S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   3724
 
                        2023-2024 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 7, 2023
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M. of A. EPSTEIN, WOERNER -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of
   A. 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.
                                                            LBD03029-01-3
              

 A. 3724                             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.
 A. 3724                             3
 
   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. 3724                             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.