Summary of Assembly Bill A 459 (New York)
Overview
- Bill number: A 459
- Title: Establishes the municipal severe storm relief fund for Rockaway, Queens to be administered by the division of homeland security
- Sponsor: Khaleel Anderson (primary)
- Introduced: January 8, 2025
- Current status: REFERRED TO WAYS AND MEANS
- Legislative actions: Referred to Ways and Means on 2025-01-08 (listed twice in the record)
- Related bills: Senate companion S 909 (and several prior-session related bills: S 8100, S 4502, S 1470; Assembly related: A 6759, A 1405)
Note: The summary reflects the information provided. The text of the bill is not included, so details such as eligibility, grant amounts, matching funds, reporting, and sunset provisions are not specified here.
Purpose and Intent
- Create a dedicated municipal relief fund specifically for Rockaway, Queens, to support severe storm recovery, mitigation, and related activities.
- Place administration of the fund under the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), indicating a focus on emergency management, resilience, and rapid deployment of resources to the affected area.
Key Provisions (as indicated by the title)
Because the actual bill text is not provided, the following provisions are not stated explicitly in the available material. Based on the bill’s title, the following are typical elements likely contemplated, but not confirmed:
- Establishment of a new fund titled the Municipal Severe Storm Relief Fund for Rockaway, Queens.
- Designation of DHSES as the administrator or steward of the fund, including oversight and disbursement authority.
- Eligible uses of funds (e.g., recovery, infrastructure hardening, mitigation projects, economic assistance, housing resilience) and any caps or grant categories.
- Eligibility criteria (which municipalities or entities within Rockaway may qualify, such as local governments, nonprofits, businesses, or property owners).
- Application and prioritization process, including timelines, scoring criteria, and required documentation.
- Reporting, auditing, and accountability requirements to ensure transparent use of funds.
- Sunset or renewal provisions, if any, and continuation beyond an initial period.
- Any requirements for matching funds, local coordination, or integration with existing state/federal programs.
Administration and Oversight
- Administered by: New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES), signaling alignment with state-level emergency management and resilience initiatives.
- Possible supervisory or reporting responsibilities to the state budget office, comptroller, or an applicable oversight body, depending on the final text.
Geographic and Beneficiary Focus
- Geographic focus: Rockaway, Queens
- Potential beneficiaries: Local government entities in Rockaway, residents and homeowners impacted by severe storms, businesses, and organizations engaged in recovery, resilience, and mitigation activities (exact beneficiaries would be defined in the bill’s text).
Procedural and Timeline Aspects
- Current stage: Referred to Ways and Means, a committee typically responsible for fiscal and funding provisions.
- Next steps: If advanced, the bill would proceed to floor consideration in the Assembly, then potentially to the Senate (and a companion Senate bill S 909 exists). Final enactment would require passage by both houses and signature by the Governor, subject to budgetary alignment and appropriations.
Related Legislation
- Senate companion: S 909 (listed as a companion)
- Prior-session related bills: S 8100, S 4502, S 1470; Assembly related: A 6759, A 1405
- These relationships suggest ongoing interest in Rockaway storm relief and related funding mechanisms across sessions.
Potential Impacts and Considerations
- If enacted, Rockaway would gain a dedicated funding mechanism for severe storm relief administered at the state level, potentially accelerating recovery and resilience projects.
- The effectiveness will depend on: the exact funding amount, eligibility rules, administration procedures, and coordination with federal disaster programs and local government plans.
- Public transparency and accountability measures will be crucial to ensure funds are used for stated purposes and that progress is communicated to stakeholders.
If you’d like, I can tailor this summary to include hypothetical examples of eligible projects or create a comparison with similar state funds to illustrate potential outcomes, once the full bill text is available.
