S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9425
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
December 19, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SHRESTHA -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
AN ACT to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the trustees
of the power authority of the state of New York
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as
the "public power democracy act".
§ 2. Section 1003 of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter
766 of the laws of 2005, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1003. Trustees. 1. The authority shall consist of [seven] SEVENTEEN
trustees, five of whom shall serve respectively for terms of one, two,
three, four and five years, to be appointed by the governor, by and with
the advice and consent of the senate. The sixth and seventh trustees
shall be appointed by the governor, by and with the advice and consent
of the senate, and shall serve initial terms of one and two years
respectively. OF THE TRUSTEES APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, ONE SHALL BE A
BONA FIDE EXPERT IN PUBLIC FINANCE, ONE SHALL BE A BONA FIDE EXPERT IN
CONSUMER ADVOCACY, AND ONE SHALL BE A BONA FIDE EXPERT IN ENVIRONMENTAL
JUSTICE. FIVE TRUSTEES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF
THE SENATE, OF WHICH ONE SHALL BE A REPRESENTATIVE OF A BONA FIDE LABOR
ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS WORKERS ENGAGED IN A COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
AGREEMENT WITH THE AUTHORITY OR ITS SUBSIDIARIES, AND ONE SHALL BE A
REPRESENTATIVE OF A BONA FIDE LABOR ORGANIZATION THAT REPRESENTS WORKERS
EMPLOYED BY AN ORGANIZATION ENGAGED IN A POWER PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH
THE AUTHORITY. FIVE TRUSTEES SHALL BE APPOINTED BY THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY, OF WHICH ONE SHALL BE A BONA FIDE EXPERT IN RENEWABLE ENERGY
SITING, AND ONE SHALL BE A BONA FIDE EXPERT IN BUILDING ELECTRIFICATION.
Each trustee shall hold office until a successor has been appointed and
qualified OR UNTIL REMOVED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE LEGISLATURE OR THE
GOVERNOR. FURTHERMORE, THE NEW YORK STATE ENERGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOP-
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD11229-06-5
A. 9425 2
MENT AUTHORITY AND THE OFFICE OF RENEWABLE ENERGY SITING AND ELECTRIC
TRANSMISSION SHALL EACH BE ALLOWED TO APPOINT ONE NON-VOTING MEMBER.
2. At the expiration of the term of each trustee and of each succeed-
ing trustee [the governor shall, by and with the advice and consent of
the senate, appoint a successor, who shall hold office for a term of
five years, or until a successor has been appointed and qualified. In
the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the trustee by death,
resignation or otherwise, the governor shall, by and with the advice and
consent of the senate, appoint a successor, who shall hold office for
the unexpired term. Four trustees shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of organizing the authority and conducting the business
thereof], OR THE EVENT OF A VACANCY OCCURRING IN THE OFFICE OF THE TRUS-
TEE BY DEATH, RESIGNATION OR OTHERWISE, THE ORIGINAL ENTITIES WHO
APPOINTED THAT TRUSTEE SHALL APPOINT A SUCCESSOR WHO SHALL HOLD OFFICE
FOR THE UNEXPIRED TERM. A MAJORITY OF THE APPOINTED VOTING TRUSTEES
SHALL CONSTITUTE A QUORUM FOR THE PURPOSE OF ORGANIZING THE AUTHORITY
AND CONDUCTING THE BUSINESS THEREOF. ANY AUTHORITY TRUSTEE OR BOARD
MEMBER MAY BE TERMINATED BY EITHER A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE SENATE OR
ASSEMBLY, OR BY THE GOVERNOR. REASONS FOR TERMINATION MAY INCLUDE, BUT
ARE NOT LIMITED TO: FAILURE TO MEET THE RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGETS;
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST; FAILURE TO PRIORITIZE CLIMATE JUSTICE, ENVIRON-
MENTAL JUSTICE, OR ECONOMIC JUSTICE IN THE AUTHORITY'S OPERATIONS; SEXU-
AL ASSAULT OR HARASSMENT; OR CORRUPTION.
3. The trustee chosen as [chairman] CHAIR as provided in section one
thousand four of this title, shall receive an annual salary which shall
be set by the trustees of the authority, and which shall not exceed the
salary prescribed for the positions listed in paragraph (f) of subdivi-
sion one of section one hundred sixty-nine of the executive law. Each
other trustee shall not receive a salary or other compensation. Each
trustee shall receive [his or her] THEIR reasonable expenses in the
performance of [his or her duties hereunder] THEIR DUTIES PURSUANT TO
THIS SECTION. The trustee chosen as [chairman] CHAIR may elect to become
a member of the New York state and local employees' retirement system on
the basis of such compensation to which [he or she] SUCH CHAIR shall be
entitled as herein provided notwithstanding the provisions of any gener-
al, special or local law, municipal charter, or ordinance.
§ 3. Section 1004 of the public authorities law, as amended by chapter
506 of the laws of 2009, is amended to read as follows:
§ 1004. Officers and employees; expenses. The trustees shall choose
from among their own number a [chairman] CHAIR and [vice-chairman] VICE-
CHAIR. THE TERMS FOR CHAIR AND VICE-CHAIR SHALL BE TWO YEARS. They
shall select such officers and employees, including a chief executive
officer whose appointment shall be subject to confirmation by the senate
[in accordance with section twenty-eight hundred fifty-two of this chap-
ter], and such engineering, marketing and legal officers and employees,
as they may require for the performance of their duties and shall
prescribe the duties and compensation of each officer and employee. They
shall adopt by-laws and rules and regulations suitable to the purposes
of this title. As long as and to the extent that the authority is
dependent upon appropriations for the payment of its expenses, it shall
incur no obligations for salary, office or other expenses prior to the
making of appropriations adequate to meet the same.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.