S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8400
I N S E N A T E
May 4, 2018
___________
Introduced by Sen. JACOBS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing amendments to article 9 of the constitution, in relation to
prohibiting unfunded mandates
Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That article 9 of the
constitution be amended by adding a new section 4 to read as follows:
§ 4. PROHIBITION ON UNFUNDED MANDATES; COUNCIL ON LOCAL MANDATES. 1.
A. ANY PROVISION OF LAW DETERMINED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SECTION TO BE
AN UNFUNDED MANDATE SHALL CEASE TO BE MANDATORY IN EFFECT AND SHALL
BECOME VOLUNTARY IN OPERATION.
B. A PROVISION OF LAW THAT REQUIRES ONE OR MORE POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
TO EXPEND FUNDS OR TO TAKE ACTIONS REQUIRING THE EXPENDITURE OF FUNDS
SHALL BE DEEMED AN UNFUNDED MANDATE IF SUCH PROVISION OF LAW RESULTS IN
AN AGGREGATE NET INCREASE IN NECESSARY DIRECT EXPENDITURES BY ANY POLI-
TICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE. ANY SUCH AGGREGATE NET INCREASE IN
EXPENDITURES SHALL BE OFFSET BY: (I) MONIES PROVIDED TO POLITICAL SUBDI-
VISIONS FOR THE SPECIFIC PURPOSE OF FUNDING SUCH PROVISION OF LAW; AND
(II) DECREASES IN EXPENDITURES EXPECTED TO RESULT FROM OTHER PROVISIONS
OF LAW ENACTED CONCURRENTLY THEREWITH THAT REPEAL, REDUCE OR MODIFY
EXISTING MANDATES ON POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS
SECTION, ALL BUDGET BILLS AND LEGISLATION NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE
BUDGET ENACTED PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SEVEN OF THIS CONSTITUTION SHALL BE
DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN CONCURRENTLY ENACTED INTO LAW.
C. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "POLITICAL SUBDIVISION"
SHALL MEAN A COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, VILLAGE, SCHOOL DISTRICT OR SPECIAL
DISTRICT, AND SHALL INCLUDE ANY AGENCY, AUTHORITY, COMMISSION, DEPART-
MENT OR INSTRUMENTALITY THEREOF.
D. FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM "LAW" SHALL MEAN A STATUTE
ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE, AN EXECUTIVE ORDER ISSUED BY THE GOVERNOR,
AND A RULE OR REGULATION PROMULGATED BY A STATE AGENCY, DEPARTMENT,
BOARD, BUREAU, OFFICER, AUTHORITY OR COMMISSION.
2. NOTWITHSTANDING ANYTHING IN THIS SECTION TO THE CONTRARY, THE
FOLLOWING TYPES OF LAWS SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED UNFUNDED MANDATES:
A. THOSE NECESSARY TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL LAW;
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89140-01-8
S. 8400 2
B. THOSE FOR WHICH THE AGGREGATE NET INCREASE IN REQUIRED DIRECT
EXPENDITURES BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS IS LESS THAN TEN THOUSAND
DOLLARS. PROVIDED HOWEVER, SUCH AMOUNT SHALL BE ANNUALLY ADJUSTED TO
REFLECT CHANGES IN THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX BY A PROCEDURE ESTABLISHED
BY THE LEGISLATURE BY LAW;
C. THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN REQUESTED THROUGH A HOME RULE MESSAGE OR OTHER
RESOLUTION OF THE AFFECTED POLITICAL SUBDIVISION, OR WHICH HAVE BEEN
ACCEPTED BY THE AFFECTED POLITICAL SUBDIVISION;
D. THOSE REAPPORTIONING RESPONSIBILITIES BETWEEN OR AMONG POLITICAL
SUBDIVISIONS;
E. THOSE ARISING FROM AN EXECUTIVE ORDER OF THE GOVERNOR EXERCISING
HIS OR HER EMERGENCY POWERS;
F. THOSE APPLICABLE TO BOTH GOVERNMENT AND NON-GOVERNMENT ENTITIES IN
THE SAME OR A SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR MANNER;
G. THOSE IN FULL FORCE AND EFFECT PRIOR TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS
SECTION, INCLUDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW THAT EXTENDS OR REAUTHORIZES
SUCH A LAW.
3. THE LEGISLATURE SHALL ESTABLISH BY LAW A COUNCIL ON LOCAL MANDATES.
THE COUNCIL SHALL CONSIST OF SEVEN MEMBERS OF WHOM TWO SHALL BE
APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR, ONE BY THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE,
ONE BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE SENATE, ONE BY THE SPEAKER OF THE
ASSEMBLY, ONE BY THE MINORITY LEADER OF THE ASSEMBLY, AND ONE BY THE
COMPTROLLER. THE GOVERNOR SHALL DESIGNATE A CHAIR FROM AMONG THE
MEMBERS.
THE LEGISLATURE SHALL ESTABLISH BY LAW QUALIFICATIONS FOR SUCH
APPOINTMENTS, WHICH SHALL INCLUDE THE REQUIREMENT THAT ONE OF THE
MEMBERS APPOINTED BY THE GOVERNOR SHALL BE MADE ON THE RECOMMENDATION OF
POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS OR DULY APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVES THEREOF. ALL
LEGISLATION REQUIRED BY THIS SUBDIVISION SHALL BE ENACTED INTO LAW WITH-
IN SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION, AND INITIAL
APPOINTMENTS TO THE COUNCIL SHALL BE MADE WITHIN SIXTY DAYS THEREAFTER.
4. A. THE COUNCIL SHALL TIMELY RESOLVE ANY COMPLAINT BY AN AGGRIEVED
POLITICAL SUBDIVISION THAT A PROVISION OF LAW CONSTITUTES AN UNFUNDED
MANDATE. A RULING OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE RESTRICTED TO THE SPECIFIC
PROVISION OF LAW THAT CONSTITUTES AN UNFUNDED MANDATE AND SHALL, TO THE
EXTENT PRACTICABLE, LEAVE INTACT THE REMAINDER OF THE LAW.
B. DETERMINATIONS OF THE COUNCIL SHALL BE SUBJECT TO REVIEW BY THE
SUPREME COURT IN THE SAME MANNER AND UNDER THE SAME STANDARDS OF REVIEW
AS ADMINISTRATIVE DETERMINATIONS OF STATE AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT THE STATE MAY SEEK JUDICIAL REVIEW OF A DETERMI-
NATION BY THE COUNCIL THAT A PROVISION OF LAW CONSTITUTES AN UNFUNDED
MANDATE. PROCEEDINGS TO REVIEW COUNCIL DETERMINATIONS SHALL BE GIVEN
PRECEDENCE OVER ALL OTHER CAUSES AND PROCEEDINGS BEFORE THE COURT.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment
be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in
conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.