What's happening
This bill authorizes the transfer of certain state-owned land in Ossining to the village for exclusive use as a museum.
Why it matters
The land transfer is offered at a nominal cost ($1), making it feasible for Ossining to acquire a significant parcel for public benefit. This low-cost conveyance signals a priority for community use over state revenue, potentially enabling local cultural development.
Use is strictly limited to operating and maintaining a museum, with a reverter clause if the land’s purpose changes. This ensures the parcel will directly serve educational and cultural functions for the community, and prevents commercial or unrelated redevelopment.
The transaction is subject to safeguards to protect state financial interests and bond obligations related to correctional facilities. The law prohibits any transfer that would impair state bond commitments or tax-exempt status, balancing local benefit with fiscal responsibility.
Local government accountability is required: Ossining must formally accept the terms and apply within one year, or the offer is void. This pushes the village to act decisively and ensures the project is locally supported and clearly planned, rather than speculative.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Give Land to Ossining
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Print number 5796b
- Amend (t) and recommit to investigations and government operations
- Print number 5796a
- Amend and recommit to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
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.
Give Ossining Land for Museum
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5796--B
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
May 15, 2019
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations -- recommitted to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations in accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT authorizing the commissioner of general services to transfer and convey certain unappropriated state land to the village of Ossining, county of Westchester; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subject to the provisions of this act but notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the commissioner of general services is hereby authorized, subject to the consent of the commissioner of corrections and community supervision, to transfer and convey to the village of Ossining in the county of Westchester, the state land described in section two of this act, owned by the department of corrections and community supervision and being a part of lot 97.10-1-4, in the village of Ossining in the county of Westchester, declared to be abandoned state land by the department of corrections and community supervision. The transfer and conveyance of the land described in section two of this act shall be made in consideration of the sum of one dollar and upon such conditions as the commissioner of general services may deem proper. If the transfer and conveyance of such land shall not have taken effect within two years of the effective date of this act, then such authority to transfer and convey shall be revoked.
§ 2. The lands authorized by section one of this act to be transferred and conveyed are as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11670-10-0
S. 5796--B 2
ALL That certain Plot Piece or Parcel of Land situated and lying in the Town of Ossining, Village of Ossining, County of Westchester, and State of New York and being more particularly bounded and described as follows: Beginning at a point on the division line between land of the Village of Ossining on the North and the State of New York on the South Where the same is intersected by westerly side of land now or formerly Midtown Trackage Ventures formerly the New York City and Hudson River Railroad (N.Y.C. & H.R.R.R.) said point being the Northeasterly corner of land now or formerly State of New York as shown on map entitled "County of Westchester Department of Environmental Facilities" and filed in the Westchester County Clerk's office Division of Land Records as Map No. 19196. Thence running along land now or formerly Midtown Trackage Ventures formerly the New York City and Hudson River Railroad (N.Y.C. & H.R.R.R.)South 4°39'15" East 320.11 feet to a point; Thence running though Land of the State of New York the following two (2) courses and distances South 88°00'00" West 217.08 feet to a point; North 1°55'49" West 323.26 feet to the land of the Village of Ossining; Thence along said land South 82° 34' 28" East 204.54 feet to the point and place of beginning. Containing 1.6150 Acres = 70,348 Sq. Ft.
§ 3. The description in section two of this act is not intended to be a legal description, but is intended to identify the parcel to be conveyed. As a condition of the transfer, the village of Ossining may submit to the commissioner of general services, for his or her approval, an accurate survey and description of the lands to be conveyed, which may be used in the conveyance thereof.
§ 4. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the authorization to convey the above described portion of the Sing Sing Correctional Facility shall be subject to the condition precedent that such conveyance shall not impair or result in any diminution of the obligations to holders of any bonds which financed, refinanced, or are secured by correctional facilities (or payments in respect thereof), including the Sing Sing Correctional Facility, and shall not adversely affect any exemption of interest on such bonds from federal income tax.
§ 5. The office of general services shall not transfer or convey the aforesaid land unless the application is made to the office of general services by the village of Ossining within one year after the effective date of this act. Said application shall be in the form of a resolution setting forth a comprehensive statement approved by the Ossining's Village Board of Trustees acknowledging and accepting the use restrictions set forth in section six of this act.
§ 6. The transfer and conveyance made pursuant to this act shall be subject to the following use restrictions and reverter:
(a) The land described in this act shall be used exclusively for the purposes of operating and maintaining a museum.
(b) The conveyance of the land described in this act shall contain a covenant and restriction requiring that the land be used for the purpose set forth in subdivision (a) of this section. In the event the premises are not accepted and/or used for such purposes, ownership of the land shall revert to the state of New York.
§ 7. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be deemed repealed two years after such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act authorizing the commissioner of general services to transfer and convey certain unappropriated state land to the village of Ossining, county of Westchester; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to transfer and convey the Sing Sing Correctional Facilities 1936 Powerhouse to the Village of Ossining.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Authorizes the Commissioner of Corrections and Community supervision to transfer and convey land, part of lot number 97.10-1-4, to the Village of Ossining in the sum of one dollar within two years of the effective date of this act.
Section 2. The land being transferred is a 1.7 acre portion of lot number 97.10-1-4 that is described in metes and bounds in this section.
Section 3. The description in section 2 is intended to be an accurate description of the land being transferred, not a legal description.
Section 4. Provides details as to when the application must be made to the office of general services by the Village of Ossining.
Section 5. OGS may not transfer the land until an application if made by the Village of Ossining within 1 year of this law taking effect.
Section 6. The land must be used for the purpose of a museum, and if not used for that purpose, ownership of the land will revert to the State of New York.
Section 7. Establishes the effective date.
Justification
Years ago, the concept of a Sing Sing Prison Museum was discussed by many in the community. As time passed, these discussions lead to action, and a museum is in the works.
As part of this project, the museum will be acquiring the Sing Sing Correctional Facility 1936 Powerhouse to be used as part of the museum experience.
This legislation simply transfers the land currently owned by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to the Village of Ossining to be used for the purpose of the Sing Sing Prison Museum.
Prior legislative history
New Legislation.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
There are no fiscal implications expected from the passage of this legislation.
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.