Relates to clarifying and making certain technical corrections to the public authorities reform act of 2009; repealer

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of this bill amends Subdivisions 1 and 2 of Section 2800 of the Public Authorities Law to allow durable information to be posted on the website of a public authority rather than submitted annually in the Public Authorities Reporting Information System ("PARIS')and to make other technical changes to conform to current PARIS data fields. Subdivision 2 of this bill amends Subdivision 4 of Section 2800 of the Public Authorities Law to clarify that a waiver granted pursuant to such Subdivision shall not apply to the filing requirement imposed on an industrial development agency by Section 859 of the General Municipal Law or to any other requirement that a State or local authority file or submit documents or information to the State Comptroller.

Section 3 of this bill amends Section 2801 of the Public Authorities Law to require submission of an adopted budget plan no later than 30 days prior to the start of a public authority's fiscal year. Subdivision 3 is repealed in this section, since the budget report is required prior to the fiscal year and would not be included in the annual report filed at the conclusion of the fiscal year.

Section 4 of the bill is Intentionally Omitted.

Section 5 of this bill amends the opening paragraph of Subdivision 2 of Section 2825 of the Public Authorities Law to clarify that ex officio local authority board members are considered to be independent in the same way as ex officio State directors.

Section 6 of this bill amends the opening paragraph of Subdivision 6 of Section 2827-a of the Public Authorities Law to require any subsidiary public benefit corporation to provide to the State Comptroller a report on such subsidiary.

Section 7 of this bill amends Paragraph (a) of Subdivision 8 of

Section 2879 of the Public Authorities Law to require that procurement reports be submitted within 90 days of the end of the authority's fiscal year.

Section 8 of this bill amends Subdivision 3 of Section 2896 of the Public Authorities Law to clarify that property reports are to be filed within 90 days of the end of the authority's fiscal year as part of the annual report required under Section 2800 of the Public Authorities Law.

Section 9 of this bill amends Paragraphs (a) and (b) of Subdivision 7 of Section 2925 of the Public Authorities Law to require the filing of

annual investment reports within 90 days of the end of the authority's fiscal year.

Section 10 of this bill amends Subdivision 2 of Section 561-a of the General Municipal Law to establish that urban renewal agencies must submit an annual financial report and audit to the commissioner of housing and community renewal and the Comptroller within 90 days after the close of the authority's fiscal year.

Section 11 of this bill amends Subdivision 1 of Section 859 of the General Municipal Law to conform financial reporting by industrial development agencies to the Public Authorities Law. Additionally, this Section establishes that a waiver granted pursuant to such Subdivision shall not apply to any filing requirement imposed on an agency by or pursuant to Section 2800 of the Public Authorities Law.

Section 12 of this bill provides for an immediate effective date.

Prior legislative history

2012-13: S. 5820-B and A. 7798-B (Passed Assembly).

Justification

The Public Authorities Reform Act of 2009 was signed into law in December of that year. This Act improved public authority transparency and accountability through enhanced reporting and oversight provisions. The statutory changes suggested in this bill seek to clarify the reporting and compliance responsibilities of public authorities pursuant to the Act as well as to enhance public access to authority information.

Budget implications

This bill has no significant fiscal impact.

Effective date

This bill would take effect immediately.