What's happening
This bill requires the Public Service Commission to notify and solicit input from local community boards in large cities before approving utility company property sales or acquisitions.
Why it matters
Increases local oversight and community input. by ensuring that community boards in large cities (like New York City) are formally notified and can weigh in on significant utility real estate transactions, which may impact neighborhoods directly.
Mandates a public response process. The Public Service Commission (PSC) must not only collect but also address and respond to community board feedback before making final decisions, making the PSC more accountable to local concerns.
Could affect development, land use, and neighborhood services. Utility property sales or acquisitions often precede major changes—from new construction to facility closures—so this gives communities a direct say in shaping the future of their areas.
Sets clear timelines for notification and comment. By requiring notification within ten days and comments within thirty days, the bill aims to make the process timely and prevent rushed decisions without local input.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Notify Boards Before Utility Land Sale
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
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2151
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 22, 2019
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.
LBD04057-01-9
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 subdi- vision 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 recommenda- tions 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
2018: Died in Energy and Telecommunications 2017: Died in Energy and Telecommunications 2016: Died in Energy and Telecommunications 2015: Died in Energy and Telecommunications 2014: Senate Bill 603 (Gianaris) - Died in Senate Energy and Telecommu- nications Committee 2013: Senate Bill 603 (Gianaris) - Died in Senate Energy and Telecommu- nications 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.