What's happening
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the state to fund local government costs for new or expanded programs mandated by state laws.
Why it matters
Shifts financial responsibility for state-mandated programs. By requiring the state to reimburse local governments for new or expanded programs, the amendment would prevent cities, counties, towns, and villages from bearing the costs of unfunded state mandates, potentially easing pressure on local budgets and property taxes.
Could influence legislative decision-making. Knowing that new mandates will require state funding might make lawmakers more cautious about passing legislation that imposes obligations on local governments, possibly reducing the number of costly mandates enacted.
Includes exceptions for federal funding. The amendment does not apply when federal reimbursement or matching funds are available and would be jeopardized by state funding, ensuring localities can still participate in federally-supported programs without financial disruption.
Requires creation of funding allocation procedures. The legislature would need to establish clear processes for distributing state funds among local governments, raising questions about how fair and efficient these procedures would be and how disputes would be resolved.
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Who cares
Headline styles
State Must Fund Local Mandates
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
16 Co-sponsors
History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to ways and means
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to ways and means
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5186
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 6, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. FRIEND, BLANKENBUSH, KOLB, GIGLIO, HAWLEY, FINCH, MURRAY, LOPEZ, PALMESANO, LUPINACCI, GARBARINO, MONTESANO, CROUCH, RA, GRAF, RAIA, GOODELL -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARCLAY, BUTLER, McDONOUGH, McKEVITT, B. MILLER, OAKS, STEC, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to article 9 of the constitution, in relation to acts of the legislature having fiscal impact on local governments
Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That article 9 of the constitution be amended by adding a new section 4 to read as follows:
§ 4. The legislature shall provide state funding to reimburse cities, counties, towns, and/or villages for the costs associated with expenditures made as a requirement for any law, general or special, effective the first day of January succeeding the approval of the voters, which mandates the undertaking of a new program or increases the level of service of an existing program by a city, county, town, or village. The legislature shall establish procedures for the allocation of funds among the cities, counties, towns, and/or villages.
This requirement shall not apply where federal reimbursement or matching funds are available and such provision would disqualify a municipality, or impair a municipality's ability, to participate in or receive such federal funds. The legislature shall, in its discretion, determine if state funding shall be provided for the support of such federal programs provided by a municipality.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for three months previous to the time of such election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89086-01-7
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.