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

                                  1345

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            January 12, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  M. of A. MAYER, BUCHWALD, CROUCH, JAFFEE, LAVINE, ORTIZ,
  RAIA, ROZIC, SCHIMEL, SKARTADOS, OTIS, TITONE,  ABINANTI,  MALLIOTAKIS
  --  Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BROOK-KRASNY, COOK, GUNTHER, PERRY,
  RIVERA, SALADINO, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on
  Environmental Conservation

AN ACT relating to establishing the flood mitigation and prevention task
  force; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration
  thereof

  THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section  1.  1. There is hereby established in the department of envi-
ronmental conservation a flood  mitigation  and  prevention  task  force
("task  force")  to  consist of eleven members who shall be appointed as
follows:
  (a) the commissioner of  environmental  conservation  or  his  or  her
designee;
  (b) the commissioner of general services or his or her designee;
  (c) the commissioner of the department of transportation or his or her
designee;
  (d)  the  director  of the state emergency management office or his or
her designee;
  (e) the commissioner of the New York state division of homeland  secu-
rity and emergency services or his or her designee;
  (f) two members to be appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
  (g) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
  (h) one member to be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly;
  (i)  two  members  to  be  appointed by the temporary president of the
senate;
  2. The at-large  members  should  include  individuals  who  represent
flood-prone municipalities and counties.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD00365-01-5

              

A. 1345                             2

  3. Task force members shall receive no compensation for their services
but  shall  be reimbursed for actual, necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties.
  4.  The  chairperson  of  the  task force shall be the commissioner of
environmental conservation or his or her designee. The task force  shall
meet no less than four times at the call of the chairperson.
  5.  Any  vacancies  on  the  task  force shall be filled in the manner
provided for in the initial appointment.
  6. The task force shall be authorized  to  hold  public  hearings  and
meetings to enable it to accomplish its duties.
  7.  The  task  force  may  consult  with any organization, educational
institution, other government entity or agency or person including,  but
not  limited  to, the army corps of engineers, in the development of the
report required by subdivision 10 of this section.
  8. The department of environmental conservation shall provide the task
force with such facilities, assistance and data as will enable the  task
force  to carry out its powers and duties. Additionally, all other agen-
cies of the state or subdivisions thereof may, at  the  request  of  the
chairperson, provide the task force with such facilities, assistance and
data as will enable the task force to carry out its powers and duties.
  9.  The purpose of the flood mitigation/prevention task force shall be
to evaluate ways of protecting New York's communities and residents from
flooding, including inland flooding, and  applying  the  best  available
science and research to examine flooding-related issues and impacts.
  10.  No later than December 31, 2017, the task force shall transmit to
the governor, the temporary president of the senate and the  speaker  of
the assembly a report containing:
  (a) an assessment of the extent and magnitude of the problem statewide
caused  by flooding, including identifying those regions and populations
most affected by flooding;
  (b) criteria and guidelines for identifying and  prioritizing  regions
and projects most in need of mitigation;
  (c)  identification  of existing and emerging technologies, strategies
and concepts which can mitigate the impact of  flooding  on  populations
and infrastructure;
  (d)  identification  of  potential funding sources to support residen-
tial, commercial and public mitigation efforts;
  (e) research projects or studies to  better  understand  how  flooding
affects the geography and the population of this state; and
  (f)  recommendations  to the governor and the state legislature on how
the state can best use its resources to assist flood-prone counties  and
municipalities to prevent or mitigate the effects of flooding.
  S  2.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed January 1, 2018.