S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2856
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             January 27, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. OTIS, BURDICK -- 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.
   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.
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD07737-01-3
 A. 2856                             2
              

 
   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, 2024, 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.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed January 1, 2025.