BILL NUMBER: S2064

SPONSOR: TEDISCO
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the New York state printing and public documents law, in
relation to requiring state agencies to make available all public docu-
ments in a digital format on their website

 
PURPOSE:

The purpose of this bill is to reduce the number of bills, reports,
digests, records and various documents printed by the New York State
Legislature and establish a process to make these documents available
electronically through the websites of the New York State Senate, Assem-
bly and State Agencies.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Section 12 of the New York state printing and public docu-
ments law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:

              

5. Each state agency shall make all public documents, as defined in this
article, available in a digital format on its website in a manner that
allows such documents to be printed. Under no circumstances shall any
document that is required by law to remain confidential be deemed a
public document.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

In the past, we have evolved and made changes to avoid printing out so
many documents as the Legislature. For example, in 2014, voters approved
a constitutional amendment that allows for the legislature to go paper-
less by removing the requirement that bills be printed and placed on
lawmakers' desks. Years later, this shift remains a success. By elimi-
nating automatic bill printing and having all legislation and annual
reports available on a digital format, we likely saved taxpayers
millions of dollars while keeping these documents easily accessible for
viewing from a laptop or mobile device. Unarguably, this is the next
logical step we need to take.  This legislation requires state agencies
to make public documents available online, in a manner that they may be
printed if desired, but they will not be required to be printed, there-
fore eliminating waste and preserving resources.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

02/18/15: S.34312 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT  OPERATIONS

01/06/16: S.3812 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

02/03/17: S.4149 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

01/03/18: S.4149 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS

01/30/18: S.4149 1ST REPORT CAL-362

02/05/18: S.4149 2ND REPORT CAL.

02/06/18: S.4149 ADVANCED TO THIRD READING
02/27/18: S.4149 AMENDED ON THIRD READING 4149A

03/26/18: S.4149 PASSED SENATE

03/26/18: S.4149 DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY

03/26/18: S.4149A referred to governmental operations

06/07/18: S.4149A RECALLED FROM ASSEMBLY

06/07/18: S.4149A returned to senate

06/07/18: S.4149A VOTE RECONSIDERED - RESTORED TO THIRD READING

06/07/18: S.4149A AMENDED ON THIRD READING S.4149B

06/11/18: REPASSED SENATE

06/11/18: S.4149B RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY

06/11/18: S.4149B referred to governmental

01/14/19: S.1392 REFERRED TO FINANCE

01/08/20: S.1392 REFERRED TO FINANCE

01/12/21: S.1545 REFERRED TO FINANCE

01/05/22: S.1514 REFERRED TO FINANCE

03/16/23: S.5807 REFERRED TO FINANCE

03/20/23: S.5807 AMEND (T) AND RECOMMIT TO FINANCE

03/20/23: S.5807 PRINT NUMBER 5807A

01/03/24: S.5807A REFERRED TO FINANCE

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

To be determined.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act will take effect on the 90th day after becoming law.