NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A838A
SPONSOR: Solages TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the organiza-
tion of industrial development agencies and the definition of labor
organization
PURPOSE:
To make industrial development agencies more open and responsive to the
communities they serve by requiring school board and labor represen-
tatives, published agendas and notice to interested parties.
SUMMARY:
Section 1. Amends 854 of the general municipal law by adding a new
subdivision 22.
Section 2. Amends subdivision 2 of section 856 of the general municipal
law, as amended by chapter 356 of the laws of 1993.
Section 3. Sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
New York State law authorizes industrial development agencies (IDAs) to
grant incentives, including tax abatements and PILOTs, to businesses and
projects to promote job growth and the vitality of our local economies.
The actions they take, including granting PILOTs, tax abatements, and
terms of the incentives, have substantial impacts on community members,
workers, and taxpayers. Yet, many of these actions are veiled from those
that are affected.
For instance, school districts are required to deal with the budget
impacts of PILOTs without having a say in the process. Local workers,
who have much at stake in this process and the projects, have been
excluded from the discussion and decision making concerning the projects
and the incentives. Concerned citizens can be blindsided by IDA agendas
released hours before the meetings, leaving little time for public
input.
This bill requires that all industrial development agencies have at
least one representative from a local labor union, and at least one
representative from a school board.
SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT:
TBD.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: A75328; vetoed.
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it
shall have become a law.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
838--A
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY(Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SOLAGES, LEVENBERG, JACOBSON, OTIS, SANTABARBARA,
SLATER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
-- recommitted to the Committee on Local Governments in accordance
with Assembly Rule 3, sec. 2 -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to the organiza-
tion of industrial development agencies and the definition of labor
organization
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 854 of the general municipal law is amended by
2 adding a new subdivision 22 to read as follows:
3 (22) "Labor organization"--shall mean any organization which exists
4 and is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective
5 bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning grievances, terms or
6 conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection and which
7 is not a company union.
8 § 2. Subdivision 2 of section 856 of the general municipal law, as
9 amended by chapter 356 of the laws of 1993, is amended to read as
10 follows:
11 2. (a) An agency shall be a corporate governmental agency, constitut-
12 ing a public benefit corporation. Except as otherwise provided by
13 special act of the legislature, an agency shall consist of not less than
14 three nor more than [seven] nine members who shall be appointed by the
15 governing body of each municipality and who shall serve at the pleasure
16 of the appointing authority.
17 (b) Such members may include representatives of local government[,
18 school boards, organized labor] and business, and shall at least include
19 a representative of a local labor organization and either a school
20 district superintendent or a representative of a school board. A member
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03309-05-6
A. 838--A 2
1 shall continue to hold office until [his] their successor is appointed
2 and has qualified. The governing body of each municipality shall desig-
3 nate the first [chairman] chairperson and file with the secretary of
4 state a certificate of appointment or reappointment of any member. Such
5 members shall receive no compensation for their services but shall be
6 entitled to the necessary expenses, including traveling expenses,
7 incurred in the discharge of their duties.
8 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
9 it shall have become a law.
