Provides that the senate shall be composed of 62 senators, each representing 1 county of the state

BILL NUMBER:S4602

Title of bill

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing amendments to sections 2 and 4 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to the number of senators and the apportionment of senate districts

Purpose

To change the method of apportioning State Senators.

Summary of provisions

Section 1 amends Sections 2 and 4 of Article III of the State Constitution to award each county of the state a single Senator to represent it in the state legislature.

Section 2 contains the effective date.

Justification

Because New York City and its immediate surroundings contain such a disproportionate amount of our state's population, the unintended consequence of The "One man-one vote" 1964 Supreme Court decision of Lucas v. Colorado General Assembly has been to effectively disempower virtually any state resident outside of the immediate vicinity of New York City. While the motivation behind the Lucas decision was in many ways laudable, the decision itself ran counter to the example set by our own federal constitution as it established our National legislative bodies.

As the representatives of New York City quite naturally focus on the needs of their own constituents, many issues critical to the prosperity of Upstate New York have been routinely ignored over the past few years. As Upstate New Yorkers have watched job opportunities and residents leave the region due to excessive taxation and general neglect, they witnessed in 2009 the state legislature battle for days to prevent minimal subway fare increases in New York City all while letting state finances approach the point of collapse. A more equitable distribution of legislative representatives might well lead to a better and less parochial government for all New Yorkers.

Legislative history

S. 2861 of 2011-12 - Judiciary Committee.

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 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.