BILL NUMBER: S8439
SPONSOR: WEBB
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public authorities law, in relation to the central
New York regional transportation authority
 
PURPOSE:
To make amendments to the enabling law of the Central NY Regional Trans-
portation Authority ("CENTRO") to update and modernize the board of
directors.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Amends Section 1328 of the Public Authorities Law to increase
the maximum number of the CENTRO Board from 12 to 16 members. It grants
new CENTRO member Cortland County 1 seat along with 1 seat each to
current members Cayuga and Oswego. It guarantees one board seat to the
remaining counties eligible to become CENTRO members should they wish to
join at a later date (Jefferson, Madison). Additionally, it adds
provisions to allow current board members to continue to serve past the
expiration of their term if the Governor fails to make a re-appointment
or replacement. Finally, if a vacancy occurs midterm, new language will
allow if the vacancy is not filled before the term expires, then the new
appointee can serve a full 7-year term.
Section 2: Establishes the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
CENTRO recently added Cortland County as its 5th member. To account for
its expansion and the possibility of adding Jefferson and/or Madison
counties in the future, CENTRO requested this change in its enabling
legislation. Expanding the board from 12 to 16 members provides CENTRO
with the necessary room for growth. The bill also removes old language
previously attempted to add board seats based on population. Only Onon-
daga and Oneida counties currently have populations above 100,000. The
bill also has new language to deal with vacancies on the board and reap-
pointments that go unfilled by the Governor to ensure a quorum and
continuity on the CENTRO board.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to have been
in full force and effect on and after March 31, 2025.