Relates to establishing the consolidated local infrastructure program

Title of bill

An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to establishing the consolidated local infrastructure program for the purpose of making payments toward the replacement and rehabilitation of existing local municipally-owned and funded drinking water, storm water and sanitary sewer systems

Purpose or general idea of bill

This legislation seeks to create a water, sewer and storm water local infrastructure funding program similar in scope to CHIPS.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 3-0321 to read as follows:

3 § 3-0321. Consolidated local infrastructure program (CLIPS)

1. Establishes a program to make payments towards the replacement and reconstruction of existing local village, town, city or county municipally-owned and funded drinking water, storm water and sanitary sewer systems in New York State; and directs the commissioner to promulgate all rules and regulation under this title.

2. Establishes the dates of payments

3. Establishes a distribution formula based upon the total length and size of all pipelines and mains owned and operated by the municipality.

4. Establishes the use of a competitive bidding process for use of the funds

5. Monies may be used to match any other state or federal funds for the same purpose; and the remainder may be used for any existing drinking water, storm water and sanitary sewer systems purchase and/or the acquisition of materials for the repair and/or rehabilitation.

6. Establishes that these funds may be used to towards the consolidation of municipal infrastructure.

7. Establishes the amount appropriated under this title as equal to that of CHIPS.

Section 2. Effective Date.

Justification

According to the federal government, 80% of all New York State water infrastructure, specifically drinking water, storm water and sanitary sewer, is in dire need of repair, replacement or rehabilitation. These costs are ever increasing, while local municipalities struggle with less federal and state funding, as well as their tax cap being tied to the Consumer Price Index rendering their revenue generation static.

Economic growth is completely dependent upon updated and sound infrastructure that can handle added capacity. New York State will simply not be competitive unless we invest in our infrastructure to ensure it has the capacity for increased commercial growth and residential populations, much less handle its current capacity. New businesses will not invest in our state if they cannot depend on the infrastructure to serve them.

This legislation seeks to give local municipalities the funding stream they require to keep up with repairs and rehabilitation of their current local infrastructure.

The formula for calculating the amount due to each municipality is based on the length and size of the pipe. It should be noted that municipalities that have greater total pipe length and size of pipe will correspond to older municipalities, particularly cities.

Prior legislative history

New Bill.

Fiscal implications

To be determined

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.