N.Y. Legislative Law § 83-l: Legislative commission on water resource needs of New York state and Long Island

* § 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, 2027