Bill Text: NY S01453 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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) 2012-01-27 - PRINT NUMBER 1453A [S01453 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-S01453-Introduced.html

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                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
           S. 1453                                                  A. 1406
                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions
                             S E N A T E - A S S E M B L Y
                                    January 7, 2011
                                      ___________
       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
       IN  ASSEMBLY  -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred
         to the Committee on Governmental Operations
       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
   17  Nassau  and 12 of whom shall reside in the county of Suffolk. The county
   18  executive of each county shall serve on the commission as co-chairs.  Of
   19  the  remaining 22 members, 5 members from each county shall be appointed
   20  by the county executive of the county in  which  such  county  executive
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD03747-01-1
       S. 1453                             2                            A. 1406
    1  serves;  3  members  from each county shall be appointed by the majority
    2  leader of the county legislature from the county in which such  majority
    3  leader  serves, and 3 members from each county shall be appointed by the
    4  minority  leader of the county legislature from the county in which such
    5  minority leader serves. Members  of  the  commission  shall  receive  no
    6  compensation  for  their services, but shall be allowed their actual and
    7  necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.  Members
    8  of  the  commission  shall  serve  at  the  pleasure of their appointing
    9  authority. Vacancies on the commission  shall  be  filled  in  the  same
   10  manner as the original appointment.
   11    S  3.  The  study  authorized  by  section  two  of  this act shall be
   12  completed and submitted to the Nassau county legislature and the Suffolk
   13  county legislature on or before July 1, 2012.
   14    S 4. At the general election to be held November 2, 2012,  the  county
   15  of  Nassau and the county of Suffolk shall be submitted to the voters of
   16  such counties, a referendum concerning whether or not the state of  Long
   17  Island  shall  be formed. Such referendum shall be deemed approved if it
   18  is approved by a majority of the voters voting  on  such  referendum  in
   19  each county, provided however that the approval of such referendum shall
   20  not be binding upon the county of Nassau or the county of Suffolk.
   21    S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.