§ 83-E — Legislative commission on science and technology

New York § 83-E

• Jurisdiction: New York
• Law LEG: Legislative
• Art. 5-A: Legislative Commissions

Text

* § 83-e. Legislative commission on science and technology. 1. The\nlegislature hereby finds that the number and variety of issues under\nconsideration which require a detailed scientific and technological\nknowledge is growing larger each year. Radioactive waste, hazardous\nmaterials, the development and application of new technologies,\npesticide management and a wide spectrum of energy and\nenvironmentally-related issues are only a few examples of the complex\nscientifically-based problems currently confronting the legislature.\n 2. A legislative commission on science and technology is hereby\ncreated to study technical and scientific changes that are occurring or\nlikely to occur so that the opportunities for economic development made\npossible by such changes and the other consequences of such changes may\nbe anticipated and be made known to the legislature in such a way as to\naid the legislature in the formulation and development of state policy\nincluding the promotion of identifiable growth industries.\n 3. The commission shall provide the legislature with early indications\nof probable beneficial and adverse impacts of pending or proposed\napplications of technology.\n 4. The commission shall upon the request of the chairman of any\nstanding committee of either house, or any joint committee or\ncommission, review any bill which relates to a subject with scientific\nor technical implications.\n 5. The commission shall consist of ten members to be appointed as\nfollows: three members of the senate shall be appointed by the temporary\npresident of the senate; three members of the assembly shall be\nappointed by the speaker of the assembly; two members of the senate\nshall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate; and two members\nof the assembly shall be appointed by the minority leader of the\nassembly. From among the members so appointed, a chairman and vice\nchairman shall be designated by the joint action of the temporary\npresident of the senate and the speaker of the assembly. Any vacancy\nthat occurs in the commission shall be filled in the same manner in\nwhich the original appointment was made. No member, officer or employee\nof the commission shall be disqualified from holding any other public\noffice or employment, nor shall he forfeit any such office or employment\nby reason of his appointment hereunder, notwithstanding the provisions\nof any general, special, or local law, ordinance, or city charter.\n 6. An advisory board is hereby established to provide technical\nsupport and policy making assistance to the commission. The board shall\nbe made up of six members with knowledge and current experience in any\npertinent field of science and/or technology and who belong to and are\nactive in several professional scientific societies. The members shall\nbe appointed as follows: three members shall be appointed by the\ntemporary president of the senate; and three members shall be appointed\nby the speaker of the assembly. From among the members so appointed, a\nchairman and vice chairman shall be elected. Any vacancy that occurs in\nthe advisory board shall be filled in the same manner in which the\noriginal appointment was made.\n 7. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as\nit may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions\nand fix compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The\ncommission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise have all\nof the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members\nof the commission and advisory board shall receive no compensation for\ntheir services, except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this\nchapter, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses\nincurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.\n 8. Employees of the commission shall be considered to be employees of\nthe legislature for all purposes.\n 9. The commission may request and shall receive from any subdivision,\ndepartment, board, bureau, commission, office, agency or other\ninstrumentality of the state or of any political subdivision thereof,\nsuch facilities, assistance and data as it deems necessary or desirable\nfor the proper execution of its powers and duties.\n 10. The commission is hereby authorized and empowered to make and sign\nany agreements, and to do and perform any acts that may be necessary,\ndesirable or proper to carry out the purposes and objectives set forth\nin this section.\n * NB Repealed June 30, 2026\n