Assembly Bill A5274

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   5274
 
                        2025-2026 Regular Sessions
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 12, 2025
                                ___________
 
 Introduced by M. of A. K. BROWN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
   tee on Governmental Operations
 
 AN  ACT  in  relation to establishing a separate states working group to
   conduct a study on Long Island statehood; and providing for the repeal
   of such provisions upon the expiration thereof

   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. There is hereby established within the office of the state
 comptroller a working group to be known as the "separate states  working
 group".  The  working group shall conduct a study examining dividing New
 York into separate states by having the counties of Nassau and  Suffolk,
 hereinafter  referred to as "Long Island", become a separate state. Such
 study shall include, but not be limited to:
   (a) a cost benefit analysis of separating New York into  two  separate
 states,  including,  but  not  limited to, economic opportunity for both
 areas;
   (b) the legal ramifications of separating New York into  two  separate
 states;
   (c) the general up-front cost associated with separating New York into
 two  separate states, exclusive of the long-term economic ramifications,
 including, but not limited to the cost of creating two new state govern-
 ments, the separation of the physical and organizational infrastructure,
 and the cost of settling land disputes;
   (d) the constitutional steps necessary to separate New York  into  two
 separate states; and
   (e)  any constitutional precedents in the United States for dividing a
 state into two separate states.
   § 2. The working group shall consist of the following:
   (a) the state comptroller and their designee;
   (b) one member appointed by the comptroller;
   (c) the attorney general and their designee;
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD06294-01-5
              

 A. 5274                             2
 
   (d) one member appointed by the attorney general;
   (e) two members appointed by the governor;
   (f) one member appointed by the speaker of the assembly;
   (g) one member appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
   (h) one member appointed by the minority leader of the assembly;
   (i) one member appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
   (j)  two  members appointed by the New York State Association of Coun-
 ties;
   (k) two members appointed by the New York State Conference  of  Mayors
 and Municipal Officials; and
   (l)  two members appointed by the Association of Towns of the State of
 New York.
   § 3. At the conclusion of the study, the working group will deliver  a
 report of its findings to the governor, the speaker of the assembly, the
 temporary  president of the senate, the minority leader of the assembly,
 the minority leader of the senate and the comptroller. Such report shall
 be submitted no later than twelve months following the effective date of
 this act.
   § 4. The members and staff personnel of the  separate  states  working
 group shall serve without compensation, but shall be eligible to receive
 reimbursement  for  their  reasonable,  actual  and  necessary expenses,
 provided however, members of the working group representing state  agen-
 cies  may  receive reimbursement for their actual and necessary expenses
 from their respective agencies. Members of the separate  states  working
 group  shall  be considered state employees for the purposes of sections
 17 and 19 of the public officers law.
   § 5. For the purposes of this act, the comptroller  may  conduct  such
 study in conjunction with any other department, division, board, bureau,
 commission,  agency,  or  public authority of the state they deem neces-
 sary. To the maximum extent feasible, the comptroller shall  be  author-
 ized  to  request,  receive,  and utilize such resources and data of any
 other department, division, board, bureau, commission, agency, or public
 authority of the state as they may reasonably request to properly  carry
 out their powers and duties pursuant to this act.
   §  6.  This  act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
 deemed repealed two years after such date.