What's happening
This bill authorizes a long-term lease of the Rogers Environmental Education Center to a nonprofit for operation and maintenance.
Why it matters
Guarantees long-term stability. A lease of at least 40 years gives the nonprofit security to make significant investments in the property, knowing they’ll have time to see benefits and recoup costs—important for both major renovations and ongoing environmental education programming.
Encourages private investment and flexibility. The nonprofit (Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc.) is empowered to decide which private sector investments or partnerships to accept, potentially allowing for more innovative or responsive stewardship than direct government management.
Prioritizes maintenance and public access. All revenue from use fees (for events, programs, etc.) must be reinvested in the center’s operation and maintenance, helping ensure sustainable funding while maintaining a public benefit focus.
Maintains oversight and public interest safeguards. The lease will include terms set by the Commissioner to protect public access and the center’s natural resources, aiming to balance nonprofit autonomy with necessary state oversight.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lease Rogers Center to Friends
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4633
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 3, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. MAGEE, CROUCH, FINCH -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to providing for the lease of the Rogers environmental education center in the town of Sherburne, county of Chenango, to the Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc., and providing for certain terms of such lease
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 3-0301 of the environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new subdivision 6 to read as follows:
6. The department, by and through the commissioner, shall, in addition to any other provision of law authorizing the leasing of property under its jurisdiction, lease the land, and the buildings, structures and improvements thereon, constituting the Rogers environmental education center in the town of Sherburne, county of Chenango, to the Friends of Rogers Environmental Education Center, Inc., a not-for-profit corporation, for a term of not less than forty years for the purpose of the operation of such center to promote the understanding of environmental conservation. Such extended lease term shall be for assuring the lessee of adequate protection against loss of investments in renovations and improvements to, and the operation and maintenance of the Rogers environmental education center during the term of the lease. Such lease shall require the lessee to operate such center in a manner that will encourage investment by the private sector in maintaining and operating the Rogers environmental education center for public use and enjoyment, in furtherance of environmental education and preservation of the natural resources of such center. The lessee shall have sole discretion in determining which investments by the private sector, and the parties making such investments shall be accepted or rejected. The lease required by this subdivision shall authorize the lessee to impose and
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08829-01-7
A. 4633 2
collect reasonable use fees for events, programs and activities conducted by it upon the grounds of the Rogers environmental education center including, but not limited to, such educational programs, recreational activities, uses of such center and fundraising events as shall be determined by the lessee in its discretion; provided, however, that all fees and revenue collected by the lessee shall be used exclusively for the operation and maintenance of the center. Such lease shall contain such terms and conditions as the commissioner shall deem necessary to protect the public interest, insure public access and protect the natural resources of the center, while not restricting the lessee's use and operation thereof for the benefit and enjoyment of the public.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.