BILL NUMBER: S3027
SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general municipal law, in relation to referrals of
certain annexation petitions
 
PURPOSE:
This legislation would require county planning departments to review
specific annexation petitions pursuant to General Municipal Law (GML)
239, a process that already exists for many municipal planning and
zoning actions.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Updates the heading of Section 239-m of the general municipal
law to reflect the inclusion of annexation petitions in its scope.
Introduces a new subparagraph (vi) under subdivision 3, paragraph (a),
which requires that certain annexation petitions be referred to the
county planning agency or regional planning council if: (1) the annexa-
tion would require county approval to provide water or sewer service to
the annexed area, or (2) the annexing municipality would need to provide
water or sewer service to the area.
Section 2: Amends subdivision 1 of section 711 of the general municipal
law, adding a requirement that for annexation petitions subject to
review under Section 239-m, the affected municipalities must comply with
all referral and recommendation processes laid out in that section
before making a final determination on the annexation.
Section 3: Sets effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill ensures proper oversight and coordination in municipal annexa-
tion processes, particularly when critical infrastructure like water and
sewer services is involved. By requiring annexation petitions to be
referred to county or regional planning agencies for review, the bill
promotes thoughtful planning, prevents unnecessary strain on local
resources, and ensures that decisions consider regional impacts. Annexa-
tions that have the potential to impact an entire tremendously region
should be subjected to significant scrutiny, and the affected county
should be afforded appropriate oversight in annexation bids.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
Senate
2019: S1657, Referred to Local Government
2020: S1657, Referred to Local Government
2021: S1651, Referred to Local Government
2022: S1651, Referred to Local Government
2023: S1126, Referred to Local Government
2024: S1126, Referred to Local Government
Assembly
2019: No Assembly Same-As
2020: No Assembly Same-As
2021: No Assembly Same-As
2022: No Assembly Same-As
2023: A8137, Referred to Local Government
2024: A8137, Referred to Local Government
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall apply to any annexation
petition for which a final determination by the affected governing
boards, as required by section 711 of the general municipal law, has not
yet been determined.

Statutes affected:
S3027: 711 general municipal law, 711(1) general municipal law