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A08631 Summary:

A08631 Actions:

A08631 Floor Votes:

A08631 Memo:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY
MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION
 submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)



 
BILL NUMBER: A8631A
 
SPONSOR: Seawright

 
TITLE OF BILL:
 
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to requiring
certain directors of the Roosevelt Island operating corporation to be
residents of Roosevelt Island and to require the appointment of certain
vacant board positions within sixty days
 
 
PURPOSE:
 
To clarify residency as a requirement for certain public members
appointed to the board of directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating
Corporation, to provide for the expeditious appointment of replacement
board members upon vacancy within an unexpired term, and to require
public posting of Corporation employment vacancies.
 
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
 
The provisions of this bill would:
 
*Clarify the residency requirement for certain public appointments to
the board of directors of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation and
stipulate for their immediate resignation from the board upon termi-
nation of such residency; *Provide for the appointment of a successor
within 60 days when a board vacancy occurs within an unexpired term;
*Require the posting of job vacancies on the corporation's website; and,
*Provide that this act shall take effect immediately.
 
 
JUSTIFICATION:
 
The Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC) is a public benefit
corporation and a political subdivision of the State of New York created
in 1984 to take responsibility for the development and operation of the
147 acres comprising the former Welfare Island, located in New York
City's East River.
 
Once the semi-isolated setting of several institutions including a
smallpox hospital, mental health hospital and a prison, Roosevelt Island
today is home to a thriving community of over 14,000 residents. The
Island boasts a revitalized Main Street with neighborhood shops and
services, abundant bike paths and green spaces including Four Freedoms
State Park, as well as the Cornell Tech Applied Sciences Graduate School
Campus and the iconic Roosevelt Island Tramway.
 
Given the Roosevelt Island community's unique governance structure under
a 'State Public Benefit Corporation, it is imperative that resident
perspectives and voices be represented on RIOC's board of directors.
 
This bill ensures greater local participation by clarifying residency
requirements for certain public board members, requiring the expedient
appointment of vacant board positions, and requiring the publication of
corporation employment opportunities on RIOC's website.
 
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
 
New Bill
 
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
 
None.
 
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

A08631 Text:

 
                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                         8631--A
                                                                Cal. No. 394
 
                   IN ASSEMBLY
 
                                    January 10, 2022
                                       ___________
 
        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  SEAWRIGHT  --  read once and referred to the
          Committee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions -- advanced  to
          a  third  reading,  passed  by  Assembly  and delivered to the Senate,
          recalled from the Senate, vote  reconsidered,  bill  amended,  ordered
          reprinted, retaining its place on the order of third reading
 
        AN  ACT  to  amend  the public authorities law, in relation to requiring
          certain directors of the Roosevelt Island operating corporation to  be
          residents  of  Roosevelt  Island  and  to  require  the appointment of
          certain vacant board positions within sixty days
 
          The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and  Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
 
     1    Section  1.  Subdivisions  2  and 3 of section 2799-cccc of the public
     2  authorities law, as added by chapter  383  of  the  laws  of  2019,  are
     3  amended to read as follows:
     4    2. The board of directors of the corporation shall be composed of nine
     5  members.  One  member  shall be the commissioner, who shall serve as the
     6  chair; one member shall be the director of the budget; and seven  public
     7  members  shall  be appointed by the governor with the advice and consent
     8  of the senate. Of the seven public members, two  members,  one  of  whom
     9  shall  be  a  resident  of Roosevelt Island, shall be appointed upon the
    10  recommendation of the mayor of the city;  and  four  additional  members
    11  shall  be  residents  of Roosevelt Island. Each member shall serve for a
    12  term of four years and until  his  or  her  successor  shall  have  been
    13  appointed  and  shall  have qualified, [except] provided that any public
    14  member appointed on the basis of being a resident  of  Roosevelt  Island
    15  shall  resign such membership upon ceasing to be a resident of Roosevelt
    16  Island, and provided further that the commissioner and the  director  of
    17  the budget shall serve so long as they continue to hold their respective
    18  offices.  Any  action taken by the directors of the corporation shall be
    19  taken by majority vote of the directors  then  in  office.  The  elected
    20  public officials who represent Roosevelt Island shall be representatives
    21  to  the board of directors of the corporation entitled to receive notice
    22  of and attend all meetings of such board but shall not  be  entitled  to
 
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD13984-04-2
        A. 8631--A                          2
 
     1  vote.  Failure  to give such notice shall not affect the validity of any
     2  action taken at a meeting of such board.
     3    3. The governor [may] shall fill any vacancy which occurs on the board
     4  of directors of the corporation in a manner consistent with the original
     5  appointment  within  sixty  days.  Vacancies occurring otherwise than by
     6  expiration of term of office shall be  filled  by  appointment  for  the
     7  balance  of  the  unexpired  term.  Any member of the corporation may be
     8  removed by the governor for cause, but not without an opportunity to  be
     9  heard,  in  person  or  by counsel, in his or her defense, upon not less
    10  than ten days' written notice.
    11    § 2. Subdivision 7 of section 2799-dddd of the public authorities law,
    12  as added by chapter 383 of the laws of  2019,  is  amended  to  read  as
    13  follows:
    14    7.  Appoint officers, agents and employees, prescribe their duties and
    15  fix their compensation in accordance with a  staffing  and  compensation
    16  plan  submitted  to  and approved by the director of the budget. Notices
    17  for any employment vacancies shall be made available to the  public  and
    18  posted on the corporation's website;
    19    § 3. This act shall take effect immediately.