Limits the content of bills making appropriations to the legislature

1 Co-sponsor

• Ruben Diaz

Title of bill

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to article 7 of the constitution, in relation to appropriation bills for the needs of the legislature

Summary of provisions

This concurrent resolution amends article 7 of the state constitution by adding a new section 6-a which provides that no bill making an appropriation for the needs of the legislature shall contain any other appropriation for other matters. This resolution also prohibits either house of the legislature from considering legislative appropriations until all of the appropriations bills submitted by the governor are finally acted upon by both houses.

Justification

This resolution adds two important parameters to the state budget process. The legislative budget should be dealt with as a separate piece of legislation, not linked to other state appropriations. Separate budget bills will require that the legislative budget be analyzed and considered on its own merits and not attached to other important state needs. A separate legislative budget is a step toward more open and undivided public scrutiny of how we in the legislature spend state funds.

In addition, this resolution also requires that the legislature act on other components of the State budget before consideration of the legislative budget. In this way, the legislature will be forced to address the continued functioning of state government before the legislative budget can be enacted. This will serve as a deterrent to future late state budgets.

Constitutional amendment

This resolution must be adopted by both houses of the legislature in accordance with section 1 article 19 of the state constitution and submitted to the people for approval at the general election held in the year of second passage.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Resolved (if the Assembly concurs), that the foregoing 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 article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.