S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
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                                    581
 
                        2019-2020 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                                (PREFILED)
 
                              January 9, 2019
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. STIRPE -- read once and referred to the Committee
   on Ways and Means
 
 AN  ACT  to amend the state finance law, in relation to establishing the
   sustainable communities fund
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  The  state finance law is amended by adding a new section
 99-ff to read as follows:
   § 99-FF. SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITIES FUND. 1. THERE IS HEREBY  ESTABLISHED
 IN  THE  JOINT  CUSTODY OF THE STATE COMPTROLLER AND THE COMMISSIONER OF
 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION A FUND TO BE KNOWN AS THE "SUSTAINABLE COMMU-
 NITIES FUND".
   2. SUCH FUND SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONIES APPROPRIATED FOR ITS PURPOSE,
 ALL OTHER MONIES CREDITED OR TRANSFERRED TO SUCH FUND PURSUANT  TO  LAW,
 AND  ALL  MONIES REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION OR ANY OTHER PROVISIONS OF LAW
 TO BE PAID INTO OR CREDITED TO SUCH FUND.
   3. MONEYS OF SUCH FUND SHALL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COMMISSIONER  OF
 ENVIRONMENTAL  CONSERVATION  AND  SHALL  BE USED FOR GRANTS TO MUNICIPAL
 CORPORATIONS, AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN  SECTION  TWO  OF  THE  GENERAL
 MUNICIPAL LAW, FOR ELIGIBLE PROJECTS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. TO QUALI-
 FY  FOR  SUCH GRANTS, MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS SHALL (A) INCORPORATE SMART
 GROWTH PRINCIPLES, AS ENUMERATED IN ARTICLE  SIX  OF  THE  ENVIRONMENTAL
 CONSERVATION  LAW,  INTO  THEIR  COMPREHENSIVE  PLANS IN ACCORDANCE WITH
 SECTIONS TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY-TWO-A OF THE TOWN LAW, 7-722 OF THE VILLAGE
 LAW, AND TWENTY-EIGHT-A OF THE GENERAL CITY LAW,  (B)  DEMONSTRATE  THAT
 ELIGIBLE  PROJECTS  CONFORM  TO  THE COMPREHENSIVE PLANS, AND (C) DEMON-
 STRATE THE ABILITY TO LEVERAGE ONE DOLLAR IN MATCHING  FUNDS  FOR  EVERY
 DOLLAR OF STATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
   4.  FOLLOWING  APPROPRIATION  BY  THE  LEGISLATURE, MONIES OF THE FUND
 SHALL BE AVAILABLE ONLY FOR  DISTRIBUTION  TO  ELIGIBLE  PROJECTS.  SUCH
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD00660-01-9

 A. 581                              2
 
 ELIGIBLE  PROJECTS  SHALL INCORPORATE SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLES OR UTILIZE
 CLIMATE RESILIENT AND ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY  CONSTRUCTION  TECHNIQUES
 AND  SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO, CREATING WALKABLE COMMUNITIES
 INCLUDING THE WIDENING OF SIDEWALKS AND BIKE LANES, WATERFRONT REVITALI-
 ZATION  PROJECTS  INCLUDING DREDGING, BEAUTIFICATION PROJECTS, COMBATING
 URBAN SPRAWL, AND DEVELOPING MIXED USE COMMUNITIES.
   5. THE COMMISSIONER OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION SHALL PROMULGATE ANY
 NECESSARY RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR THE APPLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION  OF
 ANY FUNDS PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
   §  2.  This  act shall take effect immediately. Effective immediately,
 the  commissioner  of  environmental  conservation  is  authorized   and
 directed  to  promulgate, amend, and/or repeal any rules and regulations
 necessary to implement the provisions of  this  act  on  or  before  its
 effective date.