Requires the Erie county stadium corporation and any working group, subcommittee, advisory committee or subsidiary formed thereunder to comply with the open meetings law; relates specifically to the new stadium working group.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A8261
SPONSOR: Burke 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 -.:ransparent.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2019-20: S.606/A.7357 Referred to Investigations and Government
Operations/Referred to Governmental Operations
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.
