Senate Bill S839

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S839

SPONSOR: TEDISCO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the economic development law, in relation to establish-
ing the New York state commission on out-migration

 
PURPOSE:

Establishes the New York state commission on out-migration to ascertain
reasons for New York's lagging population compared to other states.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

§ 1. The economic development law is amended by adding a new section 243
to read as follows:

§ 243. New York state commission on out-migration. 1. There is hereby
established in the department a commission to study such lagging popu-
lation and outward migration in the state of New York.

              

2. (a) The commission shall consist of thirteen members. Such members
shall be appointed as follows: three members shall be appointed by the
governor; three members shall be appointed by the speaker of the assem-
bly; three members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the
senate; two members shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
assembly; and two members shall be appointed by the minority leader of
the senate.

(b) Members of the commission shall not be currently elected members of
the state of New York legislature and each region of the economic devel-
opment councils shall be represented by at least one member who resides
in such region.

(c) The members of the commission shall serve without compensation but
shall be entitled to the actual and necessary expenses incurred in the
performance of their business as members of the commission.  Reimburse-
ment for such actual and necessary expenses shall be paid out of the
funds of the regional economic development council having responsibility
for the region in which the commission meets or holds a hearing.

3. (a) The commission shall examine reasons for lagging population in
the state of New York and emigration from the state of New York. Such
commission shall examine the reasons for such population loss and
emigration, including, but not limited to the following:

(i) affordability;

(ii) housing;

(iii) public safety;

(iv) education; and

(v) economic opportunity.



(b) The commission shall hold at least one public hearing in each region
of the economic development councils within a period of twelve months
from the effective date of this section.

4. The commission shall make a report to the governor and the legisla-
ture of its findings, conclusions and recommendations, not later than
ninety days after completion of the public hearings and shall submit
with its report legislative proposals as it deems necessary to implement
its recommendations.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In the year 2023, over 101,000 people left New York State, the third
consecutive year with such a sizable loss of population, according to
U.S. Census data. New York has the dubious distinction of leading the
nation in out-migration of population. This resulted in the loss of a
Congressional seat in the most recent redistricting cycle.

In April 2020, there were more than 20.2 million New Yorkers, that fell
to 19.5 million people as of July 2023, a decline of over 631,000 people
since the pandemic.

This measure would create the Commission on New York State Out-migration
to conduct a year-long research and fact-finding campaign by holding
public hearings and interacting with New Yorkers from all walks of life
and all corners of the state, and ultimately provide a tangible report
to assist the State Legislature in reversing this trend.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

01/08/24: S.8103 REFERRED TO COMMERCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND SMALL
BUSINESS

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.