Bill Text: NY A01202 | 2009-2010 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to establishing the New York state independent budget office

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2010-01-06 - referred to governmental operations [A01202 Detail]

Download: New_York-2009-A01202-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         1202
                              2009-2010 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                      (PREFILED)
                                    January 7, 2009
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by  M. of A. DESTITO, GALEF -- read once and referred to the
         Committee on Governmental Operations
       AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to establishing the New
         York state independent budget office
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1. The legislative law is amended by adding a new article 4-B
    2  to read as follows:
    3                                  ARTICLE 4-B
    4                  NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE
    5  SECTION 75. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE NEW YORK STATE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET
    6                OFFICE.
    7          76. DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE.
    8    S  75.  POWERS  AND  DUTIES  OF  THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET
    9  OFFICE. THERE SHALL HEREBY BE ESTABLISHED A NEW YORK  STATE  INDEPENDENT
   10  BUDGET  OFFICE.  1. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPEND-
   11  ENT BUDGET OFFICE TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE  LEGISLA-
   12  TURE WITH INFORMATION WHICH WILL ASSIST SUCH OFFICIALS AND BODIES IN THE
   13  DISCHARGE  OF  THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BUDGETARY
   14  PROCESS INCLUDING:
   15    (A) INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS  BILLS  AND
   16  PROPOSED LAWS WITH FISCAL IMPLICATIONS;
   17    (B)  INFORMATION  WITH RESPECT TO ESTIMATED REVENUES AND RECEIPTS, AND
   18  CHANGING REVENUE CONDITIONS;
   19    (C) INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE PERFORMANCE AND  EFFECTIVENESS  OF
   20  STATE AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS; AND
   21    (D)  TO  THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR ANALYSES AS
   22  MAY BE REQUESTED BY SUCH OFFICIALS AND BODIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
   23    REQUESTS MADE BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT
   24  OF  THE  SENATE,  THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD03441-01-9
       A. 1202                             2
    1  THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE REGARDING THE BUDGET, REVENUES
    2  AND EXPENDITURES SHALL RECEIVE PRIORITY ATTENTION.
    3    2.    THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE  SHALL COMPLETE A FISCAL IMPACT
    4  STATEMENT: (A) FOR ANY BILL BEING CONSIDERED ON  AN  ASSEMBLY  WAYS  AND
    5  MEANS  COMMITTEE  AGENDA  OR  A  SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA, TO THE
    6  EXTENT POSSIBLE; (B) FOR ANY BILL AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  SPEAKER  OR
    7  MINORITY  LEADER  OF THE ASSEMBLY OR THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OR MINORITY
    8  LEADER OF THE SENATE; AND (C) AT THE REQUEST OF  A  COMMITTEE  CHAIR  OR
    9  RANKING  MEMBER OF A COMMITTEE FOR ANY BILL REFERRED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
   10  COMMITTEE.  FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENTS SHALL ESTIMATE THE IMPACT ON  STATE
   11  REVENUES OR EXPENDITURES.
   12    3.    THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE SHALL SUBMIT AN ANALYSIS OF THE
   13  EXECUTIVE BUDGET BY MARCH FIRST OF EACH  YEAR  TO  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE
   14  ASSEMBLY  WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND
   15  MAKE COPIES OF SUCH ANALYSIS AVAILABLE  TO  ALL  OTHER  MEMBERS  OF  THE
   16  LEGISLATURE AND ALL OTHER INDIVIDUALS, UPON REQUEST.
   17    4.  THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE SHALL, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE,
   18  DEVELOP PROPOSALS FOR COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO MEET  THE
   19  PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE.
   20    5.  THE  INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL PUBLISH A REPORT WITH RESPECT
   21  TO THE EXPECTED LEVELS OF STATE REVENUES BY THE FIRST  DAY  OF  JANUARY,
   22  THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL, THE FIRST DAY OF JULY AND THE FIRST DAY OF OCTO-
   23  BER OF EACH YEAR.
   24    6.  THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE SHALL PUBLISH BY DECEMBER THIRTY-
   25  FIRST OF EACH YEAR A REPORT ANALYZING THE FISCAL OUTLOOK  OF  THE  STATE
   26  FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.
   27    7.  THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE SHALL, FROM TIME TO TIME, PUBLISH
   28  SUCH REPORTS AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO ENHANCE THE  OFFICIAL  AND  PUBLIC
   29  UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUDGETARY PROCESS AND OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS. SUCH
   30  OFFICE  SHALL,  FROM TIME TO TIME, PUBLISH SUCH REPORTS AS MAY BE NECES-
   31  SARY OR APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE SUCH INFORMATION, DATA  AND  ANALYSIS  AS
   32  WILL  ENHANCE  OFFICIAL  AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF MATTERS RELATING TO
   33  STATE REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RELATED MATTERS.
   34    8. THE INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE  MAY  PROCURE  UP-TO-DATE  COMPUTER
   35  EQUIPMENT,  OBTAIN  THE  SERVICES OF EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS IN COMPUTER
   36  TECHNOLOGY, AND DEVELOP TECHNIQUES FOR THE EVALUATION OF REVENUE PROJEC-
   37  TIONS AND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS.
   38    9. ALL INFORMATION, DATA, ESTIMATES AND STATISTICS,  AND  ALL  STUDIES
   39  AND  REPORTS  PREPARED  BY  THE  INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL BE MADE
   40  AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND SHALL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE  BY  ELECTRONIC
   41  MEANS OVER THE INTERNET.
   42    S  76.    DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE. 1.
   43  THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL BE HEADED BY A DIREC-
   44  TOR WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED, UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF  AN  INDEPENDENT
   45  BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE
   46  TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF THE SENATE. THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INITIAL
   47  APPOINTMENT OF SUCH  DIRECTOR  SHALL  BE  MADE  NO  LATER  THAN  JANUARY
   48  FIFTEENTH, TWO THOUSAND NINE TO THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE. SUBSEQUENT RECOM-
   49  MENDATIONS  SHALL  BE  MADE BETWEEN JANUARY SECOND AND JANUARY FIFTEENTH
   50  EVERY SIXTH YEAR THEREAFTER. THE SPECIAL  COMMITTEE  SHALL  APPOINT  THE
   51  INITIAL DIRECTOR NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH, TWO THOUSAND NINE AND
   52  SUCH INITIAL DIRECTOR SHALL TAKE OFFICE BEGINNING APRIL FIRST, TWO THOU-
   53  SAND  NINE. SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS SHALL BE MADE NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY
   54  FIFTEENTH EVERY SIXTH YEAR THEREAFTER.
   55    2. (A) THERE SHALL BE AN INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY  COMMITTEE
   56  CONSISTING OF: (I) THE CHAIR AND RANKING MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND
       A. 1202                             3
    1  MEANS  COMMITTEE  AND THE CHAIR AND RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE FINANCE
    2  COMMITTEE OR THEIR DESIGNEES; (II) THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE SPEAK-
    3  ER OF THE ASSEMBLY; (III) THREE MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRES-
    4  IDENT  OF  THE  SENATE;  AND (IV) TWO MEMBERS, ONE EACH APPOINTED BY THE
    5  MINORITY LEADER IN EACH HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE.  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE
    6  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE  SHALL  SERVE  FOR SIX YEAR TERMS, PROVIDED, HOWEVER
    7  THAT OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, THREE SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS  EXPIR-
    8  ING  ON  MARCH  THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWELVE; THREE SHALL SERVE FOR
    9  TERMS EXPIRING ON MARCH THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND FOURTEEN;  AND  THREE
   10  SHALL  SERVE  FOR  TERMS  EXPIRING  ON  MARCH THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
   11  SIXTEEN. THE MEMBERS SHALL ALL BE INDIVIDUALS WITH EXTENSIVE  EXPERIENCE
   12  AND  KNOWLEDGE  IN  THE FIELDS OF FINANCE, ECONOMICS, ACCOUNTING, PUBLIC
   13  ADMINISTRATION  AND  PUBLIC  POLICY  ANALYSIS  INCLUDING  AT  LEAST  ONE
   14  NATIONALLY  RECOGNIZED  EXPERT  IN  THE  FIELDS OF BUDGET THEORY AND THE
   15  BUDGET PROCESS; ONE DEAN OR DIRECTOR OR FORMER DEAN  OR  DIRECTOR  OF  A
   16  GRADUATE  SCHOOL  OF  BUSINESS  ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OR PUBLIC
   17  ADMINISTRATION LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE; ONE OFFICER OR FORMER  OFFICER
   18  OR  ECONOMIC  ADVISOR OF A LABOR UNION; ONE OFFICER OR FORMER OFFICER OR
   19  ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO A BUSINESS CORPORATION; AND ONE  OFFICER  OR  FORMER
   20  OFFICER  OF A CIVIC OR PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION INVOLVED IN
   21  BUDGET MATTERS.  NO INDIVIDUAL SHALL SERVE CONSECUTIVE TERMS.
   22    (B) THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE  SHALL  DEVELOP
   23  GUIDELINES  FOR THE BEST PRACTICES OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE. THE
   24  INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL  MEET  ANNUALLY  WITH
   25  THE  DIRECTOR  TO  REVIEW  SUCH  GUIDELINES  AND  TO  MAKE  COMMENTS AND
   26  SUGGESTIONS ON THE OVERALL PRACTICES OF THE OFFICE.
   27    (C) MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL  RECEIVE  NO  COMPENSATION
   28  BUT  SHALL  BE REIMBURSED FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION
   29  WITH THEIR DUTIES.
   30    3. THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE  SHALL  BE  APPOINTED
   31  WITHOUT  REGARD  TO  POLITICAL  AFFILIATION  AND  SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF
   32  FITNESS TO PERFORM THE DUTIES ASSIGNED BY  THIS  ARTICLE.  THE  TERM  OF
   33  OFFICE  OF  THE  DIRECTOR  FIRST  APPOINTED  SHALL  EXPIRE  ON  FEBRUARY
   34  FIFTEENTH, TWO THOUSAND FIFTEEN, AND THE TERMS OF  OFFICE  OF  DIRECTORS
   35  SUBSEQUENTLY  APPOINTED  SHALL  EXPIRE  ON  SUCH DATE IN EACH SIXTH YEAR
   36  THEREAFTER. ANY INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED TO FILL  A  VACANCY  PRIOR  TO  THE
   37  EXPIRATION  OF A TERM SHALL SERVE ONLY FOR THE UNEXPIRED PORTION OF SUCH
   38  TERM. AN INDIVIDUAL SERVING AS DIRECTOR AT THE EXPIRATION  OF  THE  TERM
   39  MAY  CONTINUE  TO  SERVE  UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS APPOINTED.   ANY DIRECTOR
   40  SERVING CONSECUTIVE TERMS SHALL BE RECOMMENDED BY THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET
   41  OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF  THE  ASSEMBLY
   42  AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE FOR THE SECOND TERM. NO DIREC-
   43  TOR SHALL SERVE MORE THAN TWO TERMS CONSECUTIVELY.
   44    4. TEN PERCENT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS MADE TO THE DIVISION OF THE BUDG-
   45  ET  SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET
   46  OFFICE DURING EACH FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING WITH THE  FIRST  DAY  OF  APRIL
   47  AFTER  THIS  SECTION  SHALL HAVE BECOME A LAW. THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDE-
   48  PENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL  APPOINT  SUCH  PERSONNEL  AND  PROCURE  THE
   49  SERVICES  OF  SUCH  EXPERTS  AND  CONSULTANTS, WITHIN THE APPROPRIATIONS
   50  AVAILABLE THEREFOR, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SUCH DIRECTOR TO  CARRY  OUT
   51  THE  DUTIES  AND  FUNCTIONS  ASSIGNED  PURSUANT  TO THIS ARTICLE.   SUCH
   52  PERSONNEL AND EXPERTS SHALL PERFORM SUCH DUTIES AS MAY  BE  ASSIGNED  TO
   53  THEM BY THE DIRECTOR.
   54    5.  THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL HAVE ACCESS AT
   55  ALL REASONABLE TIMES  TO  OFFICES  OF  STATE  DEPARTMENTS,  COMMISSIONS,
   56  BOARDS,  BUREAUS  AND OFFICES, TO INSTITUTIONS AND TO ALL STATE AUTHORI-
       A. 1202                             4
    1  TIES AND PUBLIC WORKS OF THE STATE AND THEY  MAY,  FOR  THE  PURPOSE  OF
    2  OBTAINING  INFORMATION AS TO THE METHOD OF OPERATION, GENERAL CONDITION,
    3  MANAGEMENT AND NEEDS THEREOF,  EXAMINE  THE  BOOKS,  PAPERS  AND  PUBLIC
    4  RECORDS  THEREIN. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW, SUCH STATE
    5  DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSIONS, BOARDS, BUREAUS,  OFFICES,  STATE  AUTHORITIES
    6  AND  INSTITUTIONS  SHALL,  THROUGH  THEIR  PROPER  OFFICERS OR DEPUTIES,
    7  FURNISH TO THE DIRECTOR SUCH DATA, INFORMATION OR STATEMENTS AS  MAY  BE
    8  NECESSARY  FOR  THE  PROPER EXERCISE OF HIS OR HER POWERS AND DUTIES AND
    9  FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING INTO EFFECT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
   10    6.  THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE  SHALL  DETERMINE
   11  THE SALARY OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE.
   12    S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
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