Bill Text: NY S00426 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Amended

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Bill Title: Establishes a bi-county commission in the counties of Nassau and Suffolk to study the feasibility of establishing the state of Long Island.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - REFERRED TO LOCAL GOVERNMENT [S00426 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-S00426-Amended.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
           S. 426--A                                             A. 1189--A
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                             S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
                                      (PREFILED)
                                    January 7, 2009
                                      ___________
       IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered print-
         ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Govern-
         ment  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered reprinted as
         amended and recommitted to said committee
       IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once  and  referred
         to  the  Committee on Governmental Operations -- committee discharged,
         bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended  and  recommitted  to  said
         committee
       AN  ACT  in relation to establishing a bi-county commission in the coun-
         ties of Nassau and Suffolk to study the  feasibility  of  establishing
         the state of Long Island
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Legislative findings: Nassau and Suffolk Counties  comprise
    2  an  area  of  2,826 square miles, larger than the states of Rhode Island
    3  and Delaware. The combined population  of  the  two  counties  is  2.798
    4  million which is greater than the population of 19 states. For the years
    5  2002-2004,  Long  Island  paid  8.124 billion dollars in state taxes yet
    6  only 5.2 billion dollars was  returned  in  direct  local  aid,  tuition
    7  assistance,  highway  aid, pension payments, lottery money, metropolitan
    8  transportation authority subsidies and Medicaid payments. For many years
    9  the question of forming the state of Long Island has been  discussed  in
   10  public  and  academic forums. The issue should be investigated, a report
   11  prepared and referendum held in Nassau and Suffolk counties so the citi-
   12  zens may be heard.
   13    S 2. There is  hereby  established  a  Nassau  and  Suffolk  bi-county
   14  commission  to study the feasibility of forming the state of Long Island
   15  to consist of the counties of Nassau and Suffolk. Such commission  shall
   16  be  comprised  of  24  members, 12 of whom shall reside in the county of
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD01148-02-9
       S. 426--A                           2                         A. 1189--A
    1  Nassau and 12 of whom shall reside in the county of Suffolk. The  county
    2  executive  of each county shall serve on the commission as co-chairs. Of
    3  the remaining 22 members, 5 members from each county shall be  appointed
    4  by  the  county  executive  of the county in which such county executive
    5  serves; 3 members from each county shall be appointed  by  the  majority
    6  leader  of the county legislature from the county in which such majority
    7  leader serves, and 3 members from each county shall be appointed by  the
    8  minority  leader of the county legislature from the county in which such
    9  minority leader serves. Members  of  the  commission  shall  receive  no
   10  compensation  for  their services, but shall be allowed their actual and
   11  necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.  Members
   12  of  the  commission  shall  serve  at  the  pleasure of their appointing
   13  authority. Vacancies on the commission  shall  be  filled  in  the  same
   14  manner as the original appointment.
   15    S  3.  The  study  authorized  by  section  two  of  this act shall be
   16  completed and submitted to the Nassau county legislature and the Suffolk
   17  county legislature on or before July 1, 2010.
   18    S 4. At the general election to be held November 2, 2010,  the  county
   19  of  Nassau and the county of Suffolk shall be submitted to the voters of
   20  such counties, a referendum concerning whether or not the state of  Long
   21  Island  shall  be formed. Such referendum shall be deemed approved if it
   22  is approved by a majority of the voters voting  on  such  referendum  in
   23  each county, provided however that the approval of such referendum shall
   24  not be binding upon the county of Nassau or the county of Suffolk.
   25    S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.