What's happening
This bill creates a task force to investigate and address jurisdiction and boundary disputes between Nassau and Queens counties.
Why it matters
Potential for Direct Impact on Local Services. By investigating and clarifying boundary and jurisdiction disputes, the task force could help resolve confusion over which county is responsible for services like policing, emergency response, taxation, and school districting along the Nassau-Queens border, directly affecting residents and businesses in those areas.
Enhanced Accountability and Transparency. The task force is empowered to hold public hearings and issue subpoenas, which means community voices can be heard and relevant documents and testimony can be compelled, potentially uncovering and addressing long-standing issues that have not received adequate attention.
Broad-Based, Bipartisan Input. The task force’s membership is designed to include representatives recommended by both majority and minority legislative leaders, local executives, and law enforcement, increasing the likelihood that recommendations will be balanced and take multiple perspectives into account.
Foundation for Legislative Solutions. By specifically charging the task force with the ability to recommend new laws, this effort could lead to concrete legislative changes that finally settle recurring disputes, improving government efficiency and certainty for affected residents.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Create Border Task Force
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
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.
Create County Border Task Force
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor Michaelle C. Solages
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4412
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 14, 2017
Introduced by Sen. AVELLA -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT relating to establishing the Nassau county and Queens county border task force, and providing for its powers and duties
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. A task force, to be known as the Nassau county and Queens county border task force, is hereby created to examine, investigate, and review such issues as are related to jurisdiction and boundary disputes of such counties.
§ 2. The task force shall have the power to:
(a) conduct public hearings in furtherance of the performance of its duties under this act;
(b) issue subpoenas for and to compel attendance of witnesses and the production of books, records, documents, and other relevant evidence; and
(c) to recommend legislation consistent with the purposes of this section.
§ 3. The task force shall consist of seven members appointed by the governor as follows:
(a) one member appointed on the recommendation of the temporary president of the senate;
(b) one member appointed on the recommendation of the speaker of the assembly;
(c) one member appointed on the recommendation of the minority leader of the senate;
(d) one member appointed on the recommendation of the minority leader of the assembly;
(e) one member appointed on the recommendation of the county executive of the county of Nassau;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06754-01-7
S. 4412 2
(f) one member appointed on the recommendation of the borough president of the county of Queens; and
(g) one member appointed on the recommendation of the superintendent of the state police.
§ 4. There shall be two chairpersons selected from among the members of the Nassau county and Queens county border task force. One chairperson shall be selected by the county executive of the county of Nassau, and one chairperson shall be selected by the borough president of the county of Queens. Such chairpersons shall schedule the first meeting of the task force, which shall be held no later than sixty days after the effective date of this act.
§ 5. The members of the Nassau county and Queens county border task force shall serve without compensation, except that members shall be allowed their necessary and actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties under this act.
§ 6. The state police shall provide the Nassau county and Queens county border task force with such facilities, assistance, and data as will enable such task force to carry out its powers and duties. Additionally, all other departments or agencies of the state or subdivisions thereof shall, at the request of the chairpersons, provide such task force with such facilities, assistance, and data as will enable such task force to carry out its powers and duties.
§ 7. The Nassau county and Queens county border task force shall issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than January 1, 2019.
§ 8. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act relating to establishing the Nassau county and Queens county border task force, and providing for its powers and duties
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill establishes the Nassau County and Queens County border task for and provides its duties.
Section 2 enumerates the powers of the task force, which include (a) conducting public hearings in furtherance of its goals; (b) providing subpoena power; and (c) recommending legislation.
Section 3 establishes the appointment procedure for the seven-member task force.
Section 4 establishes that two chairpersons shall be selected among the members of the task force.
Section 5 establishes that the members of the county border task force shall serve without compensation, except that members shall be allowed necessary and actual expenses incurred in performance of their duties under the act.
Section 6 requires the police and other relevant agencies to provide the task force with the necessary facilities, assistance, and data as will enable the task force to carry out its powers and duties.
Section 7 mandates the task force shall issue a report of its findings and recommendations to the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly no later than January 1, 2019.
Section 8 sets forth an immediate effective date.
Justification
In attempting to reach emergency personnel and police at the Nassau County/Queens County border, callers have reported that dispatchers often do not "recognize" the location as within their jurisdiction, and subsequently refer them to another jurisdiction. The ambiguity surrounding Queens/Nassau border has causes and continues to cause tremendous confusion and uncertainty. This confusion has the obvious effect of endangering citizens as they wait to be connected to the "correct" responder, a dilemma that may arise in the midst of an emergency.
These instances of blurred or confused jurisdiction occur more frequently in certain areas, such as the Jericho Turnpike. Some residents have reported that, because of its ambiguous location on the Queens County/Nassau County border, incidents at the turnpike have failed to receive a response from any jurisdiction. Instead, callers are consistently directed and redirected to different operators.
Thus, it is clear that the Queens/Nassau County border areas require an improved emergency response system and clearly delineated jurisdictions so that residents and passersby can confidently rely on the police and emergency responders they contact in a time of need, instead of worrying about jurisdictional issues and whether they are contacting the "correct" authorities.
A joint task force, under the jurisdiction of the state police, will help to iron out these difficulties and increase citizens' safety on the Jericho Turnpike, in border towns, and in all the areas which ambiguously rest on the Queens and Nassau County border. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
New Bill
Fiscal implications
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.