Relates to bills being available to the public in printed or electronic printable format before voting or passage

BILL NUMBER:S5007

Title of bill

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 14 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to bills being available to the public in printed or electronic printable format before voting or passage

Purpose

Provides for the bill aging process to commence once the bill is available to the public in printed or electronic printable form. Does not required that bills must be printed to begin the aging process.

Summary of provisions

Amends section 14, article 3 of the Constitution by eliminating the "printed and upon the desks of the members" language, adding in its place the language "available to the public in printed or electronic printable form."

Justification

Each year, the New York State Senate and Assembly spend hundreds of thousands of dollars printing bills, memos and amendments. All of which are immediately available online through both houses internet websites once the legislation is introduced.

Amending this language in the Constitution eliminates the need for each introduced bill to be printed and placed upon each members desk for three days prior to a legislative vote and thereby reducing an unnecessary waste of paper products.

Legislative history

New Legislation.

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

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