What's happening
This bill changes the Long Island Power Authority board to include one governor-appointed chairperson and eight elected trustees from legislative districts.
Why it matters
Direct election of trustees gives Long Island residents more control. over the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA), shifting oversight from state political appointees to locally elected representatives and potentially increasing accountability to ratepayers.
Political parties are barred from nominating trustee candidates,. aiming to reduce partisan influence and encourage nonpartisan, community-focused candidates to serve on the board.
The board’s structure changes to a single governor-appointed chairperson and eight trustees elected from population-based districts,. potentially making the board more representative of Long Island’s diverse communities and responsive to local concerns.
Experience requirements are reduced for trustees, except for the chairperson,. which could broaden who is eligible to serve, allowing for more grassroots participation, but may also raise questions about board expertise in utility governance.
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Who cares
LIPA service-area residents
The bill would let voters elect eight district-based trustees, replacing a fully appointed board beginning January 1, 2022.
Governor and legislative leaders
The governor would retain appointment of the chairperson, while the other eight trustee seats would shift from executive and legislative appointments to elections.
State Legislature and boards of elections
Lawmakers would have to draw and periodically reapportion eight equal-population districts, and boards of elections would conduct trustee elections.
Prospective trustee candidates and political parties
Elected trustees would have to live in their districts and could not be state or municipal officials, while political parties could not nominate candidates for the seats.
Headline styles
Elect LIPA Board Trustees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
8824
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
December 22, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the elections of trustees to the Long Island Power Authority
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1020-d of the public authorities law, as amended by section 4 of part A of chapter 173 of the laws of 2013, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1020-d. Board of trustees. 1. Starting on January first, two thousand fourteen, the board of the authority shall be constituted and consist of nine trustees all of whom shall be residents of the service area, five of whom shall be appointed by the governor, one of whom the governor shall designate as chair, and serve at his or her pleasure, two of whom shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate, and two of whom shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly. One of the governor's appointees shall serve an initial term of two years; one of the governor's appointees shall serve an initial term of three years; and three of the governor's appointees shall serve an initial term of four years. One of the appointees of the temporary president of the senate and one of the appointees of the speaker of the assembly shall serve initial terms of two years; and one appointee of the temporary president of the senate and one appointee of the speaker of the assembly shall serve initial terms of three years. Thereafter, all terms shall be for a period of four years. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of trustee by death, resignation or otherwise, the respective appointing officer shall appoint a successor who shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term.
1-a. (a) Beginning January first, two thousand twenty-two, such authority shall consist of nine trustees. One trustee, who shall be the chairperson, shall be a resident of the service area, shall be appointed
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13824-02-7
A. 8824 2
by the governor, and shall serve at the governor's pleasure. Eight trustees shall be elected from districts established by the legislature. Each elected trustee shall be a resident of the district from which he or she is elected. No person who is an elected or appointed official of the state or any municipality or any agency or instrumentality thereof, shall be qualified to serve as an elected trustee. Each elected trustee shall hold office until his or her successor has been elected and qualified. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of a trustee by death, resignation or otherwise, a successor shall be chosen to hold office for the unexpired term in the manner prescribed by the election law.
(b) Prior to May first, two thousand twenty-one, the legislature shall establish eight districts, which shall be equal in population as determined by the last federal decennial census. Prior to May first, two thousand twenty-five and each tenth year thereafter, the legislature shall reapportion the eight districts, which shall be equal in population as determined by the last federal decennial census.
(c) Such trustees shall be elected in elections conducted by the boards of elections pursuant to applicable provisions of the election law. The first such election shall be held on the first Tuesday in December two thousand twenty-one, and the trustees so elected shall take office on January first, two thousand twenty-two. At such election all eight trustees shall be elected for a term of two years. Each such term ending on December thirty-first of the last year thereof. No political party shall be entitled to nominate candidates for the office of trustee at any such election.
(d) Five trustees shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of organizing the authority and conducting the business thereof. The vote of a majority of the trustees shall be required for the purpose of taking action.
2. No trustee shall receive a salary, but each shall be entitled to reimbursement for reasonable expenses in the performance of duties assigned hereunder.
3. [Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law, no trustee, officer or employee of the state, any state agency or municipality appointed a trustee shall be deemed to have forfeited or shall forfeit his or her office or employment by reason of his or her acceptance of a trusteeship on the authority, his or her service thereon or his or her employment therewith.
4.] All trustees appointed under this section shall have relevant utility, corporate board or financial experience. Beginning January first, two thousand twenty-two only the chairperson appointed by the governor shall be subject to this subdivision.
§ 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.