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

                                 4607--A

                       2015-2016 Regular Sessions

                          I N  A S S E M B L Y

                            February 4, 2015
                               ___________

Introduced by M. of A. QUART, RUSSELL, GALEF -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
  of  A.   LAWRENCE, ROBINSON -- read once and referred to the Committee
  on  Election  Law  --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
  reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

AN  ACT  to  amend the election law, in relation to the text of proposed
  constitutional amendments and questions

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

  Section  1. Section 4-108 of the election law, paragraph b of subdivi-
sion 1 as amended by chapter 117 of the laws of  1985,  paragraph  d  of
subdivision 1 and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 136 of the laws of
1978,  and subdivision 3 as added by chapter 234 of the laws of 1976, is
amended to read as follows:
  S 4-108. Certification of proposed constitutional amendments and ques-
tions.  1. a. Whenever any proposed amendment  to  the  constitution  or
other question provided by law to be submitted to a statewide vote shall
be  submitted  to  the  people  for  their  approval, the state board of
elections at least three months prior to the general election  at  which
such  amendment,  proposition  or question is to be submitted, shall (I)
transmit to each county board of elections a certified copy of the  text
of  each  amendment, proposition or question and a statement of the form
in which it is to be submitted; AND (II) PUBLISH A COPY OF THE  TEXT  OF
EACH  AMENDMENT,  PROPOSITION OR QUESTION AND A STATEMENT OF THE FORM IN
WHICH IT IS TO BE SUBMITTED ON THE  STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  WEBSITE
UNTIL THE DAY AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION OF THAT PARTICULAR YEAR.
  b. Whenever any proposal, proposition or referendum as provided by law
is  to  be  submitted  to  a vote of the people of a county, city, town,
village or special district, at an election conducted by  the  board  of
elections,  the clerk of such political subdivision, at least thirty-six
days prior to the election at which such proposal, proposition or refer-
endum is to be submitted, shall transmit to each board  of  elections  a

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD07233-02-5
              

A. 4607--A                          2

certified  copy  of the text of such proposal, proposition or referendum
and a statement of the form in which it is to be submitted. If a special
election is to be held, such transmittal shall also  give  the  date  of
such election.
  c.  Such  certified  copy  shall set out all new matter in italics and
enclose in brackets, [    ], all matter to be eliminated  from  existing
law, and at the bottom of each page shall be appended the words:
  Explanation: Matter in italics is new, to be added; matter in brackets
[    ] is old law, to be omitted.
  d.  In  addition  to  the  text, AS REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH A OF THIS
SUBDIVISION, such transmittal shall contain an abstract of such proposed
amendment, proposition or question, [prepared  by  the  state  board  of
elections]  concisely  stating the purpose and effect thereof in a clear
and coherent manner using words with common and everyday meanings.
  2. The form in which the proposed amendment, proposition  or  question
is to be submitted shall consist of only an abbreviated title indicating
generally  and  briefly,  and  in  a clear, UNBIASED and coherent manner
using words with common and every-day meanings, the  subject  matter  of
the amendment, proposition or question. If more than one such amendment,
proposition  or question is to be voted upon at such election, each such
amendment, proposition or question respectively shall be separately  and
consecutively numbered.
  3.  The  attorney general shall [advise in the preparation of] PREPARE
AND DELIVER such abstract and such form of submission, AS REQUIRED UNDER
PARAGRAPHS A AND D OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF  THIS  SECTION,  TO  THE  STATE
BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTION AT
WHICH SUCH AMENDMENT, PROPOSITION OR QUESTION IS TO BE SUBMITTED.
  S  2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
law.