BILL NUMBER:  S4955A

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to direct the secretary of state to establish
a task force to study the standardization of state and local building
codes and permit processes for the purpose of facilitating the
installation of solar and wind energy generating systems, and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon the expiration
thereof

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL : establishes a task force to
study and report on standardization of local building permits and
processes to facilitate increased use of solar and wind energy systems

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS : The task force shall consist of thirteen
members - the state fire administrator; the executive director of the
office of real property services; the chair of the NYS energy research
and development authority; four appointed members by the secretary of
state; three members appointed by the temporary president of the
senate; and three members appointed by the speaker of the assembly.
The secretary of the state shall designate a chair from among the
members of the task force. Vacancies in the membership of the task
force shall be filled in the manner provided for original
appointments.

The task force shall hold public hearings and shall have all the
powers of a legislative committee pursuant to the legislative law.
              

The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for their
services.

To the maximum extent feasible, the task force shall be entitled to
request, receive and use such facilities, resources and data of any
department, board, bureau, commission or agency of the state or any
political subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request to properly
carry out its powers and duties.

The task force shall submit a report to the governor, the secretary of
state and the legislature of its findings, conclusions and
recommendations and shall submit therewith such legislative proposals
as it deems necessary to implement its recommendations.

 JUSTIFICATION : In his Annual State of the State, Governor Paterson
outlined his aggressive plan to meet 45% of New York State's
electricity needs through clean renewable energy and improved energy
efficiency by 2015. With the resulting increased amount of solar and
wind installations expected across the state, local municipalities
will often refer to the state uniform building and fire prevention
codes when issuing building permits, only to find that few areas
directly address the installation of these systems. In the absence of
no clear direction in the building code, many permitting authorities
develop their own interpretation of how the code applies to solar.
This renders the permitting process fractured, uneven and a deterrent
to the growth of solar and wind in New York State.

Statistics provided by local utilities indicate a greater number of
solar and wind installations in municipalities whose permitting
processes have taken the red tape out of going green. A legislative
task force will be able to put forth a recommendation of a more
practical uniform building and fire code system based on current solar
and wind technologies that utilize a standard structure of fees and
requirements further encouraging increased solar and wind
installations throughout the state.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : New bill,

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : None.
 EFFECTIVE DATE : This act shall take effect immediately, and shall
expire and be deemed repealed January 1, 2011.

                                BILL NUMBER:S4955B

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the executive law, in relation to directing the state fire
prevention and building code council to examine, evaluate and make
recommendations concerning the standardization of state and local
building codes and permit processes for the purpose of facilitating
installation of solar and wind energy generating systems

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF THE BILL:
Directs the State Fire Prevention
and Building Code Council to study and report on standardization of
local building permits and processes to facilitate increased use of
solar and wind energy systems

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
In addition to its powers and duties, the State
Fire Prevention and Building Code Council shall examine, evaluate and
make recommendations concerning the standardization of the New York
State uniform fire prevention and building code, and local building
codes and permit processes for the purpose of facilitating and
encouraging the installation and operation of solar and wind energy
generating systems throughout the state and within the various
municipalities of the state.

              

The State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council shall hold public
hearings and shall consult with the solar and wind energy generating
industry throughout the state in the course of its examination,
evaluation and formation of recommendations pursuant to this act.

To the maximum extent feasible, the State Fire Prevention and Building
Code Council shall be entitled to request, receive and use such
facilities, resources and data of any department, board, bureau,
commission or agency of the state or any political subdivision
thereof as it may reasonably request to properly carry out its powers
and duties.

The State Fire Prevention and Building Code Council shall submit a
report to the governor, the secretary of state and the legislature of
its findings, conclusions and recommendations and shall submit
therewith such legislative proposals as it deems necessary to
implement its recommendations.

JUSTIFICATION:
In his Annual State of the State, Governor Paterson
outlined his aggressive plan to meet 45% of New York State's
electricity needs through clean renewable energy and improved energy
efficiency by 2015. With the resulting increased amount of solar and
wind installations expected across the state, local municipalities
will often refer to the state uniform building and fire prevention
codes when issuing building permits, only to find that few areas
directly address the installation of these systems. In the absence of
a clear direction in the building code, many permitting authorities
develop their own interpretation of how the code applies to solar.


This renders the permitting process fractured, uneven and a deterrent
to the growth of solar and wind in New York State.

Statistics provided by local utilities indicate a greater number of
solar and wind installations in municipalities whose permitting
processes have taken the red tape out of going green. The State
Fire Prevention and Building Code Council will be able to put forth a
recommendation of a more practical uniform building and fire code
system based on current solar and wind technologies that utilize a
standard structure of fees and requirements further encouraging
increased solar and wind installations throughout the state.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately, and shall
expire and be deemed repealed January 1, 2012.