ALBANY (AP) -- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo says the preliminary report on ways to curb underfunded state mandates on local governments and school districts proposes a state law and constitutional amendment to prohibit new mandates, establishing a standing office as a clearinghouse on the issue and creating a new Tier 6 pension for public employees.
The Mandate Redesign Team, which reviewed hundreds of suggestions, calls for full agency reviews and accounting of state and regulatory mandates that burden school districts and local governments.
Other proposals include reducing the costs that localities face due to Wicks Law requirements in public works projects by eliminating the study requirement and developing regionally-negotiated templates that could reduce costs by an estimated 15 percent or more.
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