What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.711
- Referred to codes
- Referred to codes
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Relates to the commencement of special proceedings
In Assembly Committee · Codes · Sponsor Steven Cymbrowitz
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the civil practice law and rules, in relation to commencement of a special proceeding
This measure is being introduced at the request of the Chief Administrative Judge.
Section 506(b) of the CPLR governs the venue of an Article 78 proceeding brought against a body or officer and sets forth the general rule that such a proceeding is to be commenced in Supreme Court in arty county within the judicial district where the respondent made the determination complained of or refused to perform the duty enjoined upon him or her by law, where the proceedings in the course of which the matter sought to be restrained originated, where the material events took place, or where the respondent's principal office is located. Paragraph one of section 506(b), however, carves an exception to this rule where the Article 78 proceeding is brought against a justice of the Supreme Court, judge of the County Court or judge of the Court of General Sessions. Under this exception, the proceeding must be commenced in the Appellate Division in the judicial department where the action in the course of which the matter sought to be restrained originated is triable.
Read the full memo (669 words)
This measure would amend section 506(b)(1) to broaden this exception to include Article 78 proceedings brought against judges of the Court of Claims, the Family Court and the Surrogate's Court. It also would eliminate the statute's obsolete reference to a judge of the Court of General Sessions.
The present section 506(b)(1) exception was adopted for the obvious reason that the Legislature believed it inappropriate for a judge to sit in review of the determination of a judge of equivalent jurisdiction. In such cases, only a higher court - the Appellate Division - should have jurisdiction of the matter. Thus, in its original enactment, as part of section 1287 of the Civil Practice Act (predecessor of the CPLR), the exception prohibited a justice of the Supreme Court from hearing a special proceeding brought against another justice of the Supreme Court. Later, in 1957, the Legislature, recognizing that County Court outside New York City and the Court of General Sessions in the City exercised criminal jurisdiction that was coextensive with that exercised by Supreme Court, broadened the statutory exception so as to bar the latter from hearing special proceedings against judges of those courts. See L. 1957, c. 979 Bill Jacket: comments of NYS Bar Association Committee on State legislation and sponsor's letter to Governor's Counsel.
Expansion of the section 506(b)(1) exception, as proposed in this measure, is promoted for the same reason that prompted the 1957 legislation. Along with Supreme Court and County Court, the Court of Claims, the Family Court and the Surrogate's Court are regarded as major courts in our trial court system. See NY Const., Art. VI, §1 (establishing these courts as "statewide" courts and providing that the mandates of these courts may be served and executed in the broadest possible area). The Constitution allows that the jurisdiction of these courts may sometimes overlap, and it permits their judges to serve by cross-assignment on most if not all of these courts and, in such capacity, to hear any of the cases that may come before any of them. That being so, "(w)hether the underlying reason for the present requirement that proceedings brought against a Supreme Court justice (or County Court judge) must be brought in the Appellate Division instead of before another justice at special term, is to avoid possible (conflict of) interest, embarrassment or criticism,... the same underlying reasons might apply,.., to" each of the other courts added to the exception by this measure. See L. 1957, c. 979 (Bill Jacket: comments of NYS Bar Association Committee on State legislation). This measure, which would have no fiscal impact upon the State, would take effect immediately.
2006 Legislative History;Senate 6958-A (Sen. Volker) (Codes) Assembly 11306-A (M. of A. Cymbrowitz) (Codes)
2007-08 Legislative History:Senate 4532 (Sen. Volker) (Codes) Assembly 8187 (M. of A. Cymbrowitz) (Codes)
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.