S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
3091
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
January 22, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. BENJAMIN, FINCH, JAFFEE, DelMONTE, BOYLAND, ALFA-
NO, KOLB, CLARK, COLTON, WALKER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A.
BARRA, DIAZ, GOTTFRIED, GREENE, JOHN, MAISEL, MAYERSOHN, PEOPLES,
PHEFFER, ROBINSON, WEISENBERG, WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to establish the commission on toxic chemical reform initiative;
and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration there-
of
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The toxic chemical reform initiative. The commission on
toxic chemical reform initiative (hereinafter referred to as "the
commission") is hereby established. The commission shall study the
feasibility of continually tracking the sources of toxic chemicals into
New York state's environment; prioritize such toxic chemicals and their
sources for dangerousness to children and fetuses; and establish a plan
to prohibit the continued introduction, reduce the hazardous impact
and/or remediate such chemicals from the environment.
S 2. a. The commission shall consist of eight members and be chaired
by the commissioner of environmental conservation. Four members shall be
appointed by the governor: two of whom shall be environmental hazard
specialists and two of whom shall have expertise in physical medicine.
One such appointment shall be upon recommendation of each of the follow-
ing: the temporary president of the senate, the speaker of the assembly,
the minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader of the assem-
bly. Five members of the commission shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of any business of the commission.
b. No member, officer or employee of the commission shall be disquali-
fied from holding any other public office or employment, nor shall he or
she forfeit any such office or employment by reason of his or her
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05581-01-9
A. 3091 2
appointment hereunder, notwithstanding the provisions of any general,
special or local law, ordinance or city charter.
c. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
S 3. Additionally, all other departments or agencies of the state or
subdivisions thereof, and local governments shall, at the request of the
chair, provide the commission such facilities, assistance, and data as
will enable the commission to carry out its powers and duties.
S 4. The commission may meet and hold public and/or private hearings
within the regions of the state, and shall have all the powers of a
legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law.
S 5. The commission shall make a report of its findings to be included
in the commissioner of environmental conservation's annual report to the
governor, the temporary president of the senate and the speaker of the
assembly, next succeeding the effective date of this act. Such report
shall include findings, detail the feasibility problems, and make recom-
mendations for possible solutions associated with toxic chemical reform
initiative.
S 6. This act shall take effect immediately and shall continue in full
force and effect until the thirty-first day of December in the year next
succeeding the year in which it shall have become a law, when upon such
date the provisions of this act shall expire and be deemed repealed.