S 9180: Provides for the preservation of the names and geographic areas of hamlets following the consolidation of local government entities.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 9180  IN SENATE February 11, 2026 ___________ Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to providing for the preservation of the names and geographic areas of hamlets follow- ing the consolidation of local government entities The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Legislative intent. The creation and evolution of local 2 governments in this state has constituted a vital part of the state's 3 political and social historical development. Local governments have 4 provided a strong basis for local pride and identification, yet fiscal 5 and other needs may call for consolidation of the corporate structures. 6 Procedures for consolidation should allow local initiative and implemen- 7 tation of the consolidation and should recognize and provide a mechanism 8 for continuing local identification with governmental antecedents. 9 Hamlets, which delineate geographic areas within the new government 10 structure but without separate governmental powers, will provide this 11 mechanism for retention of local identification with traditional govern- 12 mental entities. 13 § 2. Section 750 of the general municipal law is amended by adding a 14 new subdivision 19 to read as follows: 15 19. "Hamlet" shall mean a geographic designation within the surviving 16 local government which may identify a constituent local government's 17 former boundaries for purposes of local place name identification. 18 § 3. Paragraphs (l) and (m) of subdivision 2 of section 752 of the 19 general municipal law, as added by chapter 74 of the laws of 2009, are 20 amended and a new paragraph (n) is added to read as follows: 21 (l) the effective date of the proposed consolidation; [and] 22 (m) the time and place or places for the public hearing or hearings on 23 such proposed joint consolidation agreement pursuant to section seven 24 hundred fifty-four of this title[.]; and 25 (n) a plan to maintain the names and geographic areas designated as 26 hamlets of the surviving local government, if any. 27 § 4. This act shall take effect immediately. EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD13700-01-5