What's happening
This bill creates a temporary commission to study and report on the threat of rising ocean levels to New York State.
Why it matters
Ensures a wide range of expertise and perspectives. , including representatives from government, academia, nonprofits, and the private sector, with a strong focus on New York City—helping the commission take a holistic approach to understanding and addressing the risks of rising ocean levels.
Mandates a thorough analysis of both local and international solutions. , requiring the commission to evaluate protective options for New York’s vulnerable regions, compare them with global best practices, and estimate associated costs—potentially guiding future infrastructure investments and policy decisions.
Directs attention to insurance and public awareness gaps. , compelling the commission to review and recommend improvements to flood insurance programs and public education efforts—matters that can directly affect the financial security and preparedness of homeowners and businesses in at-risk zones.
Establishes a clear, time-bound process for recommendations. , with a comprehensive report due within a year—ensuring that actionable policy guidance is delivered promptly, keeping the issue of rising ocean threats on the legislative agenda and supporting timely state responses.
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Who cares
Shoreline and waterfront residents
The commission would study risks to their communities, review flood zone designations and consider outreach on preparing for rising oceans.
New York City and Long Island officials
The commission would assess protection options and costs, including a possible sea wall for New York Harbor.
Waterfront property owners
The commission would review federal flood insurance and recommend how the state could supplement it or create a state flood insurance program.
Governor and legislative leaders
They would appoint the commission’s 17 members and receive its report on findings and conclusions.
Headline styles
Study Sea Level Threats
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Referred to finance
- Returned to senate
- Died in assembly
- Referred to governmental operations
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 57–5
- Ordered to third reading cal.1294
- Committee discharged and committed to rules
- Referred to finance
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3428
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 6, 2019
Introduced by Sen. SALAZAR -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to establish a commission to be known as the "New York State Temporary Commission on the Threat of Rising Oceans"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. There is hereby established a temporary commission to be known as the "New York State Temporary Commission on the Threat of Rising Oceans", hereinafter referred to in this act as the "commission".
§ 2. 1. The commission shall:
(a) be composed of 17 members appointed in accordance with subdivision two of this section; and
(b) conduct its business in accordance with the provisions of this section.
2. The members shall be appointed for the life of the commission as follows:
(a) 3 shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
(b) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
(c) 3 shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly of which one shall be a representative of the Mayor of New York City;
(d) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and
(e) 9 shall be appointed by the governor.
3. The members of the commission shall be individuals who have knowledge or expertise, whether by experience or training, in matters to be studied by the commission under subdivision seven of this section. The members may be from the public sector, who may include federal, state, or local officers or employees, members of academia, nonprofit organizations, or other interested individuals or the private sector. The members shall include at least 5 representatives from the city of New York.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09717-01-9
S. 3428 2
4. The temporary president of the senate, the minority leader of the senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the assembly and the governor shall make his or her respective appointments not later than 30 days after the effective date of this act. Any vacancy that occurs during the life of the commission shall not affect the powers of the commission and shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment not later than 30 days after the vacancy occurs.
5. The initial meeting of the commission shall be conducted not later than 30 days after the appointment of the last member of the commission. The first act of the commission shall be to select by consensus a chairperson.
6. A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum to conduct business, but the commission may establish a lesser quorum for conducting hearings scheduled by the commission. Each member shall have 1 vote and the vote of each member shall be accorded the same weight. The commission may establish, by majority vote, any other rules for the conduct of the commission's business, insofar as such rules are not inconsistent with this section or other applicable law.
7. The commission shall conduct a comprehensive study on the threat of rising ocean levels.
(a) The matters studied by the commission under this subdivision shall include, but not be limited to:
(1) the threat of rising oceans on shoreline communities, their infrastructure, and residents;
(2) options available to protect New York City and Long Island from rising oceans and provide a cost estimate for such options;
(3) options available to protect New York Harbor from rising oceans, including, but not limited to, the building of a sea wall and its associated costs;
(4) international infrastructure in place to protect other regions from rising oceans and provide a comparative description of what other nations have done to address that threat in those regions and at what costs;
(5) a review of the federal flood insurance program and provide recommendations on how New York State can supplement the program or create a state flood insurance program to address the looming threat of damage to waterfront communities;
(6) a review of the current flood zone designations of shoreline and waterfront communities and recommend changes to such designations; and
(7) a potential public awareness campaign and associated funding requirement for such outreach to inform residents of impacted communities and those in projected flood zones on how to prepare for pending damage by rising oceans.
(b) Not later than March 1, 2020, the commission shall submit to the governor, the senate, and the assembly a comprehensive report on the commission's findings and conclusions. Such report shall address each matter studied by the commission.
8. The commission shall have the power to hold hearings, at such sites and to act at such times and places, to take such testimony, and to receive such evidence as the commission considers advisable to carrying out its duties under this subdivision.
9. The members of the commission shall not be given any form of compensation and shall be allowed no travel expenses while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of service for the commission.
§ 3. 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 to establish a commission to be known as the "New York State Temporary Commission on the Threat of Rising Oceans"
Purpose or general idea of the bill
An act to establish a temporary commission on the threat of rising oceans to review the threat to coastal communities in New York State and requires recommendations on how to provide for and strengthen the flood insurance programs and improve disaster preparedness in resilience for weather related incidents.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. There is hereby established a temporary commission, titled "New York State Temporary Commission on the Threat of Rising Oceans."
Read the full memo (876 words)
Section 2. 1. This commission shall: Be composed of 17 members and conduct business with according this section.
2. The members shall be appointed for the life of the commission as follows:
a. 3 appointed by temporary president of senate
b. 1 appointed by minority leader of senate
c. 3 appointed by speaker of assembly, one shall be representative of Mayor of New York City
d. 1 appointed by minority leader of assembly
e. 9 appointed by governor
3. Members of commission will have had previous knowledge, experience, in matters to be studied by commission under subdivision 7 of this section; Members can be from public sector, nonprofits, or private sector, at least 5 representatives from the city of New York.
4. All appointers shall make his or her respective appointments not later than 30 days after effect date of this act.
5. Initial meeting of this commission shall not affect the powers of the commission, and is to be filled in the same manner as original appoint- ment, not later than 30 days after vacancy occurs.
6. A majority of the members will constitute a quorum to conduct busi- ness, but the commission may establish a lesser quorum for conducting hearings. Each member has one vote, all in equal weight. The commission may establish, by majority vote, any other rules for the conduct of commission's business.
7. The commission shall conduct a comprehensive study on the threat of rising ocean levels. The matters studied by commission under this subdi- vision shall include, but not limited to:
1. The threat of rising oceans on shoreline communities 2. Options available to protect New York City and Long Island and provide a cost estimate for such options.
3. Options available to protect New York Harbor including but not limit- ed to, the building of a sea wall and its associated costs
4. international infrastructure in place to protect their regions and provide a comparative description of what other nations have done to address that threat in those regions and at what costs
5. A review of federal flood insurance program and provide recommenda- tions on how NYS can supplement existing program or create a state fund insurance program
6. A review of current flood zone designations of shoreline and water- front communities, and recommend changes.
7. A potential public awareness campaign and associated funding require- ment for such outreach to inform residents of impacted communities and those in projected flood zones.
8. The commission has the power to hold hearings, at such sites and to act at such times and places, carting out its duties under this subdivi- sion.
9. The members of the commission shall not be given any form of compen- sation, and shall be allowed no travel expenses while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of service for the commission Section 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
It is obvious that very little has been done to protect New York State shoreline communities and those living in flood zones recently updated from the devastation that rising oceans will have on them. Either by way of severe weather or through the gradual and current ongoing problem of rising ocean levels, New York State is in harm's way.
For centuries, people living in Scandinavian countries, with vastly less wealth and without modem technologies, have held back the Atlantic Ocean, Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia and the Gulf of Finland from destroy- ing their homes, cities and arable lands. Yet, six years after Super- storm Sandy and its $60 billion dollars in damage to New York and New Jersey; where water filtration plants, sewage treatment plants and other critical infrastructure were destroyed; where the national guard had to be deployed to evacuate trapped elderly in nursing homes; where communi- cation networks became inoperable including FEMA's command center HQ for the region, New York State remains as ill-prepared for the next severe weather related disaster.
This legislation moves the discussion on what needs forward and under a timeline. This legislation looks for answers and solutions from proven strategies of protecting life and property and will allow the concrete evidence to shape the discussions that in reality should have already taken place. In the absence of what should already have happened, this legislation is a policy proposal that needs the full attention and support of all New Yorkers.
Prior legislative history
A.10235/S.8033 Referred to Government Operations and Finance Committees
Fiscal implications for state and local government
NONE
Effective date
Immediately and with commission members to be appointed within 30 days of enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.