Albany, New York—A Roosevelt Island bill introduced by Assembly Member Rebecca A. Seawright regarding the management and organizational structure of the Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation (RIOC), sponsored by Senator José Serrano, passed the Senate. The bill passed Assembly on Tuesday, February 26, 2019.

Assembly Bill 316 provides updates to the RIOC laws that are outdated and need clarification of the intent of specific provisions in the original laws of 1984. In addition, this legislation will include sexual orientation in the equal employment opportunity section of the laws.

“I am proud to have introduced this bill and obtained passage in both houses. We worked closely with Senator José Serrano, the community, and the Roosevelt Island Residents Association Government Relations Committee to draft a bill that will support Roosevelt Islanders. I envision a Roosevelt Island that is self-governed so that services and programs are fully responsive to the needs of residents. The community must have a say in the decision-making process
of how the island is governed, there should be no taxation without representation. The clarification and update of RIOC laws is long overdue and it is important that the laws governing the corporation are added to the Public Authorities Law so anyone with interest can easily find its enabling statute," said Assembly Member Rebecca Seawright.