Bill Text: NY A07184 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Creates the New York state independent budget office with a director to be appointed by a special committee composed of the assembly speaker and minority leader, the temporary president and minority leader of the senate, and the state comptroller, upon the recommendations of the assembly ways and means committee and the senate finance committee; such office shall provide objective, non-partisan and timely analyses of state revenue, expenditures and management practices to members of the legislature for any legislation with fiscal impact or at the request of a leader or a committee.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-6)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-06-05 - held for consideration in governmental operations [A07184 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-A07184-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         7184
                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                    April 15, 2011
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by M. of A. 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.
                                                                  LBD07015-01-1
       A. 7184                             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 FIRST OF
   25  EACH YEAR A REPORT ANALYZING THE FISCAL OUTLOOK OF  THE  STATE  FOR  THE
   26  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  TWELVE  TO  THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE. SUBSEQUENT
   49  RECOMMENDATIONS  SHALL  BE  MADE  BETWEEN  JANUARY  SECOND  AND  JANUARY
   50  FIFTEENTH  EVERY  SIXTH  YEAR  THEREAFTER.  THE  SPECIAL COMMITTEE SHALL
   51  APPOINT THE INITIAL DIRECTOR NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH, TWO THOU-
   52  SAND TWELVE AND SUCH INITIAL DIRECTOR SHALL TAKE OFFICE BEGINNING  APRIL
   53  FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  TWELVE.  SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS SHALL BE MADE NO
   54  LATER THAN FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH EVERY SIXTH YEAR THEREAFTER.
   55    2. (A) THERE SHALL BE AN INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY  COMMITTEE
   56  CONSISTING  OF  (I)  ONE PERSON APPOINTED BY EACH OF THE FOLLOWING OFFI-
       A. 7184                             3
    1  CIALS AND WHO SHALL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF SUCH OFFICIALS;  THE  CHAIR
    2  AND  RANKING  MEMBER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE
    3  CHAIR AND RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND  (II)  SIX
    4  OTHER  MEMBERS  JOINTLY APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE
    5  TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, WHO SHALL SERVE FOR SIX  YEAR  TERMS,
    6  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER  THAT OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, TWO SHALL SERVE
    7  FOR TERMS EXPIRING ON MARCH THIRTY-FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  FOURTEEN;  TWO
    8  SHALL  SERVE  FOR  TERMS  EXPIRING  ON  MARCH THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
    9  SIXTEEN; AND TWO SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS EXPIRING ON  MARCH  THIRTY-FIRST,
   10  TWO  THOUSAND EIGHTEEN. THE MEMBERS SHALL ALL BE INDIVIDUALS WITH EXTEN-
   11  SIVE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE  IN  THE  FIELDS  OF  FINANCE,  ECONOMICS,
   12  ACCOUNTING,  PUBLIC  ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS INCLUDING
   13  AT LEAST ONE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EXPERT IN THE FIELDS OF BUDGET THEORY
   14  AND THE BUDGET PROCESS; ONE DEAN OR DIRECTOR OR FORMER DEAN OR  DIRECTOR
   15  OF  A  GRADUATE  SCHOOL  OF  BUSINESS  ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OR
   16  PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE; ONE OFFICER  OR  FORMER
   17  OFFICER  OR  ECONOMIC  ADVISOR  OF  A LABOR UNION; ONE OFFICER OR FORMER
   18  OFFICER OR ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO A BUSINESS CORPORATION; AND  ONE  OFFICER
   19  OR  FORMER  OFFICER  OF A CIVIC OR PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
   20  INVOLVED IN BUDGET MATTERS.    NO  INDIVIDUAL  SHALL  SERVE  CONSECUTIVE
   21  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 EIGHTEEN, 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. 7184                             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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