* § 83-l. Legislative commission on water resource needs of New York
state and Long Island. 1. The legislature hereby finds and declares that
the state has the sovereign power to regulate and control the water
resources of this state and an adequate and suitable water supply for
water supply, domestic, municipal, industrial, agricultural and
commercial uses, power, irrigation, transportation, fire protection,
sewage and water assimilation, the growth of the forest, maintenance of
fish and wildlife, recreational enjoyment and other uses is essential to
the health, safety and welfare of the people and economic growth and
prosperity of the state.

2. A legislative commission is hereby established: (a) to investigate
and evaluate said reports; (b) to make recommendations for provisions to
be made for the regulation and supervision of activities that deplete,
defile, damage or otherwise adversely affect the waters of the state and
the land resources associated therewith; (c) to determine where
uncontaminated or virgin sources of water exist; and (d) to recommend
legislative or administrative actions that are required to preserve and
protect such resources for future use.

3. The commission shall consist of ten members to be appointed as
follows: three members of the senate shall be appointed by the temporary
president of the senate; three members of the assembly shall be
appointed by the speaker of the assembly; two members of the senate
shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members
of the assembly shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
assembly. Any vacancy that occurs in the commission shall be filled in
the same manner in which the original appointment was made. Co-chairmen
of the commission shall be designated by the temporary president of the
senate and the speaker of the assembly respectively. No member, officer,
or employee of the commission shall be disqualified from holding any
other public office or employment, nor shall he forfeit any such office
or employment by reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding
the provisions of any general, special, or local law, ordinance, or city
charter.

4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as
it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions
and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The
commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise have all
of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members
of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services,
except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter, but shall
be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their duties hereunder.

5. Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of
the legislature for all purposes.

6. The commission may request and shall receive from any subdivision,
department, board, bureau, commission, office, agency or other
instrumentality of the state or of any political subdivision thereof,
such facilities, assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable
for the proper execution of its powers and duties.

7. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to make and sign
any agreements, and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary,
desirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives set forth
in this section.

* NB Repealed June 30, 2024