What's happening
This bill requires the state to provide GIS mapping and technical assistance to local governments for strategic planning and municipal studies upon demonstrated need.
Why it matters
Expands state support for local planning. By mandating state-level technical assistance, especially GIS mapping, the bill helps smaller or resource-limited municipalities and counties access expertise and tools they may not otherwise afford, potentially leading to more informed and effective local decision-making.
Focuses on strategic development and policy decisions. The assistance is specifically tied to municipal needs related to strategic planning, including studies of floor space usage and capacity, which can directly impact economic development, zoning, housing, and infrastructure planning.
Aims for data-driven governance. By requiring municipalities to demonstrate need and connect requests to specific strategic purposes (such as reviewing business, employment, or land use), the bill encourages local governments to base policy and planning decisions on comprehensive, data-rich analyses.
Standardizes mapping and study methodologies. Centralizing technical support through the state’s Office of Information Technology Services and Department of State may help ensure consistency, accuracy, and interoperability of data and methods used across local governments, benefiting regional and statewide planning efforts.
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Who cares
City and village planning commissions
They could request mapping assistance from the Office of Information Technology Services for strategic development or policy decisions, subject to a showing of need if requested.
County and town planning boards
They could seek state mapping assistance for qualifying county studies and town official-map changes tied to strategic development or policy.
Office of Information Technology Services
It would be required to provide municipalities with technology services, including GIS mapping, and could request a showing of need.
Counties and municipalities studying floor-space use
They would gain access to a state assistance program offering technical and methodological support for studies of available floor space, residential, commercial and industrial use, and related strategic plans.
Headline styles
Expand GIS Mapping Help
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1704
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to local government
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to local governments
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 63–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.2003
Show 2 earlier actions
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to local government
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2209
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 12, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BRESLIN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, the town law, the state technology law and the executive law, in relation to provision of geographic information system mapping for strategic planning and municipal study assistance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 237 of the general municipal law, as added by chapter 699 of the laws of 1913, is amended to read as follows:
§ 237. Maps and recommendations. Such planning commission may cause to be made a map or maps of said city or village or any portion thereof, or of any land outside the limits of said city or village so near or so related thereto that in the opinion of said planning commission it should be so mapped. Such plans may show not only such matters as by law have been or may be referred to the planning commission, but also any and all matters and things with relation to the plan of said city or village which to said planning commission seem necessary and proper, including recommendations and changes suggested by it; and any report at any time made, may include any of the above. Such planning commission may obtain expert assistance in the making of any such maps or reports, or in the investigations necessary and proper with relation thereto. Such planning commission may also request assistance from the office of information technology services, which shall assist with any mapping of said city or village or any portion thereof, where such a request is made in order for said city or village to make any strategic development or policy decisions, upon a showing of need by the city or village upon request by the office as defined by section one hundred three of the state technology law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07533-01-7
S. 2209 2
§ 2. Paragraph (d) of subdivision 3 of section 239-c of the general municipal law, as added by chapter 451 of the laws of 1997, is amended to read as follows:
(d) County studies. The county planning board may undertake studies relevant to the future growth, development, and protection of the county and municipalities therein, including studies in support of a county comprehensive plan. For any such studies that require strategic planning and consultation of official or unofficial maps of the county, the county planning board may request assistance from the office of information technology services, which shall assist with any mapping, upon a showing of need by the county planning board upon request by the office as defined by section one hundred three of the state technology law.
§ 3. Section 273 of the town law, as amended by chapter 486 of the laws of 1956, is amended to read as follows:
§ 273. Official map, changes. Such town board is authorized and empowered, whenever and as often as it may deem it for the public interest, to change or add to the official map of the town so as to lay out new streets, highways, drainage systems or parks, or to widen or close existing streets, highways, drainage systems or parks within that part of the town outside the limits of any incorporated city or village. At least ten days' notice of a public hearing on any proposed action with reference to any such change in the official map shall be published in a newspaper of general circulation in such town. Before making any such addition or change, the town board shall refer the matter to the planning board for report thereon, but if the planning board shall not make its report within thirty days of such reference, it shall forfeit the right further to suspend action. Such additions and changes, when adopted, shall become a part of the official map of the town, and shall be deemed to be final and conclusive with respect to the location of the streets, highways, drainage systems and parks shown thereon. The layout, widening or closing, or the approval of the layout, widening or closing, of streets, highways, drainage systems or parks, by the town board, or the town superintendent of highways, under provisions of law other than those contained in this article, shall be deemed to be an addition or change of the official map, and shall be subject to all the provisions of this article with regard to such additions or changes. For any such addition or change that is made as part of a strategic development or policy, the planning board may request assistance from the office of information technology services, which shall assist with any mapping, upon a showing of need by the planning board upon request by the office as defined by section one hundred three of the state technology law.
§ 4. Section 103 of the state technology law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7-b to read as follows:
7-b. To provide technology services including geographic information system mapping upon request by any municipality, provided that the office may request a showing of need from any municipality. For purposes of this section, a showing of need shall be approved if the municipality demonstrates that technical assistance in providing geographic information system mapping by the office will assist the municipality in making strategic development or policy determinations involving a review of floor space usage within its geographic borders and business, employment, and other capacity usage information.
§ 5. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 105-a to read as follows:
§ 105-a. Municipal study assistance. The commissioner shall cause the department to offer, in conjunction with the office of information tech-
S. 2209 3
nology services, a program or system that shall assist counties or municipalities in the conducting of a study of the total usage of floor space within the given county or municipal borders. Such program or system shall include but not be limited to technical assistance, methodological support, and any technology services that are deemed to be useful to a county or municipality causing such a study to be taken. The use of such program or system shall only be used where the purpose of such study shall be to determine the total floor space available within a given subdivision, the percentage of floor space used for residential, commercial, and industrial purposes, and the creation of any strategic plan related to responses on such floor space study.
§ 6. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general municipal law, the town law, the state technology law and the executive law, in relation to provision of geographic information system mapping for strategic planning and municipal study assistance
Purpose
Relates to the provision of geographic information system mapping technology for strategic planning and survey assistance
Summary of provisions
Allows the planning commission or planning board of a city, village, county, or town to request assistance from the Office of Information Technology Services in various GIS mapping or conducting of surveys when it is part of a strategic plan involving a review or study of floor space usage.
Existing law
New
Justification
The usage of available floor space within a given political subdivision is a critical detail. Evaluation of floor space usage allows the local area to understand how buildings are being used, and evaluate whether new zoning or construction plans are needed to stimulate activity in certain sectors. However, conducting a study through questionnaires and or geographic information mapping (GIS) technology is difficult and costly for local entities. On the other hand, the Office of Information Technology Services already maintains statewide GIS information and can readily adapt that material for more specific purposes.
This legislation would allow towns, villages, cities, and counties to request GIS and study assistance from OITS to undertake a review of floor space usage. Such assistance could include specific GIS maps, online questionnaires, and other technological methods that would assist the conducting of such studies.
As an example, the city of Sydney, Australia conducts a floor space and employment study every five years, allowing the city to create a comprehensive map of usage and better understand patterns of development in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. This legislation would assist municipalities, especially those undergoing redevelopment efforts, in taking the same action on a regular basis.
Legislative history
New
Fiscal implications
Some administrative costs to OITS in providing such services, though OITS already has the capacity to provide many of these services.
Effective date
90 days after becoming a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.