What's happening
This bill changes the appointment process for New York City's Water Board, giving appointment power to multiple city officials and requiring City Council confirmation.
Why it matters
Distributes appointment power for the Water Board among several officials (mayor, city council speaker, comptroller, public advocate). , reducing the mayor’s sole control and potentially increasing representation of different political perspectives and interests.
Requires City Council confirmation for all appointees. , introducing a formal system of checks and balances that can improve public accountability and offer a layer of public scrutiny over appointments.
Prohibits appointees from being current (or very recent) city employees or officers. , aiming to prevent conflicts of interest and encourage more independent oversight of the Water Board.
Transfers the power to elect the chair of the board from the mayor to the board members themselves. , which may foster greater internal board democracy and reduce potential executive branch influence over board leadership.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Change Water Board Appointments
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.583
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 56–3
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
Show 2 earlier actions
- 1st report cal.139
- Referred to corporations, authorities and commissions
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Change Who Picks Water Board
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor David Weprin
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2592
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. LANZA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the city of New York water board
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 1045-f of the public authorities law, as added by chapter 513 of the laws of 1984, is amended to read as follows:
2. (a) The water board shall consist of seven members to be appointed [by the mayor.] as follows:
(i) Four members appointed by the mayor;
(ii) One member appointed by the speaker of the city council;
(iii) One member appointed by the comptroller of the city of New York; and
(iv) One member appointed by the public advocate.
(b) All members appointed to the board must be confirmed by the city council before they may commence their term.
(c) Terms of office of the members shall be two years except that the terms of four of the board members first appointed shall be one year. At least one member shall have experience in the science of water resource development. No member shall be a director of the authority. [The mayor shall appoint a chairman from among the members of the board.] No appointee shall be an officer or employee of the city, or have served in such capacity in the preceding six month period. The chairman shall be duly elected by the members of the board, subject to the same quorum and voting requirements as provided for in subdivision seven of this section. All members shall continue to hold office until their successors are appointed and qualified. Vacancies shall be filled in the manner provided for original appointments. Vacancies, occurring otherwise than by expiration of term of office, shall be filled in the same manner as original appointments for the unexpired terms.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02554-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the city of New York water board
Purpose of bill
Relates to appointments to the water board of the city of New York.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends subdivision two of section 1045-f of the public authorities law, as added by chapter 513 of the laws of 1954.
Section two is the effective date.
Justification
The New York City Water Board sets the rates for water and sewer fees charged to all building owners, home owners and businesses in New York City. The members of the Water Board are currently all Mayoral appoint- ees. This bill would give appointing power to two other offices of the city government and would offer a level of accountability to the rate payers.
Legislative history
2017: S.2592 - Passed Senate / A.5546 - Referred to Corporations 2016: S.4621 - Passed Senate / A.3068 - Reported to ways & Means 2015: S.4621 - Passed Senate / A.3063 - 3rd Reading Calendar 2014: S.3596 - Passed Senate / A.5410 - Referred to Rules 2013: S.3598 - 3rd Reading Calendar / A.5410 - Passed Assembly 2012: S.7685 - Referred to Rules / A.3725 - Passed Assembly 2010: S.8320 - Referred to Rules / A.11060 - Passed the Assembly
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.