Section 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, 2010