* § 83-h. Legislative commission on state-local relations. 1. (a) The
legislature hereby finds that a strong relationship between the state
and its counties, cities, towns, villages, school districts and other
units of government is central to the effective provision of government
services for the benefit of the people of the state. This relationship
encompasses state mandates on local governments to provide certain
services and perform certain activities; state limits on the ability of
local governments to provide services, raise revenue and incur debt; and
state programs of assistance to relieve local governments of a portion
of the responsibility for raising revenues to meet the costs of local
services. Categorical programs of state assistance help local
governments finance specific services of importance to the people of the
state, while programs of state general purpose aid provide local
governments with general assistance in meeting the costs of services,
including state mandated activities.

(b) The legislature further finds that proposals to amend state
categorical or general purpose assistance programs, to shift costs or
responsibilities between the state and local governments, or to alter or
impose local taxing, borrowing or spending limits should be evaluated in
the context of all the various elements of state-local relations. The
variation among local governments, including fiscal condition, local
economy and demand for services, should be considered, and opportunities
for intergovernmental cooperation and efficiencies should be identified.

2. A legislative commission on state-local relations is hereby
established to examine, evaluate and make recommendations concerning the
state's system of aid to localities, the division of state and local
responsibilities, state mandates on local governments and limits on the
ability of local governments to raise revenue, incur debt and manage
resources. The commission shall make such recommendations as it may deem
necessary to provide an equitable system of state aid to local
governments, to encourage the most effective use of state and local
resources, to preserve the fiscal integrity of both state and local
governments and otherwise to strengthen the partnership between the
state and its local governments.

3. The commission shall consist of ten members to be appointed as
follows: three members of the senate shall be appointed by the temporary
president of the senate; three members of the assembly shall be
appointed by the speaker of the assembly; two members of the senate
shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members
of the assembly shall be appointed by the minority leader of the
assembly. From among the members so appointed, a chairman and a vice
chairman shall be designated by the joint action of the temporary
president of the senate and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy
that occurs in the commission or in the chairmanship or vice
chairmanship shall be filled in the same manner in which the original
appointment or designation was made. No member, officer, or employee of
the commission shall be disqualified from holding any other public
office or employment, nor shall he forfeit any such office or employment
by reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding the provisions
of any general, special, or local law, ordinance, or city charter.

4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as
it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions
and fix their compensation within the amounts made available therefor.

5. Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of
the legislature for all purposes.

6. The commission in addition to the above mentioned powers shall have
all the powers and privileges of a legislative committee pursuant to
this chapter.

7. For the accomplishment of its purpose, the commission shall be
authorized and empowered to undertake any study, inquiry, survey, or
analysis it may deem relevant through its own personnel in cooperation
with or by agreement with any other public or private agency.

8. The commission may require and shall receive from any department,
board, bureau, commission, authority, office, or other instrumentality
of the state, and from any county, city, town or village of this state,
such facilities, assistance, and data, as it deems necessary or
desirable for proper execution of its powers and duties.

9. The commission may hold public or private hearings and shall have
full powers to subpoena witnesses and all records or data it shall deem
necessary or desirable pursuant to this chapter.

10. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
their services but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties.

* NB Repealed June 30, 2024