Relates to the procedural continuity of legislation during the two-year session

Summary of provisions

Section 1:Legislative intent.

Section 2:Amends the Legislative Law by adding a new section 42-a which provides that during the second year of the two year session, bills will remain at the same place in the process as they were when the first year ended. This section stipulates that:

1. A bill that passes one house of the legislature will automatically be sent to the appropriate committee of the other house for action, and that house may act on the bill at any time during the remainder of the two-year session.

2. No bill reported by a standing committee shall be referred back to that committee unless the bill is amended.

3. Every bill that reaches the order of third reading shall remain on that order until it is acted upon by that house or until the end of the two year session, unless the bill is amended and hence may be referred back to a standing committee.

4. These new provisions do not apply, however, to budget bills, bills requiring home rule messages, bills amending the New York State Retirement Program, or concurrent resolutions to amend the constitution.

Section 3:Effective date.

Justification

Like most states, New York operates on a two-year legislative calendar. In New York, a house of the legislature must again pass in year two any bill it has passed in year one, if the other house did not act upon the bill. In addition, bills reported favorably out of committee, but not yet voted on by the full house, revert back to committee. In each second year of the two-year legislative session, the Senate and the Assembly reconsider and readopt hundreds of bills passed during the previous year because of these requirements.

This cumbersome process wastes time and money that could be spent on new state business. Unless a bill is amended, there is no reason to pass it twice during the same session. Carrying over bills between the first and the second years of session, without interruption, will stop the waste of legislative days spent reconsidering bills in committee and re-passing bills on the floor, and will give lawmakers and staff

more time to conduct other important business. Creating a continuous two-year session is common sense government and will increase the efficiency and effectiveness of this government.

Legislative history

S.2041 of 2014: Died in Senate Investigations and Gov. Operations, Died in Assembly Gov. Operations S.2041 of 2013: Died in Senate Investigations and Gov. Operations, Died in Assembly Gov. Operations S.3061 of 2012: Died in Senate Investigations and Gov. Operations, Died in Assembly Rules S.3061 of 2011: Died in Senate Investigations and Gov. Operations, Died in Assembly Gov. Operations S.2891 of 2010: Died in Senate Judiciary, Died in Assembly Rules S.2891 of 2009: Died in Senate Judiciary, Died in Assembly Gov. Operations S.5514 of 2008: Died in Senate Investigations and Gov. Operations, Died in Assembly Gov. Operations S.5514 of 2007: Died in Senate Investigations and Gov. Operations, Died in Assembly Gov. Operations

Fiscal implications

Savings from streamlining the legislative process.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, that the Senate and Assembly shall, by concurrent resolution, adopt rules necessary to implement this act within twenty days after such act shall have become a law.