What's happening
This resolution changes the Senate Ethics and Internal Governance Committee's composition and voting requirements to ensure representation from each conference.
Why it matters
Ensures bipartisan or multi-conference participation. by requiring the Ethics and Internal Governance Committee to have three members from each Senate conference, not just from the two major parties—potentially increasing representation for smaller or new political groups.
Prevents single-party control over committee decisions. by mandating that any committee action or recommendation must receive at least one affirmative vote from each conference, making unilateral action by a single group impossible.
Raises the threshold for committee action. by requiring both a majority vote overall and cross-conference agreement, which could slow decision-making but also fosters collaboration and consensus on sensitive ethics matters.
Could impact transparency and accountability. in Senate ethics oversight, as the new rules may lead to more deliberate or potentially gridlocked outcomes, affecting how quickly and effectively ethics complaints and policy reviews are addressed.
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Headline styles
Change Ethics Committee Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
2 Co-sponsors
History
- Adopted
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
Senate Resolution No. 226 BY: Senator FLANAGAN AMENDING Rule VIII of the Senate rules, in relation to the Ethics and Internal Governance Committee RESOLVED, That subdivision d of section 1 of Rule VIII of the Senate rules is amended to read as follows: d. The… Show allHide
Senate Resolution No. 226 BY: Senator FLANAGAN AMENDING Rule VIII of the Senate rules, in relation to the Ethics and Internal Governance Committee RESOLVED, That subdivision d of section 1 of Rule VIII of the Senate rules is amended to read as follows: d. The Ethics and Internal Governance Committee shall consist of [an equal number of members from each of the two major political parties as defined by the election law] three members from each conference as set forth in section one of rule II. RESOLVED, That section 3 of Rule VIII of the Senate rules is amended to read as follows: § 3. Ethics and Internal Governance Committee. The Ethics and Internal Governance Committee may sit at any time and shall hold regular meetings at such time and on such day as scheduled by the Temporary President of the Senate in consultation with the Chair. The committee shall review any matter deemed appropriate by [the majority of members appointed to such committee] the affirmative vote of at least one member from each conference. The committee shall evaluate and, if necessary, make recommendations regarding compliance with Rules XI, XIV, XV and XVI of these Rules. The committee shall review, and if necessary, make recommendations regarding policies of the Senate, including but not limited to per diem and travel expenses, time and attendance, and workplace ethics. The committee shall report annually as required in sections four and five of Rule V. The committee shall have jurisdiction over any matter referred to it by the Secretary of the Senate pertaining to the ethical conduct of legislative members. The committee shall comply with subdivision a, and paragraphs one and two of subdivision b of section two of this Rule. Any recommendation or referral made by the committee on any matter must have the affirmative vote of the majority of members appointed and the affirmative vote of at least one member from each conference.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.