S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                  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:

  Section  1. The legislative law is amended by adding a new article 4-B
to read as follows:
                                ARTICLE 4-B
                NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE
SECTION 75. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE NEW YORK STATE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET
              OFFICE.
        76. DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE.
  S  75.  POWERS  AND  DUTIES  OF  THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET
OFFICE. THERE SHALL HEREBY BE ESTABLISHED A NEW YORK  STATE  INDEPENDENT
BUDGET  OFFICE.  1. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPEND-
ENT BUDGET OFFICE TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE  LEGISLA-
TURE WITH INFORMATION WHICH WILL ASSIST SUCH OFFICIALS AND BODIES IN THE
DISCHARGE  OF  THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BUDGETARY
PROCESS INCLUDING:
  (A) INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS  BILLS  AND
PROPOSED LAWS WITH FISCAL IMPLICATIONS;
  (B)  INFORMATION  WITH RESPECT TO ESTIMATED REVENUES AND RECEIPTS, AND
CHANGING REVENUE CONDITIONS;
  (C) INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE PERFORMANCE AND  EFFECTIVENESS  OF
STATE AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS; AND
  (D)  TO  THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR ANALYSES AS
MAY BE REQUESTED BY SUCH OFFICIALS AND BODIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
  REQUESTS MADE BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT
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

THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE REGARDING THE BUDGET, REVENUES
AND EXPENDITURES SHALL RECEIVE PRIORITY ATTENTION.
  2.    THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE  SHALL COMPLETE A FISCAL IMPACT
STATEMENT: (A) FOR ANY BILL BEING CONSIDERED ON  AN  ASSEMBLY  WAYS  AND
MEANS  COMMITTEE  AGENDA  OR  A  SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA, TO THE
EXTENT POSSIBLE; (B) FOR ANY BILL AT  THE  REQUEST  OF  THE  SPEAKER  OR
MINORITY  LEADER  OF THE ASSEMBLY OR THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OR MINORITY
LEADER OF THE SENATE; AND (C) AT THE REQUEST OF  A  COMMITTEE  CHAIR  OR
RANKING  MEMBER OF A COMMITTEE FOR ANY BILL REFERRED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
COMMITTEE.  FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENTS SHALL ESTIMATE THE IMPACT ON  STATE
REVENUES OR EXPENDITURES.
  3.    THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE SHALL SUBMIT AN ANALYSIS OF THE
EXECUTIVE BUDGET BY MARCH FIRST OF EACH  YEAR  TO  THE  MEMBERS  OF  THE
ASSEMBLY  WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND
MAKE COPIES OF SUCH ANALYSIS AVAILABLE  TO  ALL  OTHER  MEMBERS  OF  THE
LEGISLATURE AND ALL OTHER INDIVIDUALS, UPON REQUEST.
  4.  THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE SHALL, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE,
DEVELOP PROPOSALS FOR COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO MEET  THE
PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE.
  5.  THE  INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL PUBLISH A REPORT WITH RESPECT
TO THE EXPECTED LEVELS OF STATE REVENUES BY THE FIRST  DAY  OF  JANUARY,
THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL, THE FIRST DAY OF JULY AND THE FIRST DAY OF OCTO-
BER OF EACH YEAR.
  6.  THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET OFFICE SHALL PUBLISH BY DECEMBER FIRST OF
EACH YEAR A REPORT ANALYZING THE FISCAL OUTLOOK OF  THE  STATE  FOR  THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS.
  7.  THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE SHALL, FROM TIME TO TIME, PUBLISH
SUCH REPORTS AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO ENHANCE THE  OFFICIAL  AND  PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUDGETARY PROCESS AND OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS. SUCH
OFFICE  SHALL,  FROM TIME TO TIME, PUBLISH SUCH REPORTS AS MAY BE NECES-
SARY OR APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE SUCH INFORMATION, DATA  AND  ANALYSIS  AS
WILL  ENHANCE  OFFICIAL  AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF MATTERS RELATING TO
STATE REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RELATED MATTERS.
  8. THE INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE  MAY  PROCURE  UP-TO-DATE  COMPUTER
EQUIPMENT,  OBTAIN  THE  SERVICES OF EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS IN COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY, AND DEVELOP TECHNIQUES FOR THE EVALUATION OF REVENUE PROJEC-
TIONS AND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS.
  9. ALL INFORMATION, DATA, ESTIMATES AND STATISTICS,  AND  ALL  STUDIES
AND  REPORTS  PREPARED  BY  THE  INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND SHALL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE  BY  ELECTRONIC
MEANS OVER THE INTERNET.
  S  76.    DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE. 1.
THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL BE HEADED BY A DIREC-
TOR WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED, UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF  AN  INDEPENDENT
BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE
TEMPORARY  PRESIDENT  OF THE SENATE. THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INITIAL
APPOINTMENT OF SUCH  DIRECTOR  SHALL  BE  MADE  NO  LATER  THAN  JANUARY
FIFTEENTH,  TWO  THOUSAND  TWELVE  TO  THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE. SUBSEQUENT
RECOMMENDATIONS  SHALL  BE  MADE  BETWEEN  JANUARY  SECOND  AND  JANUARY
FIFTEENTH  EVERY  SIXTH  YEAR  THEREAFTER.  THE  SPECIAL COMMITTEE SHALL
APPOINT THE INITIAL DIRECTOR NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH, TWO THOU-
SAND TWELVE AND SUCH INITIAL DIRECTOR SHALL TAKE OFFICE BEGINNING  APRIL
FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  TWELVE.  SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS SHALL BE MADE NO
LATER THAN FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH EVERY SIXTH YEAR THEREAFTER.
  2. (A) THERE SHALL BE AN INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY  COMMITTEE
CONSISTING  OF  (I)  ONE PERSON APPOINTED BY EACH OF THE FOLLOWING OFFI-

A. 7184                             3

CIALS AND WHO SHALL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF SUCH OFFICIALS;  THE  CHAIR
AND  RANKING  MEMBER  OF  THE  ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND  (II)  SIX
OTHER  MEMBERS  JOINTLY APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, WHO SHALL SERVE FOR SIX  YEAR  TERMS,
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER  THAT OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, TWO SHALL SERVE
FOR TERMS EXPIRING ON MARCH THIRTY-FIRST,  TWO  THOUSAND  FOURTEEN;  TWO
SHALL  SERVE  FOR  TERMS  EXPIRING  ON  MARCH THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND
SIXTEEN; AND TWO SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS EXPIRING ON  MARCH  THIRTY-FIRST,
TWO  THOUSAND EIGHTEEN. THE MEMBERS SHALL ALL BE INDIVIDUALS WITH EXTEN-
SIVE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE  IN  THE  FIELDS  OF  FINANCE,  ECONOMICS,
ACCOUNTING,  PUBLIC  ADMINISTRATION AND PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS INCLUDING
AT LEAST ONE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED EXPERT IN THE FIELDS OF BUDGET THEORY
AND THE BUDGET PROCESS; ONE DEAN OR DIRECTOR OR FORMER DEAN OR  DIRECTOR
OF  A  GRADUATE  SCHOOL  OF  BUSINESS  ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OR
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LOCATED IN NEW YORK STATE; ONE OFFICER  OR  FORMER
OFFICER  OR  ECONOMIC  ADVISOR  OF  A LABOR UNION; ONE OFFICER OR FORMER
OFFICER OR ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO A BUSINESS CORPORATION; AND  ONE  OFFICER
OR  FORMER  OFFICER  OF A CIVIC OR PUBLIC INTEREST ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION
INVOLVED IN BUDGET MATTERS.    NO  INDIVIDUAL  SHALL  SERVE  CONSECUTIVE
TERMS.
  (B)  THE  INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL DEVELOP
GUIDELINES FOR THE BEST PRACTICES OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE.  THE
INDEPENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE  ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL MEET ANNUALLY WITH
THE DIRECTOR  TO  REVIEW  SUCH  GUIDELINES  AND  TO  MAKE  COMMENTS  AND
SUGGESTIONS ON THE OVERALL PRACTICES OF THE OFFICE.
  (C)  MEMBERS  OF  THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION
BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES INCURRED  IN  CONNECTION
WITH THEIR DUTIES.
  3.  THE  DIRECTOR  OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL BE APPOINTED
WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICAL AFFILIATION  AND  SOLELY  ON  THE  BASIS  OF
FITNESS  TO  PERFORM  THE  DUTIES  ASSIGNED BY THIS ARTICLE. THE TERM OF
OFFICE  OF  THE  DIRECTOR  FIRST  APPOINTED  SHALL  EXPIRE  ON  FEBRUARY
FIFTEENTH,  TWO  THOUSAND EIGHTEEN, AND THE TERMS OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
SUBSEQUENTLY APPOINTED SHALL EXPIRE ON SUCH  DATE  IN  EACH  SIXTH  YEAR
THEREAFTER.  ANY  INDIVIDUAL  APPOINTED  TO  FILL A VACANCY PRIOR TO THE
EXPIRATION OF A TERM SHALL SERVE ONLY FOR THE UNEXPIRED PORTION OF  SUCH
TERM.  AN  INDIVIDUAL  SERVING AS DIRECTOR AT THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM
MAY CONTINUE TO SERVE UNTIL A SUCCESSOR  IS  APPOINTED.    ANY  DIRECTOR
SERVING CONSECUTIVE TERMS SHALL BE RECOMMENDED BY THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET
OFFICE  ADVISORY  COMMITTEE AND APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY
AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE FOR THE SECOND TERM. NO DIREC-
TOR SHALL SERVE MORE THAN TWO TERMS CONSECUTIVELY.
  4. TEN PERCENT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS MADE TO THE DIVISION OF THE BUDG-
ET SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE INDEPENDENT  BUDGET
OFFICE  DURING  EACH  FISCAL  YEAR BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL
AFTER THIS SECTION SHALL HAVE BECOME A LAW. THE DIRECTOR  OF  THE  INDE-
PENDENT  BUDGET  OFFICE  SHALL  APPOINT  SUCH  PERSONNEL AND PROCURE THE
SERVICES OF SUCH EXPERTS  AND  CONSULTANTS,  WITHIN  THE  APPROPRIATIONS
AVAILABLE  THEREFOR,  AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SUCH DIRECTOR TO CARRY OUT
THE DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS  ASSIGNED  PURSUANT  TO  THIS  ARTICLE.    SUCH
PERSONNEL  AND  EXPERTS  SHALL PERFORM SUCH DUTIES AS MAY BE ASSIGNED TO
THEM BY THE DIRECTOR.
  5. THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL HAVE ACCESS  AT
ALL  REASONABLE  TIMES  TO  OFFICES  OF  STATE DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSIONS,
BOARDS, BUREAUS AND OFFICES, TO INSTITUTIONS AND TO ALL  STATE  AUTHORI-

A. 7184                             4

TIES  AND  PUBLIC  WORKS  OF  THE STATE AND THEY MAY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
OBTAINING INFORMATION AS TO THE METHOD OF OPERATION, GENERAL  CONDITION,
MANAGEMENT  AND  NEEDS  THEREOF,  EXAMINE  THE  BOOKS, PAPERS AND PUBLIC
RECORDS  THEREIN.  NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW SUCH STATE
DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSIONS, BOARDS, BUREAUS,  OFFICES,  STATE  AUTHORITIES
AND  INSTITUTIONS  SHALL,  THROUGH  THEIR  PROPER  OFFICERS OR DEPUTIES,
FURNISH TO THE DIRECTOR SUCH DATA, INFORMATION OR STATEMENTS AS  MAY  BE
NECESSARY  FOR  THE  PROPER EXERCISE OF HIS OR HER POWERS AND DUTIES AND
FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING INTO EFFECT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
  6.  THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE  SHALL  DETERMINE
THE SALARY OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.