S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5706
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                              March 22, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. STIRPE, THIELE -- read once and referred to the
   Committee on Ways and Means
 
 AN ACT to amend the state finance law, in relation to  establishing  the
   sustainable communities fund
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   Section 1. The state finance law is amended by adding  a  new  section
 99-r to read as follows:
   §  99-R.  SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY ESTABLISHED
 IN THE JOINT CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND  THE  COMMISSIONER  OF
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE "SUSTAINABLE COMMU-
 NITIES FUND".
   2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONIES APPROPRIATED FOR ITS PURPOSE,
 ALL  OTHER  MONIES CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED TO SUCH FUND PURSUANT TO LAW,
 AND ALL MONIES REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION OR ANY OTHER PROVISIONS  OF  LAW
 TO BE PAID INTO OR CREDITED TO SUCH FUND.
   3.  MONEYS OF SUCH FUND SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSIONER OF
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND SHALL BE USED  FOR  GRANTS  TO  MUNICIPAL
 CORPORATIONS,  AS  THAT  TERM  IS  DEFINED IN SECTION TWO OF THE GENERAL
 MUNICIPAL LAW, FOR ELIGIBLE PROJECTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. TO QUALI-
 FY FOR SUCH GRANTS, MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS SHALL (A)  INCORPORATE  SMART
 GROWTH  PRINCIPLES,  AS  ENUMERATED  IN ARTICLE SIX OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL
 CONSERVATION LAW, INTO THEIR  COMPREHENSIVE  PLANS  IN  ACCORDANCE  WITH
 SECTIONS TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-TWO-A OF THE TOWN LAW, 7-722 OF THE VILLAGE
 LAW,  AND  TWENTY-EIGHT-A  OF THE GENERAL CITY LAW, (B) DEMONSTRATE THAT
 ELIGIBLE PROJECTS CONFORM TO THE COMPREHENSIVE  PLANS,  AND  (C)  DEMON-
 STRATE  THE  ABILITY  TO LEVERAGE ONE DOLLAR IN MATCHING FUNDS FOR EVERY
 DOLLAR OF STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
   4. FOLLOWING APPROPRIATION BY THE  LEGISLATURE,  MONIES  OF  THE  FUND
 SHALL  BE  AVAILABLE  ONLY  FOR  DISTRIBUTION TO ELIGIBLE PROJECTS. SUCH
 ELIGIBLE PROJECTS SHALL INCORPORATE SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLES  OR  UTILIZE
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD02122-01-3
              

 A. 5706                             2
 
 CLIMATE  RESILIENT  AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUES
 AND SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, CREATING WALKABLE  COMMUNITIES
 INCLUDING THE WIDENING OF SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES, WATERFRONT REVITALI-
 ZATION  PROJECTS  INCLUDING DREDGING, BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS, COMBATING
 URBAN SPRAWL, AND DEVELOPING MIXED USE COMMUNITIES.
   5. THE COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION SHALL PROMULGATE ANY
 NECESSARY RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE APPLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION  OF
 ANY FUNDS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   §  2.  This act shall take effect immediately.  Effective immediately,
 the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or  regulation  neces-
 sary  for  the  implementation  of  this  act  on its effective date are
 authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.