What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Authorizes a permissive referendum to be initiated by the local government or voters on an amendment or adoption to local laws relating to the increase of taxes
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor Peter Lopez
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the municipal home rule law, in relation to authorizing a permissive referendum where a legislative body of a local government is amending or adopting local laws relating to the increase of taxes pursuant to state legislative authority
Purpose or general idea of bill
This legislation authorizes a permissive referendum when a local government seeks special authorization from the state legislature to amend or adopt local laws relating to the increase of taxes, fines, fees, or surcharges as a function of a home-rule request.
Summary of specific provisions
Amends Municipal Home Rule Law Section 24, Subdivision 2 by adding a new Paragraph 1, which specifies that in the case where a legislative body of a given unit of local government is granted special authority by the state legislature to amend or adopt local laws relating to the increase of taxes, fines, fees, or surcharges as a function of a home rule request made to the state legislature by said legislative body, such action would be subject to a permissive referendum.
Justification
With the economic melt-down on Wall Street and subsequent loss of federal and state revenues, local governments have found themselves financially challenged to maintain programs and services. As a partial response, some local governments are seeking special legislative authority from the state legislature to create new sources of revenue in the form of increased fees, fines, surcharges, and other local taxes. As municipalities seek home-rule authorization to enact these measures taxpayers are looking for a greater say in the final decision making, and have requested the ability to actually vote on proposed measures. This legislation would provide the taxpaying public with such an opportunity, and encourage a more comprehensive local review and dialogue on how tax dollars are spent, and where additional revenues may be needed.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
This legislation will have a salutary impact on the public decision making process surrounding the amendment or adoption of local laws which would increase taxes, fines, fees, or surcharges by increasing public participation. Such increased public involvement may cause the adoption or amendment process to be deliberative and could cause a reduction in the number of home rule requests for this purpose, or may cause certain proposals to be turned down by the voting public.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.