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History
- Referred to elections
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.
Prohibits certain elected officials from serving as delegates to the constitutional convention
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to prohibiting certain elected officials from serving as delegates to the constitutional convention
Purpose of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to prohibit certain elected officials from serving as delegates to the constitutional convention.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. The Election Law is amended by adding a new section 6-170 to read as follows: Constitutional delegates. The governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, comptroller, any state legislator, any elected county, city, town, or village official or any person who currently holds elective office shall not be eligible to qualify as a candidate for delegate for a constitutional convention.
Section 2. Establishes the effective date.
Justification
The New York State Constitution states that every 20 years there will be a question of whether a constitutional convention should be held on the election ballot. If the voters vote in favor, and a constitutional convention should be held, there shall be a convention delegate election on the ballot the following year.
Elected officials have different motives than the general public. They are influenced by partisan politics, incumbency, and vested interested in protecting the status quo while New York State residents are not. It is also an opportunity for the general public to participate more fully in political life, increasing democracy. For these reasons, the state residents are ideally equipped to serve as delegates to a constitutional convention. This legislation would reform the current process so only non-elected officials can elected as delegates to a constitutional convention.
Elected officials also enjoy an advantage by virtue of having run for office and won, thereby securing name recognition by the voters that a regular citizen does not have. By prohibiting elected officials, the playing field will be fairer and more equitable for those citizens who do not have the same public recognition.
Prior legislative history
A. 921 of 2013/2014 A. 196 of 2011/2012
Fiscal implications
This legislation has no fiscal implications.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.