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History
- Print number 3412a
- Amend and recommit to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Reported and committed to finance
- Notice of committee consideration - requested
- Referred to investigations and government operations
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 voting by the legislature during certain hours
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor William Scarborough
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S3412A
Title of bill
An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to prohibiting voting on legislation during certain times
Purpose
To require that the state legislature only vote on legislation during the light of day to ensure open and transparent legislative actions and opportunity for public awareness of the proceedings.
Summary of provisions
The bill prohibits either house of the New York State Legislature from voting on legislation after 9:00 p.m. and before 9:00 a.m. The bill exempts votes on procedural matters. The bill would take effect immediately.
Existing law
Under existing law, the state legislature may take a vote on significant state matters at any time. As a result, many laws that significantly impact the lives of New Yorkers occur while they are asleep.
Justification
The work of legislature is to accomplish the peoples' business, it should therefore occur under the watchful eye of the people. However, many votes on issues that will have an immediate impact on New Yorker's lives occur in the dead of night. These kinds of bills drive a stake through the heart of democracy.
This bill will keep vampire bills from being passed in the middle of the night when controversial bills seem to come alive; bills that would wither and die if they were exposed to sunlight and citizens would have time to look at them. No bill, no matter what the issue should be brought to the floor-close to, or even worse after, midnight when most people are asleep.
No bill will be voted on between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. Votes must not occur in dark of night because in most cases when the bills see the light of day they wither and day.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.