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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
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.
Provides veto power to the governor over acts of the power authority of the state of New York
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Raymond Walter
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's 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.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.