reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1727 - Maintenance of Project Works.

§ 15-1727. Maintenance of project works.
1.  The licensee shall at all times maintain the project works in good
  repair and in efficient working order; shall promptly make all necessary
  renewals  and  replacements,  including  such  necessary   renewals   or
  replacements  as may, after a hearing, be directed by the department for
  this  purpose,  and  shall  establish  and  maintain  adequate  reserves
  therefor.
2. The department may at any time institute an investigation or hold a
  hearing,  or  both,  with respect to the compliance by the licensee with
  the requirements of this  section  and  the  adequacy  of  the  reserves
  maintained   by  it  for  the  purposes  herein  specified.  After  such
  investigation or hearing, the department may issue such order or orders,
  not inconsistent with title 17 of this article, as in its judgment  will
  insure  compliance  by  the  licensee with the provisions of title 17 of
  this article, in respect to all matters so investigated.
3. The licensee  shall  promptly  conform  to  and  comply  with  such
  directions, orders, rules or regulations as the department may make from
  time  to  time  in the interests of navigation, or for the protection of
  life, health or property or other lawful  purposes.  He  shall  likewise
  promptly conform to and comply with such lawful rules and regulations as
  may  from time to time be prescribed by the federal government, its duly
  authorized officers or agents relating to the navigation of  the  waters
  covered by the license.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1731 - Eminent Domain; Transmission Lines.

§ 15-1731. Eminent domain; transmission lines.
Any corporation authorized to do business in this state and engaged in
  the  production,  sale  and  distribution of heat, light or power to the
  public may  exercise  the  right  of  eminent  domain  pursuant  to  the
  provisions  of  the  eminent  domain  procedure  law to acquire property
  necessary for the construction of  transmission  lines  for  such  heat,
  light  and  power,  when necessary for such sale and distribution to the
  public. If the corporation is a licensee under title 17 of this  article
  it  may  apply to, and in a proper case receive from, the Public Service
  Commission a certificate of convenience and necessity for  any  property
  so  required in the manner and with like effect as provided in paragraph
  c of subdivision 4 of section 15-1729. The court in such proceedings  of
  condemnation  may  prescribe any reasonable limitations, restrictions or
  regulations for the construction and operation of such lines  so  as  to
  protect life and prevent unnecessary injury to property.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1733 - Use of Land Occupied by a Public Highway.

§ 15-1733. Use of land occupied by a public highway.
1.  Whenever, in order to complete any project as provided by title 17
  of this article, it becomes necessary to use lands occupied by a  public
  highway  the  licensee  shall aply to the Commissioner of Transportation
  for permission to relocate such highway,  the  entire  expense  of  such
  relocation to be borne entirely by the licensee including any damages to
  persons  or  property  which  may  be  caused  by  or  result  from such
  relocation. The new location shall be determined by the Commissioner  of
  Transportation  and the application of the licensee shall be accompanied
  by funds in an amount sufficient to provide for the cost  of  a  survey,
  preliminary  plans  and  all  other  expenses  of  the  Commissioner  of
  Transportation in determining a suitable relocation.
2. The licensee shall provide the necessary land  for  such  relocated
  highway in accordance with land taking-maps prepared by the Commissioner
  of  Transportation.  If  such relocation is on state land the fee to the
  land covered by the right of way shall  remain  in  the  state.  If  the
  licensee acquires private property for right of way in the relocation of
  a state or a county highway the fee in such right of way shall be deeded
  to  the state or to the county in which the same is situated as the case
  may be. If the licensee acquires private property for right  of  way  in
  the  relocation  of a town highway the fee in such right of way shall be
  deeded to the town or towns in which the same is situated.
3. Any such relocation shall be made  by  the  licensee  according  to
  plans and specifications approved by the Commissioner of Transportation.
4.  Upon  the  completion and acceptance of such relocated highway the
  original highway for which it is substituted shall be  deemed  abandoned
  as  a  public  highway  and  the  relocated  highway shall thereafter be
  maintained in the same manner as was the original highway for  which  it
  was substituted.
5.  The  highway  law  shall  apply  to  the relocation of highways as
  provided  in  this  section  so  far  as  applicable  thereto  and   not
  inconsistent with title 17 of this article.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1735 - Contracts Extending Beyond License Period.

§ 15-1735. Contracts extending beyond license period.
1. Whenever the public interest requires or justifies the execution by
  a  licensee  whose  license covers any state property, or who uses water
  that cannot be lawfully used without the consent  of  the  state,  of  a
  contract  for  the  sale  and  delivery  of power for a period extending
  beyond the terms of the license, such a contract  may  be  entered  into
  with  the  approval of the department and the Public Service Commission,
  in which event the duty to perform such contract after the expiration of
  the license period shall devolve upon the person or corporation to  whom
  or  which  a new license covering the property of the former licensee is
  issued, and such new license shall so provide.
2. A licensee making such a contract shall not be liable thereon after
  the expiration of his license, if it cover any state property or the use
  of water subject to state control, unless the new license is  issued  to
  him.  No  such  licensee  without the written approval of the department
  shall enter into any contract for the sale or delivery of  power  for  a
  term  or  period extending beyond the time fixed for the revision of the
  change or rental payable under his license.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1737 - Transfer of License Restricted.

§ 15-1737. Transfer of license restricted.
No  voluntary  sale,  assignment, or transfer of any license or of the
  rights thereby granted shall be made without the written approval of the
  department; nor become effective until the  instrument  of  transfer  be
  filed  and  recorded  in the office of the clerk of each county in which
  property covered by the license is located. Notice thereof must be given
  to the department before possession is given under such transfer, and if
  there be a transfer by operation of law, the transferee must give notice
  thereof to the department before taking possession.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1741 - Re-Entry at Expiration of the License Period.

§ 15-1741. Re-entry at expiration of the license period.
1.  Upon  the  expiration  of  the original license period any and all
  interest of the licensee in and to state property which  is  covered  by
  the  license,  together  with  any and all works and structures thereon,
  shall vest in and become the property of the state free and clear of any
  and all liens and encumbrances, provided, however, that  the  department
  may  at the time the license is granted, or at any later time during its
  continuance, enter into an agreement with the licensee that an allowance
  will be made to the licensee for  and  on  account  of  improvements  to
  property  of  the state, or improvements the value of which is dependent
  on the use of state property, for which in view of  the  rent  paid  the
  licensee  shall  not  have  been  compensated  by  the  privilege of the
  license, but such agreement must be  made  before  the  improvement  for
  which such allowance is to be made, is undertaken. If the amount of such
  allowance  exceeds  the  amount  of  indebtedness, which may be lawfully
  incurred for such purposes without an appropriation, the time when  such
  property  is  vested  in  the state shall be postponed until an adequate
  appropriation is made therefor. The allowance so made or to be made  may
  be  by  way  of  an  extension  of  the license pursuant to an agreement
  between the department and the licensee.
2. Any agreement with the licensee for  an  allowance  on  account  of
  improvements to property of the state or improvements the value of which
  is  dependent  on  the  use  of state property, shall not provide for an
  allowance in excess of the reconstruction cost, less a  deduction  equal
  to  that portion, if any, of the aggregate income from the project, over
  and  above  actual  and  reasonable  expenses  of  operation,  including
  repairs,  which  shall  exceed  an  amount equal to eight per centum per
  annum, to the time that the state property is taken over by  the  state,
  of  the  actual  and  reasonable  cost  to the licensee of the lands and
  interests in lands, the actual and reasonable cost to  the  licensee  of
  the  ways,  means and works and the allowances made for organization and
  development expenses.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1743 - Renewal and Extension of Licenses.

§ 15-1743. Renewal and extension of licenses.
The  department  may renew an expiring license to the same licensee on
  the same or different terms, or may renew the  privilege  from  year  to
  year under such terms as may be agreed upon.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1745 - Prohibited Diversions.

§ 15-1745. Prohibited diversions.
1.  Unless  a  license has been obtained therefor under this title, or
  the diversion of such waters is subject to the charging or imposition of
  an equitable rental under this title,  it  shall  be  unlawful  for  any
  person  or public corporation who has been notified by the department to
  desist from such conduct, to willfully take, divert, draw  or  make  use
  of, for power and/or other commercial or manufacturing purposes:
a.  waters,  or the bed or other real property required for the use of
  such waters, in which the state has a proprietary right or interest;
b. boundary waters  of  the  state  concerning  which  the  state  has
  jurisdiction  over  the  diversion  or interference with the flow of the
  same  for  power  purposes,  solely  or  concurrently  with  any   other
  jurisdiction or owner of a proprietary right.
2. The use of such water, except when the right to the use thereof has
  been  acquired  by  means  of  a  written license issued pursuant to the
  provisions of title 17 of this article, or when the  diversion  of  such
  water  is  subject  to the charging or imposition of an equitable rental
  pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 1 of section 15-1719  of  this
  article,  shall be prima facie evidence of the wilfulness of the taking,
  drawing, diversion or use thereof and of the guilt of the person taking,
  diverting or making use thereof.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1747 - False Entries, Statements or Reports.

§ 15-1747. False entries, statements or reports.
No person shall for the purpose of deceiving, make or cause to be made
  any  false  entry  in  the  books  of accounts of a licensee, or for the
  purpose of deceiving, make or cause to be made any  false  statement  or
  report  in response to a request, order or direction from the department
  for statements or reports under title 17 of this article.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1749 - Previous Grantees Not to Divert Waters Without a License.

§ 15-1749. Previous grantees not to divert waters without a license.
A  person or corporation, other than a municipal corporation, claiming
  or purporting to have, or to have had, by  general  or  special  act  or
  other  grant  from  the state, the right to divert water from Lake Erie,
  Niagara River or the boundary waters of the  state,  or  to  divert  any
  waters  in  which the state has a proprietary interest, or the successor
  in interest of such a corporation, whether or not there has been  or  is
  now  an  actual  diversion  of  waters or development of power therewith
  pursuant to such act or grant, may apply for a license under title 17 of
  this article to divert such waters and  shall  not  divert  such  waters
  without  having  obtained  such  license,  unless  the diversion of such
  waters is subject to the charging or imposition of an  equitable  rental
  pursuant  to  the  provisions  of  title  17  of this article, and shall
  otherwise be subject to the provisions of title 17 of this article.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 17 - Water Power › 15-1751 - Right to Amend and Repeal Reserved.

§ 15-1751. Right to amend and repeal reserved.
The  right  to  alter,  amend  or  repeal  title 17 of this article is
  expressly reserved, but substantial rights acquired pursuant to title 17
  of this article shall  not  be  lost  or  impaired  by  such  repeal  or
  amendment.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1901 - Purpose.

§ 15-1901. Purpose.
To  provide  for  the drainage of agricultural land to the end that it
  may be made more productive, and in order to benefit the public  health,
  safety and welfare, the department shall possess the powers and exercise
  the duties hereinafter prescribed in respect to drainage.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1905 - Drainage Improvement Districts.

§ 15-1905. Drainage improvement districts.
1.  Bodies  corporate  which shall consist of and be known as drainage
  improvement districts may be created as herein provided to carry out the
  purposes  of  title  19  of  this  article.  Such  drainage  improvement
  districts  are  declared  to  be  public  corporations  and  shall  have
  perpetual existence and the power to acquire, hold  or  sell  such  real
  estate  or  other  property  as  may be necessary, to sue or be sued, to
  incur contract liabilities, to exercise the right of eminent domain, and
  of assessment and taxation and to do all acts and  exercise  all  powers
  necessary  to  accomplish the purposes of title 19 of this article. Such
  powers shall be exercised by and  in  the  name  of  the  district.  The
  governing body of the district shall be the department.
2.  The  debts,  liabilities  and  obligations  incurred by a drainage
  improvement  district  shall  in  no  event  be  construed   as   debts,
  liabilities  or  obligations  of  the State of New York, and neither the
  department, nor any member thereof in his individual capacity  shall  be
  liable  therefor.  All  drainage improvement districts heretofore formed
  under  the  provisions  of  this  chapter  or   its   predecessor,   the
  Conservation  Law,  are  hereby declared to be such bodies corporate and
  all the provisions of title 19 of this article shall  be  applicable  to
  such drainage improvement districts.
3.  Drainage  improvement  districts  generally shall include all such
  portions of a natural drainage basin as should be treated as one project
  on the assumption that all lands in such basin needing drainage  are  to
  be  improved.  The  department  may  form a portion of such basin into a
  district, on the assumption that the district may later be  extended  to
  include the whole basin, but, in so far as may be possible, in that case
  the district formed shall be so laid out that all lands which eventually
  will  drain  into  or  be served by any part of the district works other
  than the main  drainage  channel,  shall  be  included  therein.  It  is
  intended  that  the  boundaries  of the district shall include all lands
  which would be  enhanced  in  value  by  the  construction  of  complete
  drainage  works  therefor  and that land, the value of which will not be
  enhanced, shall be excluded, but in order to simplify the boundaries  of
  the  district certain relatively small areas of land not so enhanced may
  be included on condition that they bear no  part  of  the  cost  of  any
  improvement work.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1907 - Drainage Improvement Associations.

§ 15-1907. Drainage improvement associations.
1. There shall be in each drainage improvement district an association
  to  be  known by the name of the district, as ............. ............
  Drainage Improvement  Association.  It  shall  be  the  object  of  this
  association  to  represent  the  interests  of  its  members in drainage
  matters before the department and elsewhere and to serve as a channel of
  communication between the members thereof and the department. Each owner
  of land within the district, each lessee of such land  and  each  person
  who  has contracted to purchase such land shall be a member of and shall
  have an equal vote in the association. Such association  may  be  formed
  voluntarily as soon as the department has filed its first description of
  the  boundaries  of the district. As soon as practicable after recording
  the final order creating a district, the association, if already formed,
  shall call a meeting of the members of the  association  and  perfect  a
  permanent organization.
2.  If  no  association  has  been  formed,  the department may call a
  meeting for the purpose of forming such association and a representative
  of the department shall preside thereat until a  temporary  chairman  is
  elected.    Such  association shall adopt by-laws for the transaction of
  its business. The association shall choose  from  among  its  members  a
  president, secretary and executive committee and such other officers and
  committees  as  the  by-laws  may  provide.  It shall be the duty of the
  secretary to keep a list of the  members  and  their  addresses  and  to
  furnish  the  department with copies of such list on request. The annual
  meeting of the association shall be held during the month of February in
  each year, at which meeting  the  officers  shall  be  elected  and  the
  association   shall   determine   upon   the   drainage  maintenance  or
  construction work desired during the ensuing year.
3. Immediately after the close of the annual meeting the secretary  of
  the  association  shall submit to the department a list of the names and
  addresses of the officers for the year and, if there be such,  petitions
  setting forth the desires of the association and of the members thereof.
4.  To defray the costs of the necessary meetings, the association may
  collect dues or contributions from its members.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1909 - Entry Upon Lands, Structures and Waters; Condemnation.

§ 15-1909. Entry upon lands, structures and waters; condemnation.
1.  For carrying out the surveys and examinations required by title 19
  of this article, the department may enter upon any lands, structures and
  waters as in its judgment may  be  necessary,  as  provided  by  section
  15-0305.
2.  The  department,  its  members, officers, employees and agents may
  enter upon any lands, structures and waters necessary for  the  purposes
  of title 19 of this article and may determine what rights in and to such
  property  are to be acquired therein. If the owner of any property to be
  acquired, or on or over which an easement is needed for such improvement
  shall agree with the department upon the sum to be paid therefor, or for
  the right to use and occupy the same, or for any damages sustained, such
  sum shall be paid as part of the necessary expense of the project.
3.  If  the  department  cannot  agree  with  the  owners   upon   the
  compensation  and  damages to be paid for the property or easement to be
  acquired, the department shall proceed to take the title thereto or  the
  required  rights  therein  under  the  provisions  of the eminent domain
  procedure law.
4. Whenever a construction project affects a ditch  or  channel  which
  has  been  constructed  and in use for twenty years and upwards such use
  and operation shall be conclusive evidence that a right of way  therefor
  and  all  rights  in  the  premises  through  which it passes, which are
  necessary and incident to the perpetual maintenance thereof,  were  duly
  obtained  when such ditch or channel was constructed.  All real property
  acquired by  a  drainage  improvement  district  shall  be  exempt  from
  taxation.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1911 - Petition for Formation of District.

§ 15-1911. Petition for formation of district.
1.  Any  three or more persons possessing swamp, bog, pond, meadow, or
  other low or wet lands or any lands in  the  vicinity  thereof,  or  any
  public  corporation  in which such lands are located, or in the vicinity
  of such lands, may present to the department a verified petition praying
  for the formation of a drainage improvement district.
2. Such petition shall set forth:
a. The proposed name  of  such  district,  as  the  ..................
  Drainage Improvement District.
b. The facts showing that the swamp, bog, pond, meadow or other low or
  wet lands are a menance to the public health, safety or welfare and that
  it  is  necessary  for  the conservation of the public health, safety or
  welfare to drain or improve such  lands  by  the  construction  of  such
  drains,  ditches,  channels, dams, dikes or other works, through or upon
  such lands or through or upon the lands of others, so far  as  necessary
  for any or all of such purposes.
c.  A  general description of the lands to be included in the proposed
  district.
d. A general statement of the  benefits  which  will  inure  from  the
  formation of such district and the drainage of such lands.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1913 - Proceedings on Petition.

§ 15-1913. Proceedings on petition.
1.  On  receipt  of  a  petition  for  the formation of a district the
  department shall make such preliminary  investigation  of  the  proposed
  district  as  it  may  find to be suitable and prepare a report thereon.
  Such report shall describe tentative boundaries for the district,  shall
  contain  a  preliminary  discussion  of the present conditions, possible
  measures of  relief,  approximate  cost  of  necessary  drainage  works,
  possible  benefits  and  advantages therefrom, shall give an estimate of
  the cost of the surveys and all proceedings necessary for and  including
  final  fixation  of  boundaries  of the district and shall set forth the
  recommendations of the department with regard to the  formation  of  the
  proposed district.
2.  Such  report  shall  be  filed  and notice of such filing and of a
  hearing thereon given. Such notice, among other things, shall state  the
  estimated  cost  of  the  surveys  and all proceedings necessary for and
  including final fixation of boundaries of the district and that,  should
  such  proceedings  be  fully  or  partially completed, such cost will be
  assessed in one year upon the lands in the district at a uniform  amount
  per acre of such lands.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1915 - Proceedings for Formation of District.

§ 15-1915. Proceedings for formation of district.
1.  At  the  hearing the department shall hear all persons affected by
  the formation of the proposed district. The department  may  change  the
  tentative  boundaries  of  the proposed district, but in that case a new
  hearing shall be held thereon after due notice thereof.
2. After the final hearing the department shall determine  whether  or
  not  the  tentative  boundaries as described include all the lands which
  should be included in the district and exclude as far as  is  reasonably
  possible  all  lands which will not be benefited by drainage; whether or
  not the lands included therein will be made more productive by drainage,
  the public health, safety or welfare will be benefited  thereby  and  it
  will be to the public interest to form the drainage improvement district
  and  carry  out  further proceedings for final fixation of boundaries or
  whether the application should  be  rejected.    It  shall  embody  such
  determination  and  disposition  of  the  case in a written order, which
  shall be filed and notice of such filing given.
3. If the decision is favorable, such order shall declare the district
  to be formed and shall direct the making of surveys and  the  taking  of
  the  remainder  of  the proceedings for final fixation of boundaries for
  the district all as provided by sections 15-1917 to 15-1927,  inclusive.
  Thereupon  the order may be reviewed as provided by section 15-0905, and
  in due course shall be recorded.
4. The district shall be held to have been formed on the date of  such
  order,  but  such  formation shall not be effective until such order, as
  made or modified on review, shall have been recorded.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1917 - Surveys and Maps.

§ 15-1917. Surveys and maps.
1.  The  department may proceed to make such survey of the district as
  may be found to be necessary. It shall prepare  maps  of  such  district
  showing natural and artificial features as may be needed, the boundaries
  of  the  district, the boundaries and area of each parcel of land in the
  district together with the name of the owner thereof so far as the  same
  readily  may  be  ascertained. When a parcel is intersected by a county,
  town, village or city line, the area in each such political  subdivision
  shall be given. Each parcel of land or each subdivision thereof shall be
  designated  by  a  number.  In  the  course  of  the  proceeding further
  subdivision of parcels may be made if necessary or convenient.
2. The department may then determine the enhancement accruing to  each
  such parcel due to drainage as provided in sections 15-1919 and 15-1921,
  prepare  designs and estimates for drainage works as provided in section
  15-1923, prepare a general apportionment of cost as provided in  section
  15-1925  and  15-1927,  and  fix the final boundaries of the district as
  provided in section 15-1927.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1921 - Proceedings on Enhancements.

§ 15-1921. Proceedings on enhancements.
1.  The drainage enhancements shall be set forth in a statement signed
  by the department, which together with the map of the district shall  be
  filed  and notice of a hearing thereon at which grievances will be heard
  shall be given. At such hearing objectors  shall  be  heard  as  to  the
  property  lines shown on the maps and the drainage enhancements shown on
  the statement thereof.
2. After the close of the hearing the department may amend  both  maps
  and  statement,  adopt  the  statement in final form and shall file such
  amended maps and  final  statement  and  give  notice  of  such  filing.
  Thereupon  such  amended maps and final statement shall be recorded when
  and as provided in section 15-1927.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1923 - Plans and Estimates.

§ 15-1923. Plans and estimates.
The  department  may  make a study of the works necessary to drain the
  district and prepare  maps,  plans,  estimates  and  reports  showing  a
  complete  system of drainage therefor, the estimated cost of the various
  ditches and other works and parts thereof and the boundaries of the land
  which will be served by and therefor should contribute to  the  cost  of
  each structure. These estimates of costs shall be made on the assumption
  that  no  drainage  work has ever been done in the district. In addition
  the department may show  on  the  plans  any  drainage  work  which  has
  heretofore  been  done  in  the district, may estimate the cost of those
  works on the same basis used  for  the  estimate  of  the  cost  of  the
  proposed  system  and  in similar manner may determine the boundaries of
  the land served by the existing ditches.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1925 - General Apportionment of Cost.

§ 15-1925. General apportionment of cost.
1.  A  general  apportionment  of  the  cost of the complete system of
  drainage shall be made as herein described. The  total  cost  determined
  under  the  provisions of section 15-1923 shall be equitably apportioned
  on the various parcels of land  in  the  district  and  on  such  public
  corporations  as  the department may find to be justly chargeable with a
  part of such cost in addition to what might be apportioned  to  them  as
  owners  of property in the district. Such charge on a public corporation
  shall be expressed as a percentage  of  the  whole  cost  and  only  the
  remaining  percentage of the cost shall be apportioned on the individual
  properties.
2. The general theory of such apportionment shall be that  any  parcel
  using  or served by any ditch or part of a ditch shall share in the cost
  of that ditch or part and that share  shall  be  in  proportion  to  the
  drainage  enhancement  of that parcel already determined as set forth in
  section 15-1919 as compared with the sum of such  drainage  enhancements
  of all the parcels using or served by the same ditch or part of a ditch,
  but  such  strict  rule  may  be  modified should it lead to inequitable
  results.
3. The department may divide the whole drainage system into individual
  ditches and appropriate parts of ditches, estimate  for  each  ditch  or
  part the total cost thereof, determine the boundaries of the lands which
  would  use  or be served by that ditch or part, subdivide the previously
  determined drainage enhancement of each parcel which may  be  subdivided
  by such boundaries and apportion the total cost of each ditch or part of
  a  ditch  accordingly. Finally all amounts apportioned to any one parcel
  shall be added together and compared with the  drainage  enhancement  of
  that  parcel. Should the total cost apportioned to any parcel exceed the
  drainage enhancement of that parcel, the design of the  drainage  system
  or  the  boundaries of the district shall be changed in such manner that
  for no parcel shall the costs exceed the  enhancements.  The  department
  may  make  a  similar  apportionment  of  the  cost determined under the
  provisions of section 15-1923 for such drainage  works  heretofore  done
  which  in  its  opinion  are  useful  and  may  be incorporated into the
  complete system of drainage.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1927 - Proceedings on General Apportionment of Costs and Final Fixation of Boundaries.

§ 15-1927. Proceedings  on  general  apportionment  of  costs  and final
fixation of boundaries.
1. The department shall prepare and sign a statement  of  the  general
  apportionment  of cost and shall file it together with the maps, reports
  and estimates on which it was based and shall give notice of  a  hearing
  thereon.   At  the  hearing  the  department  shall  consider  and  hear
  objections to the  various  matters  covered  by  sections  15-1923  and
  15-1925.
2.  After  the  hearing the department shall make such revisions as it
  may  find  to  be  proper,  shall  adopt  the  maps,  plans,  estimates,
  boundaries  and  general  apportionment  in  final form, shall file such
  papers and give notice of such filing.  Such  general  apportionment  in
  final  form  shall  include  an order fixing the final boundaries of the
  district. Thereupon these matters may be reviewed as provided by section
  15-0905 and, if not so reviewed within sixty days after date of  filing,
  such  apportionment  shall be final and conclusive and shall be recorded
  together with the final statement of drainage  enhancements.  Thereafter
  such  apportionment  in  final  form  and the boundaries of the district
  shall be fixed and determined.  At  the  same  time  or  as  a  separate
  proceeding  the  apportionment of the cost of older drainage work may be
  considered, heard, reviewed and recorded in like manner.
3. Thereafter all costs incurred by the department for surveys and all
  proceedings necessary for and including final fixation of boundaries  of
  the  district  shall  be  apportioned on all parcels of land included in
  such district in proportion to the areas of such  parcels  of  land  and
  shall  be  collected  on  one  assessment  roll.  Should the proceedings
  necessary for and including final fixation of boundaries of  a  district
  for   any   reason  be  abandoned  or  discontinued  such  costs  shall,
  notwithstanding such action, be assessed on and collected from the lands
  within the boundaries of the district as  fixed  at  the  time  of  such
  abandonment or discontinuance as herein provided.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1929 - Corrections and Revisions of Statements of Enhancements.

§ 15-1929. Corrections and revisions of statements of enhancements.
Should it be found necessary to correct or to revise any statements of
  enhancements  due  to  drainage,  general apportionment of cost, general
  plan for drainage works, estimates of cost of drainage works, boundaries
  of districts, boundaries of lands assessable for various portions of the
  work or any other matter above treated, such corrections  and  revisions
  may  be  made  either  upon  petition  or on motion of the department by
  following the procedure for each case as above set forth in so far as it
  can be made to apply.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1931 - Procedure for Authorization of Construction.

§ 15-1931. Procedure for authorization of construction.
1.  Petition may at any time after the final fixation of boundaries of
  a drainage improvement district be filed with the department asking that
  all or a part of the proposed drainage system  be  constructed.  If  the
  work  desired  is  not  shown on the plans filed or differs from that so
  shown or if the cost of the work  shall  have  changed,  the  department
  shall  on  request  of  the  association  or  of the executive committee
  thereof make plans of such work, estimate  the  cost  thereof  and  make
  tentative  determination  of  the  lands  on which the cost of such work
  should be apportioned, making suitable subdivision of  parcels  and  the
  enhancements thereto, if necessary.
2.  Such  petition  must be in writing, signed and acknowledged in the
  manner of a deed to be recorded, by a majority  of  the  owners  of  the
  property to share in the cost of the work and representing at least half
  of  the  total of the drainage enhancements of such property as shown by
  the recorded statement of enhancements, with subdivision of parcels made
  as above. The petition shall specify what part or parts of the  work  it
  is  desired  shall  be  built  and  the  estimated  cost  thereof as the
  department may have determined.
3. On  receipt  of  such  petition  the  department  shall  prepare  a
  description of the proposed work and a special apportionment of the cost
  thereof,  shall  file  such  statement  and apportionment and, after due
  notice, shall hold a hearing thereon. Thereafter  the  department  shall
  determine  as  to whether or not it is to the public interest to proceed
  with the work. The department may approve or reject the  application  or
  modify it and, if necessary, return it for further signatures or require
  a new petition to be filed in lieu thereof.
4.  If  the  application is approved the approving order shall fix the
  boundaries of the land on which the cost is to be  apportioned  and  the
  apportionment  of  such  cost  in  final form shall be attached thereto.
  Certified copies of the order and apportionment in final form  shall  be
  filed  and  notice  of  such  filing  given.  Thereupon  such  order and
  apportionment may be reviewed as provided by section 15-0905 and in  due
  course shall be recorded.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1933 - Construction.

§ 15-1933. Construction.
1.  In general all construction work shall be done by contract, but in
  the event that the estimated cost of such work or of a specified portion
  thereof shall not exceed the sum of twenty-five  thousand  dollars,  the
  department   may,   on   the   recommendation  of  the  Commissioner  of
  Transportation, authorize the Commissioner of Transportation to do  such
  work or part of such work by days' work under his direction.
2. All costs of supervision and inspection of construction work, costs
  of  making  surveys, plans and estimates in connection therewith and the
  costs of taking title to property and  any  other  costs  which  may  be
  incurred  in  connection  with  or  incidental  to  such  work  shall be
  considered a part of the cost of such improvement.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1937 - Operation and Maintenance.

§ 15-1937. Operation and maintenance.
1.  The  care,  operation  and  maintenance of the drainage works in a
  drainage improvement district  shall  be  subject  to  the  control  and
  supervision  of  the department. It shall be the duty of the department,
  within the limit of the  funds  made  available  for  that  purpose,  to
  maintain the drainage works in the district in serviceable condition.
2.  The  drainage  association shall consider and make recommendations
  with  regard  to  extensions  and  maintenance  work  annually  and  the
  department  may make recommendations with regard thereto to be submitted
  to the association for discussion.
3. For such maintenance work the  department  is  authorized  to  hire
  employees,  purchase  or  rent  land,  buildings,  tools,  machinery  or
  supplies, to let work by contract or to carry out projects by day labor.
4. The procedure to be followed for the authorization,  financing  and
  assessment of the cost of such work purchases shall be that specified in
  sections 15-1941 or 15-1943, whichever is applicable, or the proceedings
  may  be  initiated by the department of its own motion. In cases where a
  permanent maintenance or operating force is  necessary,  the  department
  may  annually  prepare  a maintenance budget which shall be treated as a
  repair project under section 15-1943.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1941 - Major Repairs of Drainage Works.

§ 15-1941. Major repairs of drainage works.
1. Major repairs, alterations, extensions and improvements of drainage
  works  for a drainage improvement district may be made by the department
  on petition  therefor  and  after  procedure  thereon  similar  to  that
  specified  in  section 15-1931 for original construction.  If additional
  surveys are required, they may be authorized  as  provided  in  sections
  15-1911,  15-1913,  15-1915 and 15-1917, except that the cost of surveys
  and other expenses may be included in the cost of  the  improvement  and
  assessed  on  the properties to be served thereby in accordance with the
  apportionment of cost of the repairs.
2. Except where the department shall otherwise determine, the cost  of
  improvements  and  repairs to a ditch already built under the provisions
  of title 19 of this article, or of any former drainage  laws,  shall  be
  apportioned in the same manner as the original cost was apportioned, but
  the  department  may make a new apportionment by following the procedure
  above specified.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1943 - Minor Repairs in Drainage Districts.

§ 15-1943. Minor repairs in drainage districts.
1.  Application  for  the  repair,  enlargement or cleaning out of any
  ditch  originally  constructed  or  repaired  by  assessment  under  the
  provisions of title 19 of this article, or any former general or special
  drainage  laws,  if  within  a  drainage improvement district and if the
  total cost thereof shall not exceed two per cent of  the  total  of  the
  drainage  enhancements  of all parcels served by such ditch, may be made
  by any three or more  persons  liable  to  be  assessed  therefor.  Such
  application  shall be made by written petition, verified by at least one
  of the signers thereof, setting forth the work  desired,  the  estimated
  cost thereof and the need therefor.
2.  On  receipt  of  such  petition  the  department  shall  cause  an
  examination to be made of such ditch or ditches, an estimate of the cost
  of such repairs and improvements and a special apportionment of the cost
  thereof to be prepared, and shall file a  statement  of  these  matters.
  Thereafter,  after  due notice, the department shall hear all interested
  parties with regard thereto. The filing of written objections shall  not
  be  required.  If  after the hearing the department shall determine that
  the work can be done under this section, is necessary and is desired  by
  the owners of the lands involved, it may proceed to make such repairs or
  enlargements.  The  cost of such repairs and expenses of the hearing and
  examination generally shall be apportioned upon the properties served by
  the  work  in  accordance  with  the  general  or  a  previous   special
  apportionment of the cost of such ditch or part of a ditch.
3.  If  the  department  shall find that changes should be made in the
  apportionment, or, for any other reason, that the  work  should  not  be
  done  under  the  provisions  of  this section, it may so specify in its
  order,  giving  its  reasons  therefor,  and  return  the  case  to  the
  applicants  for  further  petition.  Money to pay for such work shall be
  raised pursuant to  the  Local  Finance  Law  and  as  elsewhere  herein
  provided.  The  whole cost of such work shall be collected within not to
  exceed three years from the date of completion of the project as may  be
  determined by the department.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1945 - Minor Repairs in Existing Drainage Ditches.

§ 15-1945. Minor repairs in existing drainage ditches.
1.  Repairs  of  a  minor  nature  may  be  made to ditches heretofore
  constructed by assessment under the former drainage  law,  or  the  laws
  from  which  it was derived or under the provisions of this or any other
  general or special law by following the procedure set forth  in  section
  15-1943 so far as it is applicable. The total cost of such repairs shall
  not  exceed  the  sum of five thousand dollars on any one ditch for work
  done under one proceeding. The cost of such work shall be paid  for  out
  of the drainage fund provided by section 15-1957 hereof.
2.  When  such  repairs or enlargements shall be finished, it shall be
  the duty of the department to make up an itemized account  of  the  cost
  incurred  in  the making of such repairs or enlargements and to file the
  same as provided in section 15-1955 and such cost  shall  thereafter  be
  assessed  and  collected  within  not  to  exceed three years as therein
  provided and as further provided herein. The expenses  of  such  repairs
  and  enlargements  shall be apportioned among the premises to which were
  originally apportioned  the  cost  of  construction  of  such  ditch  or
  ditches,   as   shown  by  the  apportionment  made  for  such  original
  construction and  filed  in  the  county  clerk's  office  or  elsewhere
  according to the valuation thereof on the last completed assessment roll
  or the drainage enhancements thereof, if such have been determined.
3.   In   case   any  public  corporations  have  contributed  to  the
  construction of such ditch or ditches, such public corporations shall be
  liable for the repair or enlargement of the ditch  or  ditches,  in  the
  same  proportion that they were originally assessed for the construction
  of the same, which shall also be levied and collected out of the taxable
  inhabitants of such public corporation in the  same  manner  that  other
  taxes are levied and collected in the corporation.
2023 New York Laws › ENV - Environmental Conservation › Article 15 - Water Resources › Title 19 - Drainage › 15-1947 - Unlawful Interference With Drainage Works.

§ 15-1947. Unlawful interference with drainage works.
1.  It  shall  be  unlawful  for  any  person to divert water from its
  natural watershed in such manner that it flows into a drainage district,
  or so to divert water in a drainage  district  as  to  prevent  it  from
  following the course laid out for such water by the department and cause
  it  to  flow  into  any  stream, ditch or ditches into which it does not
  naturally or was not designed to flow.
2. It shall be  unlawful  for  any  person  without  authorization  to
  interfere  with,  fill  up,  alter or change any drainage ditch or other
  structure constructed under the provisions of title 19 of  this  article
  or  lawfully constructed under the provisions of the conservation or the
  drainage laws or any other  general  or  special  statutes,  or  without
  authorization  to  open  or  close  gates  or  other regulating works in
  connection therewith or to construct unauthorized ditches or  drains  or
  other  interference.  This  shall  not  be  held  to prevent the private
  construction of drainage works within a  district,  provided  that  such
  construction is done in accordance with plans approved by the department
  and with its written consent.
3.  It  shall  be  unlawful  to  build  or  maintain across or in such
  drainage ditch any bridge or culvert which unduly impedes  the  flow  of
  water  in  such  ditch.  No  bridge or culvert across or in any drainage
  channel or ditch within or without a drainage district and necessary  to
  the  proper  drainage  thereof,  shall  hereafter  be  built, rebuilt or
  altered by any person or authority except with the written  consent  and
  approval of the department.