What's happening
This bill makes public television and radio stations eligible for funding under New York's State and Municipal Facilities Program for capital costs.
Why it matters
Expands access to funding for local media infrastructure. By making public TV and radio stations eligible for capital project grants, the bill supports modernization and maintenance of these stations’ physical assets, potentially improving broadcast quality and reach.
Recognizes public broadcasters as community assets. Including public television and radio stations alongside entities like schools, libraries, and emergency services positions them as important civic infrastructure, highlighting their role in education and public information.
Could help sustain local journalism and emergency communications. Access to state funding may help stations invest in technology and facilities that support local news coverage, emergency alerts, and educational programming—especially critical in underserved or rural areas.
Might encourage innovation and job preservation in broadcasting. Eligibility for these funds could support projects that adopt new technologies, create or retain jobs, and stimulate local economies, aligning with the state’s broader economic development goals.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fund Public TV and Radio
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to finance
- Print number 6692a
- Amend (t) and recommit to finance
- Referred to finance
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.
Fund Public TV and Radio
In Assembly Committee · Ways And Means · Sponsor Joseph Morelle
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6692--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 13, 2017
Introduced by Sen. ROBACH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT relating to making public television and radio stations eligible for funding under the state and municipal facilities program; and to amend chapter 54 of the laws of 2017, enacting the Capital Projects budget, in relation to including public television and radio stations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. For the state fiscal year 2017-18 and thereafter, public television and radio stations shall be eligible for any monies appropriated to the state and municipal facilities program for the payment of capital costs.
§ 2. That part, entitled "MISCELLANEOUS -- ALL STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES", of section 1 of chapter 54 of the laws of 2017, enacting the "Capital Projects Budget", is amended by adding thereto the items hereinbelow set forth in italic and is amended by deleting therefrom the items hereinbelow set forth in brackets as follows:
STATE AND MUNICIPAL FACILITIES PROGRAM
CAPITAL PROJECTS 2017-18
APPROPRIATIONS REAPPROPRIATIONS
Capital Projects Funds - Other ..... 385,000,000 1,253,250,000
---------------- ----------------
All Funds ........................ 385,000,000 1,253,250,000
================ ================
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13150-02-7
S. 6692--A 2
STATE AND MUNICIPAL FACILITIES PROGRAM (CCP) ............... 385,000,000
--------------
Capital Projects Funds - Other
Capital Projects Fund
State and Municipal Facilities Purpose
For payment of the capital costs of
construction, improvement, rehabilitation
or reconstruction of facilities owned by
eligible entities; the acquisition of
capital facilities and assets by eligible
entities, including fixed capital assets;
the acquisition by eligible entities of
equipment and other capital assets,
including vehicles, in support of health,
safety, technology, or innovation; the
acquisition by an eligible entity of capi-
tal assets with a useful life of not less
than ten years purchased for the sole
purpose of preserving and protecting
infrastructure that is owned, controlled
or appurtenant to an eligible entity,
including but not limited to heavy duty
road maintenance and construction vehi-
cles, pavers, snow plows, street sweepers
and heavy duty fire, emergency response
and law enforcement vehicles; economic
development projects sponsored by the
state or municipal corporations, as
defined in section 2 of the general munic-
ipal law, that will create or retain jobs
in New York state as certified by the
commissioner of the department of economic
development; or environmental projects
sponsored by the state or municipal corpo-
rations as defined in section 2 of the
general municipal law. Eligible entities
shall consist of the state; municipal
corporations as defined in section 2 of
the general municipal law; water and sewer
districts; the Metropolitan Transportation
Authority; a college or university estab-
lished pursuant to section 352 of the
education law, section 6203 of the educa-
tion law or section 6302 of the education
law; an independent not-for-profit insti-
tution of higher education as defined in
subdivision 2 of section 6401 of the
education law; public school districts;
public housing authorities; public
libraries and library systems chartered by
the regents of the state of New York or
established by an act of the legislature;
public television and radio stations char-
tered by the regents of the state of New
S. 6692--A 3
York; public park conservancies or not for
profit corporations organized for the
purpose of investing in parks owned by the
state or municipal corporations, as
defined in section 2 of the general munic-
ipal law; not for profit fire districts,
fire commissions, fire companies, fire
departments, volunteer rescue and ambu-
lance squads; and special act school
districts, schools for the blind and deaf
and other students with disabilities
subject to article 85 of the education
law, and private schools for students with
disabilities authorized pursuant to chap-
ter 853 of the laws of 1976. Costs may include, but shall not be limited
to engineering services, construction,
project management, right-of-way acquisi-
tion, and work appurtenant and ancillary
thereto. No funds from this appropriation
may be used as a required match or be
considered a local share to other state
programs or to leverage state aid or
grants including but not limited to the
apportionment of aid under the education
law. Notwithstanding any provision of law
to the contrary, funds appropriated herein
may, subject to the approval of the direc-
tor of the budget, be (i) interchanged,
(ii) transferred from this appropriation
to any other appropriation of any state
department, agency or public benefit
corporation, or (iii) suballocated to any
other state department, agency or public
benefit corporation, to achieve this
purpose (SM0117SM) ......................... 385,000,000
--------------
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately; and shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2017.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act relating to making public television and radio stations eligible for funding under the state and municipal facilities program; and to amend chapter 54 of the laws of 2017, enacting the Capital Projects budget, in relation to including public television and radio stations
Purpose
This bill will make public television and radio stations eligible for monies appropriated to the state and municipal facilities program for the payment of capital costs.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Adds public television and radio stations to the list of eligible entities to receive funding through the state and municipal facilities program for the state fiscal year 2017-18 and thereafter.
Section 2. Amends section 1 of chapter 54 of the laws of 2017 to add public television and radio stations to the organizations allowed to participate in the state and municipal facilities program.
Section 3. Effective Date.
Justification
The State's not-for-profit public television and radio stations are part of the educational and cultural infrastructure of New York State and the communities they serve. In addition to providing locally-generated broadcasting on public affairs and cultural issues, the stations work closely with teachers in the classroom, supporting the state's curriculum with educational television resources that help prepare students all across the State. The public stations have long been lauded for their programming aimed at early learning, preparing our youngest New Yorkers for their academic futures even before Pre-Kindergarten begins. Stations have also worked closely with their local communities on economic development, disaster preparedness and communication and the promotion of cultural tourism, among other issues.
The state and municipal facilities program provides much needed capital funding to state and municipal facilities including school districts, New York's public and independent colleges and universities and, more recently, public libraries and private schools serving students with disabilities.. Like public libraries and colleges and universities, public television and radio stations are chartered by the Board of Regents and fulfill and important part of the broader mission of the University of the State of New York. Public broadcasting stations face very critical capital needs as they are required to update their sophisticated broadcast capacity on a regular basis and making these resources available will help ensure their continued ability to fulfill their community missions.
Prior legislative history
New Bill.
Fiscal implications
None. The total state expenditure on the program is determined by the already enacted appropriation. The bill only adds public television and radio stations to the list of comparable entities already eligible for this funding.
Effective date
Immediately and the legislation shall be deemed to have been in full force and effect on and after April 1, 2017.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.