Squadron, Members of Senate Democratic Conference to Hold Public Forum on Alec, Wednesday 10am

Media Advisory: For Wednesday, June 13 - 10:00AM

SQUADRON, MEMBERS OF SENATE DEMOCRATIC CONFERENCE TO HOLD PUBLIC FORUM ON ALEC, WEDNESDAY 10AM

Squadron: ALEC Claims Credit for 39 NYS Bills; May Constitute Lobbying Under NY Law

ALBANY -- State Senator Daniel Squadron, the ranking member of the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee (IGO), and his colleagues in the Senate Democratic Conference announced a public forum on the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) and its activities in the New York State Legislature, Wednesday at 10:00 AM.

The forum is co-sponsored by Senators Eric Adams, Adriano Espaillat, Michael Gianaris, Ruth Hassell-Thompson, Liz Krueger, Velmanette Montgomery, Kevin Parker, Bill Perkins, Gustavo Rivera, John Sampson, and Toby Ann Stavisky.

Last month, in a letter to Majority Leader Dean Skelos and IGO Committee Chair Carl Marcellino, Squadron requested a formal hearing into ALEC's activities in New York, including its claim that it introduced 39 pieces of "model legislation" in the legislature in 2010. While it is unclear whether those 39 bills are still active, analysis strongly indicates that at least three bills currently moving through the legislature - S281 ("Stand Your Ground" legislation), S5769 (prohibiting regulation of Voice over Internet Protocol services), and S7112 (a voter ID bill) - are closely based on ALEC's model legislation.

Under Senate Rule VII Section 4(b), “any Senator may convene a public forum on proposed or pending legislation within the jurisdiction of a committee upon which he or she is a member.”

Wednesday's public forum will consider the following questions:

• How many bills currently active in the legislature have their origins in ALEC model legislation?
• What role did ALEC play in the authorship and development of the bills?
• Do the activities that ALEC undertakes amount to “lobbying” as defined by New York State law?
• What other influence does ALEC have in the operation of New York State government?

Senator Squadron's full letter requesting a hearing is available here.

WHAT:  Squadron, Senate Democratic Colleagues Host Public Forum on ALEC's Activities in NY State Legislature

WHEN: Wednesday, June 13, 2012 -- 10:00AM

WHERE: Hearing Room A, Legislative Office Building, State Capitol, Albany, NY

MEDIA CONTACT: Amy Spitalnick, 212-298-5565 

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