Plugged In @ Hinman Straub – August 12, 2016

PluggedInMastheadCoverage of Albany and New York State government – August 12, 2016

  • Governor Announces Campus Sex Assault Awareness Campaign
  • Governor Announces Launch of State Grown & Certified Food Program
  • JCOPE Approves Emergency ‘Source of Funding’ Regulations
  • Governor Hosts First Regional Sustainability Conference
  • Court Says State Cannot Make Truckers Pay to Support Canal System
  • Political Update
  • Coming Up

 

Governor Announces Campus Sex Assault Awareness Campaign

On Monday, Gov. Cuomo announced that the New York State Police is launching a campaign to raise awareness about campus sexual assault as students head to college for the fall semester. The eight-week campaign will include billboards, radio, and social media components.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York State put into place the most aggressive laws in the nation to combat sexual assault on college campuses.  This campaign builds upon our efforts and will help ensure students know their rights, and that they have the opportunity to earn a degree in a safe environment.”

 

Governor Announces Launch of State Grown & Certified Food Program

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo announced the launch of the New York State Grown & Certified program, which will identify and promote New York producers who adhere to the state’s food safety and environmental sustainability programs.  According to the Governor, the program is the first of its type in the nation.  He also announced that the state will establish a $20 million food hub in the Bronx, which will employ 95 people and will increase residents’ access to fresh, locally grown and produced food.

Gov. Cuomo said:

“New York State agriculture is an essential pillar of our economy, bolstered by the modern market demands for safer and more sustainable food.  The New York Grown & Certified Program strengthens the link between producers and consumers and provides new opportunities for agricultural development. By connecting Upstate farmers to new markets with a state-of-the-art food hub and promoting the consumption of healthy and environmentally conscious food, these initiatives will have extraordinary environmental, nutritional and economic benefits for all New Yorkers.”

 

JCOPE Approves Emergency ‘Source of Funding’ Regulations

On Tuesday, the Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) approved emergency amended source of funding regulations.  The revised regulations conform JCOPE’s regulations to the Lobbying Act amendments that the Legislature approved at the end of the 2016 legislative session, which Gov. Cuomo is expected to approve at some point in the near future.

The source of funding reporting requirement, which was first enacted in 2011, applies mostly to non-profits (including trade associations) and coalitions that lobby on behalf of their memberships.

The amendments, which are in Part D of S.8160/A.10742, change the source of funding disclosure requirements by:

  • reducing the annual lobbying threshold from $50,000 to $15,000;
  • reducing the threshold for a reportable contribution from $5,000 to $2,500; and
  • eliminating the requirement that organizational dues be reported (the name of the dues paying entity must be reported, but not the amount of dues paid).

 

Governor Hosts First Regional Sustainability Conference

On Thursday, Gov. Cuomo hosted the state’s first regional sustainability conference in Syracuse, which brings together community development leaders to share economic growth strategies.

The conference was the first of what the Governor says will be a series of statewide events to “boost awareness of State resources available to local governments and nonprofit organizations.” In addition, the state also released the Sustainable Development & Collaborative Governance handbook, which is intended to “serves as a one-stop-shop resource for State grants.”

Gov. Cuomo said:

“From the Regional Economic Development Councils to affordable housing and upgrading the State Fairgrounds, our administration has taken a ground-up approach to foster growth and economic development in the Central New York community.  Through this initiative, we are taking our efforts another step further by bringing together all levels of government and the private sector to address the region’s current challenges and help achieve its vision for a sustainable economic future. This conference is about working together to build on the progress we made over the last few years and ensure it continues for generations to come.”

 

Court Says State Cannot Make Truckers Pay to Support Canal System

On Wednesday, a federal judge ruled that the state improperly diverted toll revenues collected from commercial truckers to maintain the state’s canal system.  The case was brought by the American Trucking Associations in 2010. The group wants the money that went to the canal since the lawsuit was filed returned to those who payed tolls.

The group argued that the Thruway Authority’s use of tolls to support the state’s canal system violated federal interstate commerce rules which limit state involvement in cross-border activities such as long-haul trucking. The court agreed, saying that toll revenue must be spent maintaining the roads they’re collected on, and cannot be diverted to finance other programs.

The decision will have no impact going forward, as the state’s 2016-17 state budget transferred the canal system from the Thruway to the New York Power Authority (NYPA).

 

Political Update

Teachers’ Union Announces Legislative, Congressional Endorsements

On Thursday, New York State United Teachers (NYSUT), the state’s leading teachers union, announced its endorsements in races for Congress and the state Legislature.

While most of those the group endorsed are incumbents, the group did endorse challengers in some key Senate races.  Read NYSUT’s full list of endorsed candidates here.

NYSUT President Karen Magee said:

“Candidates earning NYSUT’s endorsement this year have shown a willingness to listen to our members in public schools, colleges and hospitals. They value their relationships with our more than 600,000 politically active and energized members and champion their interests.”

Winners & Losers

Each week, City & State New York publishes a list of the week’s political “winners” and “losers.”  Read this week’s list here.

 

Coming Up

On August 30, the Senate Health and Environmental Conservation committees will hold a public hearing on water quality in Hoosick Falls. The hearings will consider water contamination; local, state and federal oversight issues; and what can be done to assist affected community and mitigate future contamination.

The Board of Regents holds its next meeting on September 12 and 13.

Primary elections will be held on Tuesday, September 13.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) holds its next meeting on September 15.

The state Board of Elections holds its next meeting on September 15.

The state Commission on Legislative, Judicial, & Executive Compensation holds its next meeting on September 22.

The Joint Commission on Public Ethics (JCOPE) holds its next meeting on September 27.