What's happening
This bill exempts certain school and library facility projects in large cities from state smart growth infrastructure requirements.
Why it matters
Speeds up upgrades and construction for schools and libraries in large cities. by removing a layer of state requirements, potentially making it easier to address urgent facility needs or overcrowding.
Limits state oversight related to smart growth goals. (such as reducing sprawl, protecting environmental resources, and encouraging efficient land use) for these projects, possibly resulting in less environmentally coordinated development.
Prioritizes educational and library infrastructure over broader planning concerns. in urban areas, reflecting a policy choice to streamline processes for these essential public services.
May lead to increased local autonomy and faster access to state funds. for school and library projects, but could also mean less alignment with statewide environmental and urban planning objectives.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Exempt Schools from Smart Growth
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.306
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
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.
Exempt Schools from Smart Growth
In Assembly Committee · Environmental Conservation · Sponsor Catherine Nolan
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2927
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 18, 2017
Introduced by Sen. MARCELLINO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the state smart growth public infrastructure criteria
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 6-0107 of the environmental conservation law, as added by chapter 433 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
1. In addition to meeting other criteria and requirements of law governing approval, development, financing and state aid for the construction of new or expanded public infrastructure or the reconstruction thereof, no state infrastructure agency shall approve, undertake, support or finance a public infrastructure project, including providing grants, awards, loans or assistance programs, unless, to the extent practicable, it is consistent with the relevant criteria specified in subdivision two of this section. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision or any other provision of this article to the contrary, projects for the reconstruction, renovation, repair or improvement of existing public school facilities or existing library facilities, and projects for the construction of new or expanded public school or library facilities in cities having a population of one hundred twenty-five thousand inhabitants or more, shall not be deemed public infrastructure projects subject to the requirements of this article.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07811-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to the state smart growth public infrastructure criteria
Purpose
To provide relief to school districts from the reporting requirements of the Smart Growth legislation.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends § 6-0107(1) of the environmental conservation law to eliminate compliance with the smart growth legislation adopted as Chapter 433 of the Laws of 2010.
Section 2: Sets forth an immediate effective date.
Justification
In recent years, school districts have been confronted with unprecedented fiscal challenges. While the economic outlook for the State is steadily improving, it is a legislative priority to provide as much flexibility as possible to school districts to enable them to provide the high quality education we have come to expect for our students. While there are many requirements imposed on school districts that provide educational value, others continue to constrain the creativity of a district to provide services to students and relief to taxpayers.
In 2010, the "Smart Growth" legislation was enacted to encourage better planning to reduce urban sprawl. This legislation applied to all municipalities, including school districts. One of the main tenets of the legislation was to encourage the reuse of existing infrastructure. According, to the New York State Education Department, almost 95% of school building projects involve the rehabilitation of existing facilities for continued use as schools. Therefore, this bill eliminates an onerous administrative reporting requirement on both local school districts and the State Education Department.
Legislative history
2016: S.6501 Environmental Conservation 2015: S.2165 Passed Senate 2013-14: S.5363 Passed Senate
Fiscal implications
Possible savings to local school districts and the New York State Education Department.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.