NYSAC, Represent, Educate, and Advocate

With only eight scheduled session days remaining, lawmakers continue the push to finalize legislation. Major proposals still in the works include the Governor’s Women’s Agenda, Casino Gaming proposal (see below for more details), ethics reform, campaign finance, and the Tax Free Zones economic development proposal. Lawmakers also must address local sales tax extensions for counties, which are inching through the legislative process and could be voted on in either house at any time. Local increases for a handful of counties are having less luck advancing through the process, however we are hopeful that lawmakers will ultimately grant this authority to counties who need more control over their local revenue sources.

NYSAC continues to be watchful of any measures that would create unfunded mandates, as well as proposed legislation to prevent any new unfunded mandates. Senate bill 1294, sponsored by Senator Joe Griffo (former Oneida County Executive), would ban unfunded mandates from being passed by the State Legislature and is expected to be taken up in the Senate Chamber today. NYSAC encourages the legislature to pass this proposal and further protect local governments from any future mandates.

Visit NYSAC’s Legislative Action Center

for more on NYSAC’s legislative platform. (Katy Vescio)

On June 5, 2013, Governor Cuomo introduced a bill that, if passed, would define multiple aspects of private casino implication and operation. The State legislature still needs to pass a constitutional amendment to allow for private casino gaming. The public could vote on this amendment as soon as November 2013. If private casino operations become legal, and this separate bill passes, the following guidelines would be put into place:

• No more than 3 casinos will be sited in New York for the first five years of operation (“phase one”).
• “Phase one” casinos will only be allowed to operate within one of the six designated zones, all of which are north of New York City.
• The casinos cannot be located in an area where an exclusivity rights agreement is in place between the State and a Native American Nation already operating a casino.
• The private casino operator will be required to pay the State a licensing fee of at least $50 million.
• The State will collect an annual tax of 25% of the private casino operator’s revenue.
• 80% of the State’s revenue will go towards public education.
• 10% percent of the State’s tax revenues will go to the host municipality and the host county, split equally.
• 10% percent of the State’s tax revenues will go to the other counties within the designated zone.
• Casino applicants will need local approval to come in the form of the host municipality and host county passing local laws in support of their application.
• The potential casino operator must submit their plan to a five-member nonpartisan resort gaming facility Commission that will judge projects on merit. The Governor, legislative leaders, the attorney general and the comptroller each will have one appointee to the board.
• The panel will decide the required minimum amount of capital expenditures in each region.
• Political contributions from licensed casinos and casino applicants to statewide elected officials, the state Legislature, and local officeholders in municipalities and counties where casinos are located will be prohibited.

In the final weeks of session, this proposal is expected to garner much attention, requiring compromise to achieve legislative approval. NYSAC will continue to monitor the progress of this legislation to ensure that county interests are preserved in the final negotiated version of the bill.  (Patrick Cummings)

In response to the increase in sale and abuse of synthetic designer drugs, known commonly as “bath salts,” the Senate has passed NYSAC priority legislation that would ban the manufacture, distribution, sale, and possession of these substances.  If enacted, this would classify bath salts as a controlled substance based on foundational chemical structures under the public health law and the penal law. The bill would also create a statewide ‘Cathinone Surrender Program’ to allow for surrender of these harmful substances to appropriate authorities.

Bath salts are currently only regulated by an Emergency Order from the New York State Commissioner of Health and local laws passed by counties. The Emergency Order and local laws are limited in the penalties they impose and do not create uniformity across the State. A state law would impose consistent regulation and harsher penalties for the sale and use of bath salts. The bill has not yet been considered in the Assembly.

View NYSAC’s fall 2012 resolution calling on the State Legislature to pass meaningful legislation criminalizing bath salts.

(Melissa Tiberio)

Last week the Association on Aging in New York hosted the Aging Concerns Unite Us conference. Representatives from Area Agencies on Aging, adult daycare centers, senior centers, and other health care service providers received updates on managed long-term care, health care reform, and other topics relevant to the care of New York’s aging population. NYSAC Executive Director Stephen Acquario moderated a session on navigating the future course of the aging network. Subjects discussed included Medicaid redesign, the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, and the Olmstead Plan.  (Melissa Tiberio)

The NYS Association of Personnel and Civil Service Officers met in Saratoga Springs June 2-5 for their annual training conference. Training tracks were offered for both seasoned administrators and those new to civil service. A variety of topics were covered, in the fields of human resources, labor relations, civil service exam administration, pensions and retirement. NYSAC provided a legislative update, detailing end of session activity and other news from Albany. The Association also swore in a new president, Brayton Connard, Personnel and Civil Service Director from Monroe County.

(Katy Vescio)

The New York State Association of County Clerks held their annual conference June 3-6 in Cortland, New York. Clerks from across the State gathered for educational sessions and to discuss a variety of topics including DMV services, SAFE Act implementation, Notary Services, and Electronic Recording and Filing. In addition, the Honorable Judge Fern Fisher and Honorable Judge Michael Coccoma updated the Clerks on matters concerning the Office of Court Administration.  (Patrick Cummings)

Governor Cuomo last week announced that New York State has secured $45 million in federal dollars available to local governments to fund state homeland security and terrorism prevention programs. Local governments will need to apply for this funding by June 24, 2013. The grants will provide local governments with funds to support a wide range of preparedness and homeland security programs. Funding for these grant programs is provided by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) through the 2013 fiscal year Homeland Security Grant Program (HSGP). Approximately $45.3 million in funding is available to New York City and each county in the state and can be used to support law enforcement for terrorism prevention-oriented planning, organization, training, exercise and equipment activities.

Applications for these awards are due to DHSES by 11:59 pm on June 24, 2013 and must be submitted via email to DHSES Grants Inbox at grants@dhses.ny.gov. Further details on the FY2013 SHSP-SLETPP Local Program Guidance and FY2013 HSGP Funding Opportunity Announcement can be found on DHSES’s website: www.dhses.ny.gov/grants. Funding is contingent upon New York State receiving its official grant award from FEMA which is expected around September 1, 2013.