Increases the terms of office of members of the legislature to four years

1 Co-sponsor

• Liz Krueger

BILL NUMBER:S3299

Title of bill

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to increasing the terms of office of members of the legislature to four years

Purpose or general idea of bill

To create a legislative term of 4 years rather than the current 2 year term.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends section Z of article 3 of the constitution to increase the current legislative term from Z years to four years commencing in 2014.

Justification

The purpose of this bill is to lessen the difficulties placed on the legislative process by the electoral pressures exerted by the existing two-year legislative terms. The current two-year terms were introduced at a time when people interested in serving in the legislature were not required to marshal anywhere near the amount of resources required today to run for a legislative office. They were also instituted when the role of government in society was not nearly as extensive as it is today.

By instituting four-year terms, this bill would create the space wherein the inherent tension created by needing to balance legislative imperatives with electoral imperatives would lessen significantly. It would thereby allow the legislature to deal with each issue before it in a more deliberate and measured manner.

In addition, such a change will save the tax payers significant sums as a result of not having to fund an election every two years for the state legislature.

Prior legislative history

None.

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None.

Effective date

RESOLVED, (if the Assembly concur). That the foregoing amendments 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 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.