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Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Committed to rules
- Amended on third reading 3137a
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.343
- Committee discharged and committed to environmental conservation
- 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 counties to lease county land for natural gas exploration, development and production for 5 years or as long as gas is produced
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor William Magee
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S3137A
Title of bill
An act to amend the county law, in relation to leases for the exploration and drilling for and extraction of natural gas and liquefied natural gas
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to allow non-charter counties to enter into leases for a period exceeding 5 years in order to put them in the same position as charter counties.
Summary of provisions
§ 1 proposes to amend County Law §215 by adding a new subdivision to allow a board of supervisors or other county legislative body to lease, upon such terms and conditions the board or body shall determine, county land for the purposes of exploration, development and production of natural gas and liquefied natural gas, for not more than five years and, if gas is produced the lease shall continue until the production is no longer being produced in paying quantities.
§2 Sets the effective date of the act as immediately.
Justification
Currently, §215 of County Law restricts the lease term counties may enter into to a period not to exceed five years. At the same time 2(b) of County Law allows charter counties to adopt Local Law, by amending their charter to allow the County to enter into a lease term they see fit. This legislation aims to give non-charter counties and charter counties the same opportunities when drilling for natural gas in New York State.
Under the current system, the length of leases and rate in the natural gas industry are determined by the market. Non-charter counties are severely handicapped in their negotiations with natural gas companies because of the five year limitation placed on them by § 215 of County Law. As a result, counties fear that they will simply be integrated under compulsory integration and lose control of county-owned lands.
The proposal to allow for a primary term not exceeding a five year term for exploration and the commencement of drilling, which either lapses if drilling fails to commence, or extends the lease until drilling terminates is consistent with the practice employed by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, when the State of New York contracts with a private company to produce natural gas.
Legislative history
2010: S.6325 - Referred to Local Government
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.