What's happening
This bill requires the Erie County Stadium Corporation and its related groups to comply with New York's open meetings law.
Why it matters
Increases transparency for stadium-related decisions. by ensuring that meetings, discussions, and decisions made by the Erie County Stadium Corporation and any of its subgroups are open to public scrutiny.
Covers not just the main corporation but also all affiliated bodies. including working groups, subcommittees, advisory committees, and subsidiaries—which could previously operate without public oversight.
Could impact negotiations and spending of public funds. related to stadium operations or development, as public access to meetings may promote more responsible decision-making and greater accountability.
Sets a precedent for other public-private entities. in New York, signaling that groups created through government agreements cannot bypass open government requirements.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Open Meetings for Stadium Board
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- 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.
Open Stadium Meetings Required
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Patrick Burke
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
606
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by Sen. GALLIVAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to the Erie county stadium corporation complying with the open meetings law
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public officers law is amended by adding a new section 103-a to read as follows:
§ 103-a. Open meetings; Erie county stadium corporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, rule or regulation to the contrary, any working group, subcommittee, advisory committee or subsidiary created by the Erie county stadium corporation through its lease agreement with Erie county, including but not limited to the new stadium working group, shall be required to comply with this article.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02714-01-9
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 officers law, in relation to the Erie county stadium corporation complying with the open meetings law
Purpose
To require any working group, subcommittee, advisory committee, or subsidiary of the Erie County Stadium Corporation created by its lease with Erie County to follow the open meetings law and make their deliber- ations public.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends the public officers law by adding a new section 103-a that states that any working group, subcommittee, advisory committee, or subsidiary created by the Erie County Stadium Corporation through its lease agreement with Erie County shall be required to comply with the open meetings law.
Section 2 states that this act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Since the passing of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr., the New Stadium Working Group, an advisory committee created under the Erie County Stadium Corporation, has been tasked with determining potential sites for building a new stadium and exploring the feasibility of making additional renovations to the team's current Ralph Wilson Stadium. Nine- ty five million dollars in state and county funds has already been committed to improving the team's current stadium in Orchard Park. With the vast amount of public money involved as well as the important economic and cultural impact on Western New York, the New Stadium Work- ing Group should be subject to the open meetings law. This bill would ensure this process is open and transparent.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.1983 Passed Senate 2015-16: S.431/A.4361 Passed Senate/Referred to Governmental Operations 2013-14: S.7219/A.9454 Passed Senate/Referred to Governmental Operations
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.