Section 83-L. Legislative commission on water resource needs of New York state and Long Island

1. The legislature hereby finds and declares that
  the state has the sovereign power to  regulate  and  control  the  water
  resources  of  this  state and an adequate and suitable water supply for
  water  supply,  domestic,  municipal,   industrial,   agricultural   and
  commercial  uses,  power,  irrigation,  transportation, fire protection,
  sewage and water assimilation, the growth of the forest, maintenance  of
  fish and wildlife, recreational enjoyment and other uses is essential to
  the  health,  safety  and  welfare of the people and economic growth and
  prosperity of the state.
    2. A legislative commission is hereby established: (a) to  investigate
  and evaluate said reports; (b) to make recommendations for provisions to
  be  made  for the regulation and supervision of activities that deplete,
  defile, damage or otherwise adversely affect the waters of the state and
  the  land  resources  associated  therewith;  (c)  to  determine   where
  uncontaminated  or  virgin  sources of water exist; and (d) to recommend
  legislative or administrative actions that are required to preserve  and
  protect such resources for future use.
    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.  Any  vacancy that occurs in the commission shall be filled in
  the same manner in which the original appointment was made.  Co-chairmen
  of  the commission shall be designated by the temporary president of the
  senate and the speaker of the assembly respectively. 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 amount appropriated therefor. The
  commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise  have  all
  of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members
  of  the  commission  shall  receive  no compensation for their services,
  except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter, but shall
  be  allowed  their  actual  and  necessary  expenses  incurred  in   the
  performance of their duties hereunder.
    5.  Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of
  the legislature for all purposes.
    6. The commission may request and shall receive from any  subdivision,
  department,   board,   bureau,   commission,  office,  agency  or  other
  instrumentality of the state or of any  political  subdivision  thereof,
  such  facilities, assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable
  for the proper execution of its powers and duties.
    7. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to make and  sign
  any  agreements,  and  to do and perform any acts that may be necessary,
  desirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives  set  forth
  in this section.
    * NB Repealed June 30, 2010