S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
6327
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
March 10, 2025
___________
Introduced by Sen. S. RYAN -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the real property tax law, in relation to providing an
exemption against certain fiber optic cable assessments for municipal
fiber optic broadband companies in Erie county
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The real property tax law is amended by adding a new
section 431 to read as follows:
§ 431. FIBER OPTIC CABLE IN ERIE COUNTY. 1. FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION THE FOLLOWING TERMS SHALL HAVE THE FOLLOWING MEANINGS:
(A) "MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC BROADBAND COMPANY" SHALL MEAN A LOCAL
AUTHORITY AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO OF THE PUBLIC AUTHORITIES LAW OR A
MUNICIPAL CORPORATION AS DEFINED IN SECTION TWO OF THE GENERAL MUNICIPAL
LAW ENGAGED IN THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, MARKETING AND SALE OF FIBER
OPTIC BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE AND SERVICES AND LOCATED IN ERIE COUNTY.
(B) "MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC NETWORK" SHALL MEAN MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC
CABLE AND INFRASTRUCTURE OWNED BY A MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC BROADBAND
COMPANY.
(C) "MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC CABLE AND INFRASTRUCTURE" SHALL MEAN FIBER
OPTIC CABLE AND RELATED EQUIPMENT WHICH IS OWNED AND INSTALLED BY OR
CAUSED TO BE INSTALLED BY A MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC BROADBAND COMPANY TO
TRANSMIT, OR FACILITATE THE TRANSMISSION, OF BROADBAND DATA, APPLICA-
TIONS, AND SERVICES TO END USERS LOCATED IN ERIE COUNTY.
2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, ALL
MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC NETWORKS AND MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC CABLE AND
INFRASTRUCTURE OWNED BY A MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC BROADBAND COMPANY,
WHETHER LOCATED ON PUBLIC OR PRIVATE PROPERTY, AND INSTALLED FOR THE
PURPOSE OF DISTRIBUTING BROADBAND TECHNOLOGY AND SERVICES, SHALL BE
EXEMPT FROM REAL PROPERTY TAXES, LEVIES AND ASSESSMENTS.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03025-03-5
S. 6327 2
3. IN ANY CONTRACTING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION, OPERATION, AND MANAGEMENT
OF A MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC NETWORK, THE MUNICIPAL BROADBAND COMPANY
SHALL PRIORITIZE APPLICANTS THAT HAVE AND COMMIT TO MAINTAINING HIGH
STANDARDS OF WORKPLACE SAFETY PRACTICES, TRAINING, CERTIFICATION OR
LICENSURE FOR ALL RELEVANT WORKERS, AND COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDER-
AL WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS; ENSURE THAT PERSONS, COMPANIES, OR ENTITIES
SEEKING TO CONTRACT WITH THE MUNICIPAL BROADBAND COMPANY DEMONSTRATE
SUITABLE FISCAL, TECHNICAL, OPERATIONAL, AND MANAGEMENT CAPABILITIES;
ENSURE THAT APPLICANTS FOR FUNDING PROVIDE CERTIFICATIONS AS TO COMPLI-
ANCE WITH RELEVANT SAFETY STANDARDS, INCLUDING THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL
SAFETY CODE; ENSURE THAT APPLICANTS FOR FUNDING PROVIDE CERTIFICATIONS
AS TO COMPLIANCE WITH RELEVANT WORKPLACE PROTECTIONS AS DETERMINED BY
THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR INCLUDING THE OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH
ACT, THE FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT, TITLE VII OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF
1964, AND NEW YORK STATE LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT LAWS; ENSURE THAT APPLI-
CANTS FOR FUNDING SUBMIT TO THE MUNICIPAL BROADBAND COMPANY A WORKFORCE
PLAN WHICH SHALL INCLUDE: (A) INFORMATION REGARDING WHETHER THE
CONSTRUCTION WORKFORCE WILL BE DIRECTLY EMPLOYED OR SUBCONTRACTED AND
WHAT ENTITY EMPLOYS THE WORKFORCE; (B) THE ANTICIPATED SIZE OF THE WORK-
FORCE REQUIRED TO CARRY OUT THE PROPOSED WORK; (C) A DESCRIPTION OF
PLANS TO MAXIMIZE USE OF LOCAL OR REGIONAL WORKFORCE; AND (D) A
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXPECTED WORKFORCE SAFETY STANDARDS AND TRAINING TO
ENSURE THE PROJECT IS COMPLETED AT A HIGH STANDARD. THE MUNICIPAL BROAD-
BAND COMPANY SHALL PUBLISH WORKFORCE PLANS PUBLICLY ON ITS WEBSITE.
4. MUNICIPAL FIBER OPTIC NETWORKS SHALL BE SUBJECT TO PREVAILING WAGE
REQUIREMENTS IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE EIGHT OF THE LABOR LAW.
5. THE COMMISSIONER IS HEREBY AUTHORIZED AND DIRECTED TO PROMULGATE
RULES AND REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PROVISIONS OF THIS
SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to assess-
ment rolls prepared on the basis of taxable status dates occurring on or
after such date.