Relates to the oversight of certain public authorities

1 Co-sponsor

• William J. Larkin Jr.

Title of bill

An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the oversight of certain public authorities

Purpose

To require budget reports of and restrict the transfer of functions to and from certain public authorities

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1: This bill would amend article 9 of the public authorities law, to add a new title 1-a. This new title would apply to the following public benefit corporations:

* The Environmental Facilities Corporation

* The Dormitory Authority

* The Urban Development Corporation and any subsidiary thereof

* Health Research, Inc.

* The Job Development Authority

* The Housing Trust Fund Corporation, and Pursuant to its terms, this bill would require the aforementioned public benefit corporations to annually submit to the governor, the president pro tempore of the senate the speaker of the assembly and the comptroller, a report of budget information in the form specified in section two thousand eight hundred one of the public authorities law. Such report must be maintained at the principal office of the public authority as a public record available for public inspection and copying pursuant to article six of the Public Officers Law.

This bill would also restrict the public benefit corporations by mandating that no function which is primarily performed by a department or agency of the state shall be transferred to or assumed by a regulated public authority as defined by this title, unless the transfer is specifically authorized in law by an act of the state legislature.

Finally, any employee hired by the public benefit corporation who is hired after the effective date of this legislation shall be deemed to be in the classified civil service and shall be subject to provisions of the civil service law in the same manner as any other employee.

Justification

Public Authorities and Public Benefit Corps. are entities created by the state to perform specific functions, which are governmental or quasi-governmental in nature. In most cases they are created for limited purposes with limited jurisdiction. Many of these entities have expanded and now employ a large workforce. This bill would provide for increased public and governmental oversight into the operation of certain public authorities. It would mandate specific budget reports, restrict transfer functions and guarantee civil service status of employees.

Legislative history

2001-2002: S.2360 POCKET VETO-VETO.59 2003-2004: S.3890 Referred to corporations, 2007 Referred to Corporations, 2008 Referred to Corporations

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.