Provides appointment process for members of a charter revision commission appointed by the mayor of N.Y. city for the submission of proposals

Title of bill

An act to amend the municipal home rule law, in relation to promoting representative charter revision commissions in cities of one million or more

Purpose or general idea of bill

To ensure charter revision committees are representative of the city and are appointed with adequate time to make proposals to be placed on the ballot.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1 amends section 36 of the municipal home rule law by adding section 4-a. This section would require the mayor to choose the charter revision commission from at least the nominations of the following: the comptroller, public advocate, the borough presidents acting together, and one nominated by each of the borough delegations to the city council. No member of the commission may be an officer Df a political party, a registered lobbyist or employee of a registered lobbyist. Commission members may not make contributions to campaigns of people seeking or holding city office. The commission members will be subject to the conflict of interest provisions in the charter.

If charter revision commission is created after February 15th, the commission may not submit proposals until the following calendar year without city council approval at least 90 days prior to the year's general election.

Section 2 of the bill subdivision 4 of section 36 of the municipal home rule law such that in a city of one million or more the charter commission shall consist of not less than 9 members nor more than seventeen members.

Section 3 is the enacting clause with provisions that any charter revision commission in existence, which is not in compliance with this subdivision, is hereby terminated.

Justification

The city charter is the most vital document a city maintains. Over the last several years, there have been many attempts to form charter revision commissions in short periods of time in order to push through the objectives of the appointing authority. Since the city charter is the document of all the people of a city, it is important any commission formed is representative of the city. The best way to create a representative body is from nominees of the city's elected officials.

City charter commissions need time to deliberate before submitting proposals and there needs to be adequate time for public consumption of the proposals. By creating a deadline for a charter commission to be formed there is adequate time provided for both deliberation and public consumption.

Fiscal implications to the state

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately and shall be deemed to be have been in full force and effect on and after January 1, 2010.