BILL NUMBER:  S4957

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act providing for the creation of a temporary
state commission to determine the future governance of the canal
corporation; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon
expiration thereof

 PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL : This Bill proposes to create a
temporary commission on the future governance of the canal
corporation. Upon collecting information and its general finding the
group is to convene and report all recommendations.

 SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :  Section 1 calls for the creation of
a temporary commission to study the proper placement of the canal
corporation.

Section 2 calls for the commission to consist of thirteen members
appointed with; seven members appointed by the governor, two by the
temporary president of the senate, two members by the speaker of the
assembly, and one to be appointed by minority leaders from each house.
The governor appoints the head of the commission for his appointees.

Section 3 delineates that members of the commission are not to receive
compensation but that all necessary expenditures shall be included.

Section 4 mandates that all employments and removals are subject to
              

the commission's consent. Further, fixing compensation within the
available amounts lies under the commission's authority.

Section 5 states that the commission will meet within the state, hold
public hearings, and maintain all necessary powers of a legislative
committee.

Section 6. requires that after commencement the commission shall
procure all findings and evaluation. From these findings, no later
than one year after origination, the. commission will draft a
culminating report for the governor, the temporary president of the
senate, and the speaker or the assembly.

Section 7 gives the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION : Since the incorporation of the Erie canal by the New
York state thruway authority, there has been a noticeable drain on
their resources. As a result, tolls and other fees are set to increase
necessitating a new approach towards managing the canal corporation.
With research and management the commission would effectively
re-incorporate the canal corporation, emphasizing on making it
fiscally manageable. Rather than litigating on different bills; the
creation of a bi-partisan committee -- specifically drafting policy
directly correlating with the governing of the canal--would be most
effective. With enough consideration to the particulars the canal will
be safely managed, and realized that the canal may not be classified
as a major transportation route so the incorporation under the State
Thruway system may be outdated. The committee will have roots in every
aspect of the New York state legislature, so it shall be assumed that
quick and effective legislation will come of the committee.

Media and public attention have started to key in to this issue;
realizing its ramifications. Times Union reports that, "Michael
Fleischer, the authority's executive director, said the Thruway's
financial outlook no longer provides enough funding to support a $2.7
billion capital repair and improvement plan that was approved with the
phased toll hikes in 2005. Most of that program -- just over $2.1
billion -- is for basic maintenance and repairs to core highway
infrastructure, such as bridges and pavement, he said." Beyond their
own troubling costs, the overall maintenance of the canal corporation
will only drastically increase the already rising tolls on the New
York state thruway. The committee will work with members from all
different public groups to figure out the quickest and most
financially viable solutions.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY : 01/29/08 A9849 referred to corporations,
authorities and commissions 05/28/09 reported referred to ways and
means

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS : None

 EFFECTIVE DATE :  120 days after becoming law.