S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                    608
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 6, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. CARROLL, ENGLEBRIGHT, DeSTEFANO, REYES, TAGUE,
   WILLIAMS -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK, SAYEGH, SIMON -- read
   once and referred to the Committee on Tourism, Parks, Arts and  Sports
   Development

 AN  ACT  to  amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to the
   establishment of regional arts, cultural affairs, and parks grants
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  arts and cultural affairs law is amended by adding a
 new article 6 to read as follows:
                                 ARTICLE 6
             REGIONAL ARTS, CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND PARKS GRANTS
 SECTION 6.01. DEFINITIONS.
         6.03. ESTABLISHMENT  OF  ARTS,  CULTURAL  AFFAIRS,   AND   PARKS
                 REGIONS.
         6.05. REGIONAL  ARTS,  CULTURAL  AFFAIRS,  AND PARKS COMPETITIVE
                 GRANTS.
   § 6.01. DEFINITIONS. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS ARTICLE,  THE  FOLLOWING
 TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
   1.  "REGIONS" SHALL MEAN THE ARTS, CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND PARKS REGIONS
 ESTABLISHED IN SECTION 6.03 OF THIS ARTICLE.
   2. "REGIONAL COUNCILS" SHALL MEAN  THE  COUNCILS  WHICH  ISSUE  GRANTS
 UNDER SECTION 6.05 OF THIS ARTICLE.
   §  6.03.  ESTABLISHMENT  OF ARTS, CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND PARKS REGIONS.
 TEN ARTS, CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND PARKS REGIONS SHALL BE ESTABLISHED WITH-
 IN THE STATE, ONE FOR EACH OF THE FOLLOWING REGIONS:
   1. LONG ISLAND (WHICH CONSISTS OF SUFFOLK AND NASSAU COUNTIES);
   2. THE CITY OF NEW YORK (WHICH CONSISTS OF BRONX,  NEW  YORK,  QUEENS,
 KINGS, AND RICHMOND COUNTIES);

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

                                                            LBD05351-01-1

 A. 608                              2
 
   3.  THE  MID-HUDSON REGION (WHICH CONSISTS OF SULLIVAN, ULSTER, DUTCH-
 ESS, ORANGE, PUTNAM, WESTCHESTER, AND ROCKLAND COUNTIES);
   4.  THE  SOUTHERN TIER (WHICH CONSISTS OF STEUBEN, SCHUYLER, TOMPKINS,
 CHEMUNG, TIOGA, CHENANGO, BROOME, AND DELAWARE COUNTIES);
   5. THE CAPITAL REGION (WHICH CONSISTS OF WARREN, WASHINGTON, SARATOGA,
 SCHENECTADY, RENSSELAER, ALBANY, COLUMBIA, AND GREENE COUNTIES);
   6. THE MOHAWK VALLEY (WHICH  CONSISTS  OF  ONEIDA,  HERKIMER,  FULTON,
 MONTGOMERY, OTSEGO, AND SCHOHARIE COUNTIES);
   7.  THE  NORTH  COUNTRY  (WHICH  CONSISTS  OF  CLINTON,  FRANKLIN, ST.
 LAWRENCE, JEFFERSON, LEWIS, HAMILTON, AND ESSEX COUNTIES);
   8. THE CENTRAL REGION (WHICH CONSISTS  OF  OSWEGO,  CAYUGA,  ONONDAGA,
 MADISON, AND CORTLAND COUNTIES);
   9.  THE FINGER LAKES REGION (WHICH CONSISTS OF ORLEANS, MONROE, WAYNE,
 GENESEE, WYOMING, LIVINGSTON, ONTARIO, SENECA, AND YATES COUNTIES); AND
   10. THE WESTERN REGION (WHICH CONSISTS OF NIAGARA,  ERIE,  CHAUTAUQUA,
 CATTARAUGUS, AND ALLEGANY COUNTIES).
   § 6.05. REGIONAL ARTS, CULTURAL AFFAIRS, AND PARKS COMPETITIVE GRANTS.
 1.  THE  GOVERNOR  SHALL,  IN EACH REGION, ESTABLISH A COUNCIL WHO SHALL
 ISSUE COMPETITIVE GRANTS WITHIN THE REGION. THE MEMBERS OF EACH REGIONAL
 COUNCIL SHALL BE LOCAL EXPERTS AND STAKEHOLDERS FROM ARTS  AND  CULTURAL
 AFFAIRS  ORGANIZATIONS  AND  PARKS ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THE REGION. EACH
 REGIONAL COUNCIL SHALL HAVE SEVEN TOTAL MEMBERS APPOINTED TO SUCH  COUN-
 CIL.  FIVE  MEMBERS  OF  EACH REGIONAL COUNCIL SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE
 GOVERNOR AND SHALL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF THE GOVERNOR, ONE MEMBER  OF
 EACH  REGIONAL COUNCIL SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY
 AND SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF  THE  ASSEMBLY,  AND  ONE  MEMBER  OF  EACH
 REGIONAL  COUNCIL  SHALL  BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE
 SENATE AND SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF  THE  SENATE.  ALL  MEMBERS  OF  THE
 REGIONAL  COUNCILS  SHALL BE SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION SEVEN-
 TY-THREE-A OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW.
   2. THE REGIONAL COUNCILS SHALL, WITH APPROVAL FROM THE GOVERNOR, ISSUE
 COMPETITIVE GRANTS TO ARTS AND CULTURAL AFFAIRS ORGANIZATIONS AND  PARKS
 ORGANIZATIONS WITHIN THEIR REGION FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS SUCH THAT:
   (A)  IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK REGION, AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF GRANT MONEY IS
 ISSUED TO ORGANIZATIONS WITH OPERATING BUDGETS OF TEN MILLION DOLLARS OR
 MORE AS IS ISSUED TO ORGANIZATIONS WITH OPERATING BUDGETS OF  LESS  THAN
 TEN MILLION DOLLARS; AND
   (B)  IN ALL OTHER REGIONS, AN EQUAL AMOUNT OF GRANT MONEY IS ISSUED TO
 ORGANIZATIONS WITH OPERATING BUDGETS OF FIVE MILLION DOLLARS OR MORE  AS
 IS  ISSUED  TO  ORGANIZATIONS  WITH  OPERATING BUDGETS OF LESS THAN FIVE
 MILLION DOLLARS.
   3. THE REGIONAL COUNCILS  SHALL  DETERMINE  WHICH  ORGANIZATION  SHALL
 RECEIVE  A COMPETITIVE GRANT BASED ON CRITERIA ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVER-
 NOR FOR SUCH PURPOSE.
   4. NO REGIONAL COUNCIL SHALL ISSUE A GRANT TO  AN  ORGANIZATION  WHICH
 HAS RECEIVED A GRANT UNDER THIS ARTICLE WITHIN THE PRIOR THREE YEARS.
   5.  NO  REGIONAL  COUNCIL  SHALL ISSUE GRANTS TOTALING MORE THAN FIFTY
 PERCENT OF SUCH COUNCIL'S GRANT MONEY ISSUED IN A CALENDAR YEAR TO PARKS
 ORGANIZATIONS.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.