Authorizes local governments to deliver proposed local laws to members of their legislative bodies by means of e-mail

10 Co-sponsors

• John J. Bonacic
• John A. DeFrancisco
• Rich Funke
• Patrick M. Gallivan
• Kathleen A. Marchione
• Jack M. Martins
• Thomas F. O'Mara
• Robert Ortt
• Michael H. Ranzenhofer
• Patty Ritchie

BILL NUMBER:S3018A

Title of bill

An act to amend the municipal home rule law, in relation to authorizing the electronic transmission of proposed local laws to members of a local legislative body

Purpose or general idea of bill

The purpose of this legislation is to authorize local governments to deliver proposed local laws to members of their legislative bodies by means of e-mail.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1. Subdivision 4 of section 20 of the Municipal Home Rule Law is amended by adding (c) to 4, which reads as follows: or, e-mailed to the e-mail in-box of each of them in the Portable Document Format (PDF) at least ten calendar days, exclusive of Sunday, prior to its final passage, provided that (i) the local government has documented that each member of the legislative body has an e-mail address, (ii) the local government has published such e-mail address on the bulletin board of the local government clerk, and (iii) the legislative body has unanimously adopted a resolution authorizing such electronic delivery;

Section 2. This act shall take effect immediately.

Justification

The use of email and the Internet have become a primary means of communication and correspondence between billions of people around the world. New York State Municipal Home Rule Law Article 4, Section 20, Subsection 4 says that the only option of delivery of a proposed local law are "on the desks of its members" or "by mail to the members' mailing addresses."

This legislation would allow the use of email as a means of delivery of a proposed local law in its final form to the members of a local legislative body. It is important to note that this would add to the allowable options currently outlined in NYS Municipal Home Rule Law. This legislation would not remove any current options.

With a vast majority of people having computers and Internet access in their homes, it is only appropriate that email becomes a utilized form of communication and delivery of proposed local laws.

Prior legislative history

2014: S.3081A/A.6007A Passed Senate 2013: S.3081/A.6007Passed Senate 2011,2012: S.800/A.1741Passed Senate 2009,2010: S.4677/A.7469Referred to Local Government 2008: S.7669/A.10601 Passed the Senate

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:None to the State.

EFFECTIVE DATE:This act shall take effect immediately.