What's happening
This bill requires local community boards in New York City to be notified and given a chance to comment on proposed sales or acquisitions of real property by gas or electric utility corporations.
Why it matters
Enhances local oversight of utility property sales. By requiring notification and a formal comment period for local community boards, the bill gives neighborhoods a direct voice in decisions that could affect local infrastructure, land use, or community character.
Increases government transparency and accountability. Utility corporations and the state commission must now share information and justify decisions to local representatives, potentially reducing the risk of controversial transactions happening without public awareness.
Potentially influences urban planning and development. Since utility properties are often strategically located and may be sizable, community board input could shape the future use of key parcels, impacting housing, business, or public space opportunities.
May affect project timelines. The mandated notice and response periods introduce additional steps before approvals, possibly extending how long it takes for sales or acquisitions to proceed but ensuring community interests are considered.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Community Boards on Land Sales
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
- Referred to energy and telecommunications
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.
Notify Communities Before Utility Sales
In Assembly Committee · Corporations, Authorities And Commissions · Sponsor Aravella Simotas
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3162
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 20, 2017
Introduced by Sen. GIANARIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Energy and Telecommunications
AN ACT to amend the public service law, in relation to requiring the public service commission to provide the appropriate local community board in a city with a population of one million or more with notice of and opportunity to comment and make recommendations on any proposed sale or acquisition of real property by a gas corporation or electric corporation furnishing utility service
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 107 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. With regard to the proposed sale or acquisition of real property by any gas corporation or electric corporation furnishing utility service in a city having a population of one million or more, the commission shall provide the local community board having jurisdiction over such real property with notice of such proposed transaction, by certified mail, return receipt requested, within ten days of receiving an application for approval of the transaction. Within thirty days of receiving such notice, a local community board shall submit to the commission written comments and recommendations on such proposed transaction. The commission shall address and respond to all comments and recommendations submitted by a local community board prior to making its determination of the application of the public utility.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04198-01-7
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 service law, in relation to requiring the public service commission to provide the appropriate local community board in a city with a population of one million or more with notice of and opportunity to comment and make recommendations on any proposed sale or acquisition of real property by a gas corporation or electric corporation furnishing utility service
Summary of specific provisions
Section 107 of the public service law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 which states that the PSC shall provide the local community board having jurisdiction over the property with notice of the proposed transaction within ten days of receiving an application for approval of the transaction.
The local community board will submit written comments and recommendations to the commission on the proposed transaction within thirty days of receiving such notice which the commission is required to respond to, prior to making its determination of the application.
Justification
When gas or electric corporation attempts to sell or acquire land in cities with a population of one million or more, the transfers require approval from the Public Service Commission, but at no point does the PSC notify the affected community or seek its advisory opinion.
Since the residents of the community who are most significantly impact from such a land transfer have unique knowledge of the community, they should be consulted and given the opportunity to relay their concerns to the PSC.
This legislation would allow the local community to be informed about and voice its opinion regarding these issues through its local community board, which has this responsibility for other land use matters of significance.
Prior legislative history
2016: Died in Energy and Telecommunications 2015: Died in Energy and Telecommunications 2014: Senate Bill 603 (Gianaris) - Died in Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee 2013: Senate Bill 603 (Gianaris) - Died in Senate Energy and Telecommunications Committee 2012: Senate Bill 2525 (Gianaris) - Died in Senate Telecommunications 2012: Assembly Bill 4910 (Simotas) - Died in Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee 2010: Assembly Bill 5436 (Gianaris) - Died in Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee 2008: Assembly Bill 10434-A (Gianaris) - Died in Assembly Corporations, Authorities and Commissions Committee
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.