BILL NUMBER: S606

SPONSOR: GALLIVAN
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to the Erie county
stadium corporation complying with the open meetings law

 
PURPOSE:

To require any working group, subcommittee, advisory committee, or
subsidiary of the Erie County Stadium Corporation created by its lease
with Erie County to follow the open meetings law and make their deliber-
ations public.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the public officers law by adding a new section 103-a
that states that any working group, subcommittee, advisory committee, or
subsidiary created by the Erie County Stadium Corporation through its
lease agreement with Erie County shall be required to comply with the
              

open meetings law.

Section 2 states that this act shall take effect immediately.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Since the passing of Buffalo Bills owner Ralph Wilson Jr., the New
Stadium Working Group, an advisory committee created under the Erie
County Stadium Corporation, has been tasked with determining potential
sites for building a new stadium and exploring the feasibility of making
additional renovations to the team's current Ralph Wilson Stadium. Nine-
ty five million dollars in state and county funds has already been
committed to improving the team's current stadium in Orchard Park. With
the vast amount of public money involved as well as the important
economic and cultural impact on Western New York, the New Stadium Work-
ing Group should be subject to the open meetings law. This bill would
ensure this process is open and transparent.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2017-18: S.1983 Passed Senate
2015-16: S.431/A.4361 Passed Senate/Referred to Governmental Operations
2013-14: S.7219/A.9454 Passed Senate/Referred to Governmental Operations

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.