|
Assembly Actions -
Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE |
|
|---|---|
| Jan 06, 2016 |
referred to elections |
| May 14, 2015 |
print number 578b |
| May 14, 2015 |
amend and recommit to elections |
| Mar 13, 2015 |
print number 578a |
| Mar 13, 2015 |
amend (t) and recommit to elections |
| Jan 07, 2015 |
referred to elections |
Senate Bill S578B
2015-2016 Legislative Session
Sponsored By
(D, WF) Senate District
Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections 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
Actions
Bill Amendments
2015-S578 - Details
2015-S578 - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S578
TITLE OF BILL : An act to amend the election law, in relation to the
form of proposed constitutional amendments and questions; and to
repeal subdivision 3 of section 4-108 of such law
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :
This bill clarifies which arm of government is responsible for writing
the text of proposals, propositions and referendums that appear on a
ballot.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :
Section 1 amends subdivision 2 of section 4-108 of the election law to
clearly empower the Attorney General to determine the text of a ballot
question once both houses of the legislature have passed the
authorizing legislation.
Section 2 repeals subdivision 3 of section 4-108 of the election law.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION :
Current law is unclear on where the responsibility for proposal
2015-S578 - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
578
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the form of proposed
constitutional amendments and questions; and to repeal subdivision 3
of section 4-108 of such law
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 4-108 of the election law, as
amended by chapter 136 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as
follows:
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 and coherent manner using words
with common and every-day meanings, the subject matter of the amendment,
proposition or question. SUCH FORM OF SUBMISSION SHALL BE SET FORTH BY
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE BY BOTH HOUSES OF LEGISLATION
AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF SUCH AMENDMENT, PROPOSITION OR QUESTION TO
THE PEOPLE FOR THEIR APPROVAL. If more than one such amendment, proposi-
tion or question is to be voted upon at such election, each such amend-
ment, proposition or question respectively shall be separately and
consecutively numbered.
S 2. Subdivision 3 of section 4-108 of the election law is REPEALED.
S 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD00964-01-5
2015-S578A - Details
2015-S578A - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:S578A
TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the election law, in relation to the
text of proposed constitutional amendments and questions
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 4-108 of the election law to require the state
board of elections to publish the text of any proposed constitutional
amendment, proposition or question, to require that the language of the
proposed amendment, proposition or question be unbiased and to require
that the language be prepared by the attorney general.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION: Current law is unclear on where the responsibility for
proposal language lies. The state Board of Elections is charged with
transmitting the text of any proposal, proposition or referendum to the
local Boards of Elections, however the Attorney General is to advise in
the preparation of the submission. This bill will clarify that the
Attorney General, as the state's chief law enforcement officer, is to
have responsibility for the text of any statewide ballot question.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: This is a new bill.
2015-S578A - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
578--A
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections -- 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.
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.
2015-S578B (ACTIVE) - Details
2015-S578B (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER:S578B
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 amends section 4-108 of the election law to require the
state board of elections to publish the text of any proposed
constitutional amendment, proposition or question, to require that the
language of the proposed amendment, proposition or question be
unbiased and to require that the language be prepared by the attorney
general.
Section 3 sets the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION: Current law is unclear on where the responsibility for
proposal language lies. The state Board of Elections is charged with
transmitting the text of any proposal, proposition or referendum to
the local Boards of Elections, however the Attorney General is to
advise in the preparation of the submission. This bill will clarify
that the Attorney General, as the state's chief law enforcement
officer, is to have responsibility for the text of any statewide
ballot question.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: This is a new bill.
2015-S578B (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
578--B
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 7, 2015
___________
Introduced by Sen. SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections -- committee
discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted
to said committee -- 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
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
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