What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to cities
- Print number 5518a
- Amend and recommit to cities
- Referred to cities
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S5518A Revised 06/09/15
Title of bill
An act to amend the New York city charter, in relation to public libraries; and to amend the public officers law, in relation to the definition of agency
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill will bring the Brooklyn Public Library and the New York Public Library within the jurisdiction of the New York City Conflicts of Interest Law and make explicit that each of these entities are subject to the state and city Freedom of Information Laws.
Summary of provisions
Sections one and two of the bill amends subdivisions 2 and 19, respectively, of section 2601 of the New York City Charter, as added by a vote of the people of the city of New York at the general election held in November of 1988, by removing the exclusion of a public library from the definition of agency and amending the definition of "public servant" to include executive directors and key library executive personnel of the Brooklyn Public Library and the New York Public Library.
Section three of the bill amends subdivision 3 of section 86 of the public officers law, as added by chapter 933 of the laws of 1977, by adding a new subdivision 3.b. to include the Brooklyn Public Library and the New York Public Library within the definition of agency thereby explicitly making these public library entities subject to the freedom of information law provisions in state and city law.
Section four of the bill sets forth an immediate effective date.
Justification
The legislation will make the Brooklyn Public Library and the New York Public Library subject to the city's Conflict of Interest law and the state and city Freedom of Information laws. While this legislation is not meant to be punitive to either of these important institutions, it recognizes the significant sources of public funding they each enjoy and the public service they provide to millions of people throughout the city. Given their funding structure and the public services provided these libraries should be subject to the same ethics and freedom of information requirements as all other quasi-public agencies who must comply with these important laws.
Prior legislative history
None.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
Minimal.
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.