S208-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
• Jan 5, 2011: REFERRED TO ENERGY AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS

S208-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S208

TITLE  OF  BILL:    An  act  to  amend  the public authorities law, in
relation to providing veto power to the  governor  over  acts  of  the
power authority of the state of New York

PURPOSE:    Provides veto power to the governor over acts of the Power
Authority of the state of New York

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:  Adds Section 1003-a to the Public  Authorities
Law  to  read as follows:  Power of Authority to be approved or vetoed
by governor. The exercise of the veto power of the governor  over  any
action of the authority is hereby granted. The governor may within ten
days veto any action taken by the authority. If the governor shall not
veto  such  action of the authority within such 10 day period, then at
the expiration thereof, such action shall have full force and effect.

JUSTIFICATION:   The Legislature has  an  obligation  to  ensure  that
fiscal  decisions  made  by  the  political  subdivisions, agencies or
authorities of state government have been reviewed and are  deemed  to
be  in the best interest of the public. This is particularly important
in  cases  where  the  decision-makers  are  unelected  and  therefore
unaccountable to the citizens of New York.

In light of a series of recent decisions made by the Board of Trustees
of  the  New  York  Power  Authority,  the Legislature recognizes that
greater transparency and accountability are necessary to  ensure  that
the  power  Authority is able to carry out its mission. The actions of
the Power Authority in question includes considering  pay  raises  and
bonuses   for   employees   during   a   fiscal  crisis,  a  virtually
secret-approval of $476 million "sweep" of NYPA funds, and a  proposed
rate  hike  of  over  10 percent to finance the "sweep" to the General
Fund. All of these fiscally imprudent  activities  conflict  with  the
Power  Authority's ability to provide low-cost power to businesses and
residents and spur economic development.

This proposal would give the governor greater oversight of  the  Board
of Trustees of the Power Authority by granting the governor 10 days to
object  to,  and thereby rescind, any actions of the Board.  Precedent
for this bill exists in current law wherein the governor is given veto
power over acts exercised by the Port Authority of New  York  and  New
Jersey.

BILL  HISTORY:    S.4121/A.7497  of  2009-2010; Referred to Energy and
Telecommunications

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.

S208-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                          208
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 5, 2011
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. MAZIARZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
 printed to be committed to the Committee on  Energy  and  Telecommuni
 cations
 AN  ACT  to  amend  the public authorities law, in relation to providing
 veto power to the governor over acts of the  power  authority  of  the
 state of New York
 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

 

Section 1. The public authorities law  is  amended  by  adding  a  new
 section 1003-a to read as follows:

 

S 1003-A. POWER OF AUTHORITY TO BE APPROVED OR VETOED BY GOVERNOR. THE
 EXERCISE  OF  THE  VETO  POWER  OF  THE  GOVERNOR OVER ANY ACTION OF THE
 AUTHORITY IS HEREBY GRANTED.
 THE GOVERNOR MAY, WITHIN TEN DAYS VETO ANY ACTION TAKEN BY THE AUTHOR
 ITY.  IF THE GOVERNOR SHALL NOT VETO SUCH ACTION OF THE AUTHORITY WITHIN
 SUCH TEN DAY PERIOD, THEN AT THE EXPIRATION THEREOF, SUCH  ACTION  SHALL
 HAVE FULL FORCE AND EFFECT.
 

S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
 [ ] is old law to be omitted.
 LBD01681-01-1

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