What's happening
This bill proposes four-year terms for New York legislators and bans them from receiving outside income from active employment.
Why it matters
Longer legislative terms could reduce the frequency of campaigning. , potentially allowing lawmakers to focus more on policy and governance rather than constant election cycles.
Barring outside active employment aims to limit conflicts of interest. , making it less likely that legislators’ votes or actions are influenced by other jobs or sources of income.
These changes could alter who chooses to run for office. , possibly favoring candidates who can afford to live on a legislative salary alone, which might impact the diversity and socioeconomic makeup of the legislature.
The amendments would require a public referendum. , giving voters a direct say in whether New York’s political structure and ethics rules should be significantly reformed.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Legislators: Four Years, No Side Jobs
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 42
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to judiciary
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2056
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 11, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BONACIC -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to increasing the terms of office of members of the legislature to four years and prohibiting legislators from receiving outside income from active employment
Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 2 of article 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
§ 2. The senate shall consist of fifty members, except as hereinafter provided. The senators elected in the year [one] two thousand [eight hundred and ninety-five] twenty-two, and their successors, shall [hold their offices] be chosen for [three] four years[, and their successors shall be chosen for two years]. The assembly shall consist of one hundred and fifty members. The assembly members elected in the year [one] two thousand [nine hundred and thirty-eight] twenty-two, and their successors, shall be chosen for [two] four years.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That article 3 of the constitution be amended by adding a new section 6-a to read as follows:
§ 6-a. Prohibition on outside income from active employment. Members of the senate or assembly shall be prohibited from receiving any additional income derived from outside active employment as defined by law.
§ 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89041-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to increasing the terms of office of members of the legislature to four years and prohibiting legislators from receiving outside income from active employment
Purpose of bill
To increase the terms of office of members of the legislature to four years and prohibit legislators from receiving outside income from active employment.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends Section 2 of Article 3 of the Constitution to increase the terms of office of members of the legislature from two to four years.
Section 2. Amends Article 3 of the Constitution by adding a new Section 6-a which prohibits outside income from active employment for members of the legislature.
Section 3. Effective date.
Justification
Numerous government reform organizations throughout New York state have called for limiting outside income for members of the legislature in order to restrict the potential for conflicts of interest and unethical behavior by legislators who are seeking to enrich themselves. This constitutional amendment proposes to address this concern by banning outside income from active employment for members of the legislature, while providing additional stability for legislators by extending their term of office to four years.
Legislative history
S.6356 of 2016: Died in Senate Judiciary.
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None.
Effective date
Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.