NY State Senate Bill 2009-S3034

Senate Bill S3034

2009-2010 Legislative Session

Creates the public employees' fair employment act study commission to review the existing Taylor law

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Finance Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 06, 2010	referred to finance
Mar 10, 2009	referred to finance

co-Sponsors

2009-S3034 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Finance
Law Section:: Civil Service

2009-S3034 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Creates the public employees' fair employment act study commission to review the existing Taylor law addressing labor relations between public employers and employees.

2009-S3034 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 BILL NUMBER:  S3034

 TITLE OF BILL :
An act in relation to creating the public employees' fair employment
act study commission

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :
 SECTION 1  - Contains legislative findings that the Public Employees
Fair Employment Act has now been in effect for almost 40 years. It is
appropriate to review whether the law, in its current form, continues
to meet the needs of public employees, public employers and the people
of New York State.

 SECTION 2  - Creates the Public Employees' Fair Employment Act Study
Commission and describes the composition and duties of the Commission.
This section provides that the Commission shall conduct a
comprehensive study of the practical application of Article 14 of the
Civil Service Law, and report to the Governor, Senate, Assembly,
Comptroller and Attorney General not later than one year after the
date on which the Commission first meets.

 SECTION 3  - Provides that this act shall take effect immediately.

 PURPOSE & JUSTIFICATION :
The Taylor Law is now approaching its 40th anniversary.  Sections of
the law have been extended periodically, and through the years,

additional employee groups have become subject to the provisions of
the law. The residents of New York City recently suffered the
disruption of service and economic loss of a transit strike. At the
western end of the state, both the City of Buffalo and the County of
Erie are under the supervision of control boards. Other communities
across the state face economic pressures that may also lead to
contemplation of control boards in the future.  Across the state,
interested parties ask whether the law, as presently constituted, can
be improved. Unfortunately, discussions about the Taylor Law usually
seem to arise in the midst of difficult negotiations or budget
problems. This law is critical to the efficient operation of state and
local government, and deserves a careful and thoughtful review outside
of the context of any particular dispute. The residents of our state
deserve to know that their tax dollars are being spent prudently, and
that they will receive uninterrupted, high quality service.  Public
employees deserve to know that they will be treated fairly and with
respect for their concerns, and that the service they deliver to the
residents of New York is recognized. All parties need to know that
when decisions are made they will accurately reflect the communities
that must live with those decisions.  It is appropriate at this time
to appoint a blue ribbon commission to evaluate and consider whether
the law, in its present form, is still the best answer as we enter the
21st Century. This bill creates such a commission, who can listen to
the concerns and suggestions of the residents of New York State and
consider the legislation that has been enacted by other states. The
Commission is directed to report to the Governor, the Senate and the
Assembly within one (1) year after the date that the Commission first
meets.  There is a fundamental compact between the citizens and the
government. The citizenry supports government with its tax dollars,
and in return expects government to provide the services that allow
society to properly function efficiently and responsibly. There is
also a compact between government and the employees who actually
perform the day-to-day tasks of government that these employees will
work conscientiously to serve the residents, and that in return they
will be treated respectfully and responsibly. It is critical that the
Legislature ensure that we are doing our part to fulfill our
responsibility to properly expend the tax dollars entrusted to us, and
to supply services required efficiently, effectively and without
interruption.

 PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :
2005-2006: S.6874/A.10129 - Finance/Gov't Employees
2007-2008: S.2118/A.4110 - Finance/Gov't Employees

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :
To be determined.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
This act shall take effect immediately.

2009-S3034 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  3034

                       2009-2010 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                             March 10, 2009
                               ___________

Introduced by Sens. RANZENHOFER, ROBACH -- read twice and ordered print-
  ed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance

AN ACT in relation to creating the public employees' fair employment act
  study commission

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds that the
public employees' fair employment act, as provided in article 14 of  the
civil service law, became effective in September of 1967 and has been in
effect for nearly 40 years. Representatives of both public employees and
employers have raised questions about the current law causing the legis-
lature  to  query  whether  the  law,  as currently enacted, effectively
addresses labor relations between public employers and public employees.
The legislature, therefore, deems it appropriate to review and study the
provisions of the act and  if  necessary,  make  recommendations  as  to
amendments  that  will  improve  relations  between public employers and
employees, while better protecting the interests  of  public  employees,
the state, public employers and the residents of New York state.
  S  2.  The  public employees' fair employment act study commission. 1.
There is hereby established a commission to  be  known  as  the  "public
employees'  fair  employment act study commission" (hereinafter referred
to in this section as the "commission"). The commission shall:
  (a) be composed of 13 members appointed in accordance with subdivision
2 of this section; and
  (b) conduct its business in accordance with  the  provisions  of  this
section.
  2.  The  members  shall be appointed for the life of the commission as
follows:
  (a) 2 shall be appointed by the temporary president of the senate;
  (b) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the senate;
  (c) 2 shall be appointed by the speaker of the assembly;

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD03972-01-9

S. 3034                             2

  (d) 1 shall be appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and
  (e) 7 shall be appointed by the governor.
  3.  The  members of the commission shall be individuals who have know-
ledge or expertise, whether by experience or training, in matters to  be
studied  by  the  commission  under  subdivision  8 of this section. The
members shall be from the public sector, who may include federal, state,
or local officers or employees, members of academia, nonprofit organiza-
tions, or other interested individuals.
  4. The temporary president of the senate, the minority leader  of  the
senate, the speaker of the assembly, the minority leader of the assembly
and the governor shall consult among themselves prior to the appointment
of  the  members  of  the commission in order to achieve, to the maximum
extent possible, fair and equitable representation of various points  of
view  with  respect to the matters to be studied by the commission under
subdivision 8 of this section. After such consultation each  shall  make
his  or  her  respective  appointment  not  later than 45 days after the
effective date of this section. Any vacancy that occurs during the  life
of  the  commission  shall  not  affect the powers of the commission and
shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment not later
than 45 days after the vacancy occurs.
  5. The initial meeting of the commission shall be conducted not  later
than 30 days after the appointment of the last member of the commission.
The first act of the commission shall be to select by consensus a chair-
person.
  6.  A  majority  of  the  members shall constitute a quorum to conduct
business, but the commission may establish a lesser quorum for  conduct-
ing  hearings scheduled by the commission. Each member shall have 1 vote
and the vote of each member shall  be  accorded  the  same  weight.  The
commission  may  establish,  by  majority  vote, any other rules for the
conduct of the commission's business, insofar  as  such  rules  are  not
inconsistent with this section or other applicable law.
  7.  It is the duty of the commission to hold hearings across the state
and conduct a comprehensive study of the practical application of  arti-
cle  14 of the civil service law, together with laws associated with the
article, including but not limited to section 751 of the  judiciary  law
and section 93-b of the general municipal law.
  (a) The matters studied by the commission under this subdivision shall
include, but not be limited to:
  (1)  the  historic,  economic and social changes in the context of the
practical application of the existing law;
  (2) the interests of public employees and public employers  under  the
existing law; and
  (3)  the  nature  and source of the recommendations for change between
public employees and public employers;
  (b) Not later than 1 year after the date on which the commission first
meets, the commission shall submit to  the  governor,  the  senate,  the
assembly,  the  comptroller  and  the  attorney  general a comprehensive
report on the commission's findings and conclusions.
  (c) Not later than 3 months after the submission of the  report  under
paragraph  (b)  of this subdivision, the commission shall issue proposed
changes to state laws and regulations to improve labor relations between
public employees and public employers.
  8. The commission shall have the power to hold hearings, at such sites
and to act at such times and places, to  take  such  testimony,  and  to
receive  such evidence as the commission considers advisable to carrying
out its duties under this subdivision.

S. 3034                             3

  9. The members of the commission shall be allowed travel  expenses  at
rates  authorized  for employees of state agencies while away from their
homes or regular places of business in the performance  of  service  for
the commission.
  10.  The  commission  shall  terminate  60  days  after the commission
submits the report required under subdivision 7 of this section.
  S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.

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Senate Bill S3034

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Sponsored By

Michael H. Ranzenhofer