Section 923. Long Island Sound coastal advisory commission

1.  Definitions.
  As  used  in  this section, the following words and terms shall have the
  following meanings unless the context  indicates  another  or  different
  meanings or intent:
    (a)  "Long Island Sound coastal management program" or "program" shall
  mean that regional program prepared by the department  pursuant  to  the
  recommendation of the governor's task force on coastal resources.
    (b)  "Long  Island  Sound coastal advisory commission" or "commission"
  shall mean that commission created pursuant to subdivision two  of  this
  section.
    2.  Long Island Sound coastal advisory commission. (a) The Long Island
  Sound coastal advisory commission is hereby created in  the  department.
  The commission shall consist of seventeen members. The legislature shall
  appoint six members, all of whom must be local government officials, two
  of  whom shall reside in Westchester county, two of whom shall reside in
  Nassau county and two of whom shall reside in Suffolk county.  Of  these
  six, two voting members shall be appointed by the temporary president of
  the  senate,  and  two  members shall be appointed by the speaker of the
  assembly. One voting member shall be appointed by the minority leader of
  the senate and one member shall be appointed by the minority  leader  of
  the  assembly.  In  addition  five  members  shall  be  appointed by the
  secretary, one of whom shall be  chair;  one  of  whom  shall  represent
  builders,  one of whom shall represent recreational anglers, one of whom
  shall  represent  commercial  fishing,  one  of  whom  shall   represent
  recreational  boaters  and  one  of  whom  shall  represent  birders; in
  addition, membership on the commission shall include one member,  a  New
  York  state  resident, appointed by and from the Long Island Sound study
  management conference; the Long Island Sound  study  citizens'  advisory
  committee  co-chair residing in New York state; the director of New York
  sea grant; and the commissioners of economic development,  environmental
  conservation and parks, recreation and historic preservation; one member
  shall be appointed by the commissioner of economic development and shall
  represent business; one member shall be appointed by the commissioner of
  environmental conservation and shall represent environmental protection;
  and  one  member  shall  be  appointed  by  the  commissioner  of parks,
  recreation and historic preservation and shall represent recreation. The
  commission  shall  meet  at  least  once  a  year  and  shall  encourage
  attendance at such meetings of representatives from local governments on
  the  sound  and other interested parties.  Copies of the minutes of each
  meeting shall be forwarded to the secretary.
    (b) Every state agency and public corporation having jurisdiction over
  land or water on or in the sound,  or  over  programs  relating  to  the
  purposes  and  goals  of  this  article  shall,  to  the  fullest extent
  practicable, offer full cooperation and assistance  to  the  council  in
  carrying out the provisions of this section.
    (c) Every local agency with programs relating to the sound shall offer
  assistance to the commission, to the extent practicable, in carrying out
  the provisions of this section.
    (d)  In  the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of any member,
  such vacancy shall  be  filled  in  the  same  manner  as  the  original
  appointment.   The   members  of  the  commission  shall  serve  without
  compensation.
    3. Powers and duties of the commission. The commission shall have  the
  power:
    (a) to make by-laws for the management and regulation of its affairs;
    (b) to utilize, to the extent practicable, the staff and facilities of
  existing state and local agencies;

    (c)  to  annually  review  the  Long  Island  Sound coastal management
  program and policies and recommend revisions thereto;
    (d)  to assist in the coordination of this program with other programs
  and activities affecting Long Island Sound;
    (e) to hold public hearings to solicit  input  and  comment  from  the
  public on implementation of the program; and
    (f) to prepare an annual report on the conduct of its activities.