State Sen. Tom Morahan says it’s about time Hudson Valley and Long Island residents were represented on the Board of Commissioners for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Morahan, R-New City, introduced a bill this week that would assign the two non-designated seats on the board to a resident of Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, or Westchester, and one from Nassau or Suffolk counties.

Senate Majority Leader Dean Skelos, who represents part of Long Island, is a co-sponsor of the bill.

The Port Authority board has 12 commissioners, six from New Jersey and six from New York — at least four of whom are residents of New York City, Morahan said.

“Port Authority facilities have a dramatic impact on the growth, economy, environment and quality of life of the surrounding region, not just New York City,” Morahan said in a press release. “Stewart International Airport in Orange County was recently taken over by the Port Authority and the growth of this facility will contribute to the economic vitality of the Hudson Valley. It is thereforecritical that a resident from the Hudson Valley have input in the decision-making process of this authority.”

The state legislatures of New York would first have to pass the bill, before seeking the approval of New Jersey lawmakers.

UPDATE: U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer’s office noted that in April, Schumer called for the establishment of a Hudson Valley seat on the Port Authority Board of Commissioners and two months later, wrote to Governors Paterson and Corzine and legislative leaders in both states urging them to support a change to the Port Authority Compact to do just that.

“Given the growing importance of Stewart Airport, adding a designated Hudson Valley seat to the Port Authority Board is an idea whose time has come. I have already urged Governors Paterson and Corzine to support this and will now urge Speaker Silver and Majority Leader Skelos to pass legislation to get this done,” Schumer,  D-NY, said in a statement.