shall  deem necessary or desirable pursuant to this chapter.   10.  The  members  of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be allowed their actual and necessary  expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.   * NB Repealed June 30, 2022