S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   4795
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             February 12, 2021
                                ___________
 
 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 renumbered section 239-nnn and is amended to read as
 follows:
   § 239-nnn.  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 govern-
 mental] 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.

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD09251-01-1
              

 S. 4795                             2
 
   d. Devise, RECOMMEND  AND  IMPLEMENT  practical  ways  and  means  for
 obtaining  greater  economy and efficiency in the planning and provision
 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.
   § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.