S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1778

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 14, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen.  PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government

AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation  to  members  and
  powers of intergovernmental relations councils

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Section 239-n of the general municipal law, as  amended  by
chapter  728 of the laws of 1961, the section heading, the opening para-
graph and paragraph a of subdivision 1  and  subdivisions  2  and  3  as
amended  and paragraph h of subdivision 1 as added by chapter 203 of the
laws of 1983, paragraphs f and g of subdivision 1 as amended  and  para-
graph  e of subdivision 1 as added by chapter 96 of the laws of 1962 and
paragraphs i, j and k of subdivision 1 as added by chapter  605  of  the
laws of 1993, is amended to read as follows:
  S  239-n. Intergovernmental relations councils.  1. Any county outside
the city of New York, city, town, village,  school  district,  board  of
cooperative  educational  services, [or] fire district OR PUBLIC BENEFIT
CORPORATION or any combination  thereof,  may  create  by  agreement  an
intergovernmental  relations council to strengthen local governments and
to promote efficient and economical provision  of  [local  governmental]
PUBLIC   services  within  or  by  such  participating  [municipalities]
MEMBERS, and to that end such council shall have power to:
  a. Make surveys and studies and conduct research programs  to  aid  in
the  solution  of  local governmental problems and in efforts to improve
administration and services.
  b. Provide for the distribution of  information  resulting  from  such
surveys, studies and programs.
  c.  Consult and cooperate with appropriate state, municipal and public
or private agencies in matters affecting municipal government.
  d. Devise, RECOMMEND  AND  IMPLEMENT  practical  ways  and  means  for
obtaining  greater  economy and efficiency in the planning and provision

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD06842-01-5
              

S. 1778                             2

of [municipal] PUBLIC services [and make recommendations  in  accordance
therewith].
  e.  Promote the general commercial, industrial and cultural welfare of
the participating [municipalities] MEMBERS.
  f. Otherwise promote strong and  effective  local  government,  public
health,  safety, morals and general welfare by means of local and inter-
community planning or performance of  [municipal]  PUBLIC  services  AND
GOVERNMENTAL FUNCTIONS.
  g.  Employ  such persons and adopt such rules and regulations as shall
be necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this section.
  h. Provide a forum for local governments to explore and develop  areas
for  [municipal]  cooperative activities pursuant to [article five-G of]
this chapter.
  i. Operate as a purchasing consortium, where authorized by participat-
ing [municipalities] MEMBERS, for the  purpose  of  obtaining  economies
through joint bidding and purchasing.
  j.  Purchase  and  make  available  to  participating [municipalities]
MEMBERS, where authorized  by  participating  [municipalities]  MEMBERS,
goods  [and],  equipment  AND  SERVICES,  including  but  not limited to
computer hardware and software.
  k. Gather and make available information on surplus goods  and  equip-
ment for sale or lease.
  2. The PARTICIPATING members of an intergovernmental relations council
shall  adopt by-laws to govern its activities and shall elect from their
own number a [chairman] CHAIRPERSON and secretary  and  other  necessary
officers  to  serve  for  such period as the PARTICIPATING members shall
decide.
  3. The board of supervisors of a county, the appropriate officials  of
a  city,  the  governing body of a school district, board of cooperative
educational services or fire  district,  the  board  of  trustees  of  a
village,  [or]  the  town  board  of a town OR THE MEMBERS OR BOARD OF A
PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, is hereby authorized to include annually  in
the  budget and raise by taxation in such county, city, school district,
village or town a sum to meet all or an appropriate share of the  actual
and  necessary expenses of establishing, maintaining and continuing such
intergovernmental relations council.
  S 2. This act shall take effect immediately.