S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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6531
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
March 11, 2019
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Introduced by M. of A. GALEF, WOERNER, RAIA, FINCH -- Multi-Sponsored by
-- M. of A. BARCLAY, GOTTFRIED, THIELE -- read once and referred to
the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to establishing the New
York state independent budget office
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The legislative law is amended by adding a new article 4-B
to read as follows:
ARTICLE 4-B
NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE
SECTION 75. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET
OFFICE.
76. DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE.
§ 75. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET
OFFICE. THERE SHALL HEREBY BE ESTABLISHED A NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT
BUDGET OFFICE. 1. IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPEND-
ENT BUDGET OFFICE TO PROVIDE THE MEMBERS AND COMMITTEES OF THE LEGISLA-
TURE WITH INFORMATION WHICH WILL ASSIST SUCH OFFICIALS AND BODIES IN THE
DISCHARGE OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH ARE RELATED TO THE BUDGETARY
PROCESS INCLUDING:
(A) INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE BUDGET, APPROPRIATIONS BILLS AND
PROPOSED LAWS WITH FISCAL IMPLICATIONS;
(B) INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO ESTIMATED REVENUES AND RECEIPTS, AND
CHANGING REVENUE CONDITIONS;
(C) INFORMATION WITH RESPECT TO THE PERFORMANCE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF
STATE AGENCIES AND PROGRAMS; AND
(D) TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, SUCH OTHER INFORMATION OR ANALYSES AS
MAY BE REQUESTED BY SUCH OFFICIALS AND BODIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
REQUESTS MADE BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT
OF THE SENATE, THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06988-01-9
A. 6531 2
THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE REGARDING THE BUDGET, REVENUES
AND EXPENDITURES SHALL RECEIVE PRIORITY ATTENTION.
2. THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL COMPLETE A FISCAL IMPACT
STATEMENT: (A) FOR ANY BILL BEING CONSIDERED ON AN ASSEMBLY WAYS AND
MEANS COMMITTEE AGENDA OR A SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AGENDA, TO THE
EXTENT POSSIBLE; (B) FOR ANY BILL AT THE REQUEST OF THE SPEAKER OR
MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY OR THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OR MINORITY
LEADER OF THE SENATE; AND (C) AT THE REQUEST OF A COMMITTEE CHAIR OR
RANKING MEMBER OF A COMMITTEE FOR ANY BILL REFERRED TO THEIR RESPECTIVE
COMMITTEE. FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENTS SHALL ESTIMATE THE IMPACT ON STATE
REVENUES OR EXPENDITURES.
3. THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL SUBMIT AN ANALYSIS OF THE
EXECUTIVE BUDGET BY MARCH FIRST OF EACH YEAR TO THE MEMBERS OF THE
ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND
MAKE COPIES OF SUCH ANALYSIS AVAILABLE TO ALL OTHER MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE AND ALL OTHER INDIVIDUALS, UPON REQUEST.
4. THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL, TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE,
DEVELOP PROPOSALS FOR COST EFFECTIVE ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES TO MEET THE
PUBLIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE STATE.
5. THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL PUBLISH A REPORT WITH RESPECT
TO THE EXPECTED LEVELS OF STATE REVENUES BY THE FIRST DAY OF JANUARY,
THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL, THE FIRST DAY OF JULY AND THE FIRST DAY OF OCTO-
BER OF EACH YEAR.
6. THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL PUBLISH BY DECEMBER FIRST OF
EACH YEAR A REPORT ANALYZING THE FISCAL OUTLOOK OF THE STATE FOR THE
NEXT FIVE YEARS.
7. THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL, FROM TIME TO TIME, PUBLISH
SUCH REPORTS AS MAY BE APPROPRIATE TO ENHANCE THE OFFICIAL AND PUBLIC
UNDERSTANDING OF THE BUDGETARY PROCESS AND OF THE BUDGET DOCUMENTS. SUCH
OFFICE SHALL, FROM TIME TO TIME, PUBLISH SUCH REPORTS AS MAY BE NECES-
SARY OR APPROPRIATE TO PROVIDE SUCH INFORMATION, DATA AND ANALYSIS AS
WILL ENHANCE OFFICIAL AND PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING OF MATTERS RELATING TO
STATE REVENUES, EXPENDITURES, MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RELATED MATTERS.
8. THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE MAY PROCURE UP-TO-DATE COMPUTER
EQUIPMENT, OBTAIN THE SERVICES OF EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS IN COMPUTER
TECHNOLOGY, AND DEVELOP TECHNIQUES FOR THE EVALUATION OF REVENUE PROJEC-
TIONS AND BUDGETARY REQUIREMENTS.
9. ALL INFORMATION, DATA, ESTIMATES AND STATISTICS, AND ALL STUDIES
AND REPORTS PREPARED BY THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC AND SHALL ALSO BE MADE AVAILABLE BY ELECTRONIC
MEANS OVER THE INTERNET.
§ 76. DIRECTOR OF THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE. 1.
THE NEW YORK STATE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL BE HEADED BY A DIREC-
TOR WHO SHALL BE APPOINTED, UPON THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF AN INDEPENDENT
BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE, BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE. THE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INITIAL
APPOINTMENT OF SUCH DIRECTOR SHALL BE MADE NO LATER THAN JANUARY
FIFTEENTH OF THE SECOND YEAR FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THIS ARTICLE TO
THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE. SUBSEQUENT RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL BE MADE BETWEEN
JANUARY SECOND AND JANUARY FIFTEENTH EVERY SIXTH YEAR THEREAFTER. THE
SPECIAL COMMITTEE SHALL APPOINT THE INITIAL DIRECTOR NO LATER THAN
FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH OF THE SECOND YEAR FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THIS
ARTICLE AND SUCH INITIAL DIRECTOR SHALL TAKE OFFICE BEGINNING APRIL
FIRST OF THE SECOND YEAR FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THIS ARTICLE.
SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS SHALL BE MADE NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY FIFTEENTH
EVERY SIXTH YEAR THEREAFTER.
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2. (A) THERE SHALL BE AN INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
CONSISTING OF (I) ONE PERSON APPOINTED BY EACH OF THE FOLLOWING OFFI-
CIALS AND WHO SHALL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF SUCH OFFICIALS; THE CHAIR
AND RANKING MEMBER OF THE ASSEMBLY WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE AND THE
CHAIR AND RANKING MEMBER OF THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE, AND (II) SIX
OTHER MEMBERS JOINTLY APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, WHO SHALL SERVE FOR SIX YEAR TERMS,
PROVIDED, HOWEVER THAT OF THE MEMBERS FIRST APPOINTED, TWO SHALL SERVE
FOR TERMS EXPIRING ON MARCH THIRTY-FIRST, OF THE SECOND YEAR FOLLOWING
THE ENACTMENT OF THIS ARTICLE; TWO SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS EXPIRING ON
MARCH THIRTY-FIRST, OF THE FOURTH YEAR FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THIS
ARTICLE; AND TWO SHALL SERVE FOR TERMS EXPIRING ON MARCH THIRTY-FIRST,
OF THE SIXTH YEAR FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THIS ARTICLE. THE MEMBERS
SHALL ALL BE INDIVIDUALS WITH EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE
FIELDS OF FINANCE, ECONOMICS, ACCOUNTING, PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND
PUBLIC POLICY ANALYSIS INCLUDING AT LEAST ONE NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED
EXPERT IN THE FIELDS OF BUDGET THEORY AND THE BUDGET PROCESS; ONE DEAN
OR DIRECTOR OR FORMER DEAN OR DIRECTOR OF A GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS OR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION LOCATED IN NEW
YORK STATE; ONE OFFICER OR FORMER OFFICER OR ECONOMIC ADVISOR OF A LABOR
UNION; ONE OFFICER OR FORMER OFFICER OR ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO A BUSINESS
CORPORATION; AND ONE OFFICER OR FORMER OFFICER OF A CIVIC OR PUBLIC
INTEREST ADVOCACY ORGANIZATION INVOLVED IN BUDGET MATTERS. NO INDIVID-
UAL SHALL SERVE CONSECUTIVE TERMS.
(B) THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL DEVELOP
GUIDELINES FOR THE BEST PRACTICES OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE. THE
INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL MEET ANNUALLY WITH
THE DIRECTOR TO REVIEW SUCH GUIDELINES AND TO MAKE COMMENTS AND
SUGGESTIONS ON THE OVERALL PRACTICES OF THE OFFICE.
(C) MEMBERS OF THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL RECEIVE NO COMPENSATION
BUT SHALL BE REIMBURSED FOR REASONABLE EXPENSES INCURRED IN CONNECTION
WITH THEIR DUTIES.
3. THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL BE APPOINTED
WITHOUT REGARD TO POLITICAL AFFILIATION AND SOLELY ON THE BASIS OF
FITNESS TO PERFORM THE DUTIES ASSIGNED BY THIS ARTICLE. THE TERM OF
OFFICE OF THE DIRECTOR FIRST APPOINTED SHALL EXPIRE ON FEBRUARY
FIFTEENTH, OF THE SIXTH YEAR FOLLOWING THE ENACTMENT OF THIS ARTICLE AND
THE TERMS OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS SUBSEQUENTLY APPOINTED SHALL EXPIRE ON
SUCH DATE IN EACH SIXTH YEAR THEREAFTER. ANY INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED TO
FILL A VACANCY PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF A TERM SHALL SERVE ONLY FOR
THE UNEXPIRED PORTION OF SUCH TERM. AN INDIVIDUAL SERVING AS DIRECTOR AT
THE EXPIRATION OF THE TERM MAY CONTINUE TO SERVE UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS
APPOINTED. ANY DIRECTOR SERVING CONSECUTIVE TERMS SHALL BE RECOMMENDED
BY THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND APPOINTED BY THE
SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY AND THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE FOR
THE SECOND TERM. NO DIRECTOR SHALL SERVE MORE THAN TWO TERMS CONSEC-
UTIVELY.
4. TEN PERCENT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS MADE TO THE DIVISION OF THE BUDG-
ET SHALL BE AVAILABLE TO PAY FOR THE EXPENSES OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET
OFFICE DURING EACH FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING WITH THE FIRST DAY OF APRIL
AFTER THIS SECTION SHALL HAVE BECOME A LAW. THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDE-
PENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL APPOINT SUCH PERSONNEL AND PROCURE THE
SERVICES OF SUCH EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS, WITHIN THE APPROPRIATIONS
AVAILABLE THEREFOR, AS MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SUCH DIRECTOR TO CARRY OUT
THE DUTIES AND FUNCTIONS ASSIGNED PURSUANT TO THIS ARTICLE. SUCH
A. 6531 4
PERSONNEL AND EXPERTS SHALL PERFORM SUCH DUTIES AS MAY BE ASSIGNED TO
THEM BY THE DIRECTOR.
5. THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE SHALL HAVE ACCESS AT
ALL REASONABLE TIMES TO OFFICES OF STATE DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSIONS,
BOARDS, BUREAUS AND OFFICES, TO INSTITUTIONS AND TO ALL STATE AUTHORI-
TIES AND PUBLIC WORKS OF THE STATE AND THEY MAY, FOR THE PURPOSE OF
OBTAINING INFORMATION AS TO THE METHOD OF OPERATION, GENERAL CONDITION,
MANAGEMENT AND NEEDS THEREOF, EXAMINE THE BOOKS, PAPERS AND PUBLIC
RECORDS THEREIN. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW SUCH STATE
DEPARTMENTS, COMMISSIONS, BOARDS, BUREAUS, OFFICES, STATE AUTHORITIES
AND INSTITUTIONS SHALL, THROUGH THEIR PROPER OFFICERS OR DEPUTIES,
FURNISH TO THE DIRECTOR SUCH DATA, INFORMATION OR STATEMENTS AS MAY BE
NECESSARY FOR THE PROPER EXERCISE OF HIS OR HER POWERS AND DUTIES AND
FOR THE PURPOSE OF CARRYING INTO EFFECT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS ARTICLE.
6. THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE SHALL DETERMINE
THE SALARY OF THE DIRECTOR OF THE INDEPENDENT BUDGET OFFICE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.