Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today announced that a bill he co-sponsors (A.6202-C) which would require the state to reimburse counties for all expenses related to delivering indigent legal services has passed the New York State Assembly.

The bill is currently in the Senate Finance Committee for consideration.

“Our county governments are stretched so thin. It is incredibly difficult to continue to offer the services New Yorkers need while staying within the property-tax cap. Anything we can do to provide some relief from costly state mandates for our local governments is critical,” said Palmesano.

Palmesano said lawmakers need to find more ways to ease the burden imposed by costly unfunded mandates.

“These mandates are the true cost drivers that continue to drive up local property taxes. It isn’t enough to just cap property taxes, we need to lower them. We must continue to find ways to eliminate these local costs so we can pass the savings on to families, small businesses, farmers and manufacturers,” Palmesano said. “This legislation will do just that,” Palmesano said.

He also noted that this bill will protect the civil liberties of vulnerable New Yorkers.

“All New Yorkers deserve fair legal representation. That right should not be compromised because the locality you happen to live in might be struggling financially. The state should be assuming these costs, and that is precisely what this bill aims to ensure,” said Palmesano.