What's happening
This bill requires the state and legislative libraries to create a public webpage providing access to downloadable agency reports submitted to the legislature.
Why it matters
Increases public transparency. By requiring that agency reports submitted to the legislature be available online, the bill makes it easier for the public, journalists, and watchdog groups to access government information and monitor agency activities.
Streamlines access for research and oversight. Centralizing downloadable reports on a single webpage accessible from the State Library, Senate, and Assembly sites reduces the time and effort needed to find official documents, which can benefit researchers, advocates, and legislators.
Modernizes government document handling. Mandating electronic submission of reports in specified formats encourages agencies to shift away from paper-based systems, potentially reducing costs and increasing efficiency in record-keeping and dissemination.
Sets clear expectations for agency compliance. By specifying that agencies must provide electronic copies in formats determined by the libraries, the bill establishes standards for report submission, which can improve consistency and accessibility over time.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Put Agency Reports Online
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3028
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 19, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HELMING -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the New York state printing and public documents law, in relation to accessibility of certain agency reports
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 12 of the New York state printing and public documents law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
5. The state library and legislative library shall develop and maintain a public webpage, accessible through the websites of the state library, senate and assembly, which provides access to viewable and downloadable copies of those agency reports which are required by state law to be submitted to the legislature as specified in subdivision four of this section. Such agencies shall provide an electronic copy of their reports to the state library and legislative library in formats specified by such libraries.
§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08508-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the New York state printing and public documents law, in relation to accessibility of certain agency reports
Purpose
To improve public access to state agency reports, and to ensure the continued availability of such online access.
Summary of provisions
The bill provides that the State Library and the Legislative Library shall develop and maintain a public webpage which provides access to viewable and downloadable copies of agency reports which must be submitted to the Legislature. Access shall be made available through the websites of the State Library, State Senate and State Assembly. State agencies and authorities shall provide an electronic copy of their reports in formats specified by the libraries.
Justification
In the mid-1990s, the State Library began collecting digitized versions of state agency reports, as well as converting many older reports to an electronic format. Through its website, the State Library makes available to the public a wide variety of reports issued by state agencies and authorities. The. Library's digital collection is a centralized and very convenient and useful source of material. However, many people are not aware of its existence or do not know how to access it. There is also no guarantee that such website and online documents will continue to be offered and maintained in the future.
While most state agencies and authorities also post reports in digital format on their own websites, the ease of finding reports on a website varies from agency to agency, as does the number and date range of such reports.
By placing in law the requirement for such a webpage, this bill will increase the visibility and awareness of the Library's centralized digital collection of state agency reports, and will also help ensure that such documents remain readily available to the public in the future.
The bill also provides for a link to be placed on the websites of the Senate and Assembly so that the public is aware of, and may easily access, these agency reports.
The bill also ensures that state agencies provide an electronic copy of their reports in a format which is specified by the libraries. This makes it easier for the libraries to collect and post such reports for access by the public.
Legislative history
2015/2016 S.7796
Fiscal implications
Minimal to the State
Effective date
One year after it shall have become a law
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.