What's happening
This bill ties New York legislators' salaries to changes in the state's median household income every two years.
Why it matters
Directly links legislators’ pay to state residents’ economic wellbeing. By tying salary adjustments to the state’s median household income, lawmakers’ compensation will now rise or fall in line with what ordinary New Yorkers experience, making their financial incentives more aligned with those of their constituents.
Introduces accountability and transparency. The adjustment will be based on objective, publicly available data (median household income) and will be recalculated every two years, reducing the potential for arbitrary or politically motivated salary increases.
May discourage salary increases during economic downturns. If the state’s median household income falls, legislators’ salaries will decrease as well, potentially encouraging lawmakers to focus more on policies that support widespread income growth.
Creates a predictable, formula-based approach to pay. This system replaces ad hoc or irregular pay raises with a set schedule and a clear metric, which can help avoid contentious legislative battles over compensation and increase public trust.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Adjust Legislators' Pay for Inflation
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3620
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 25, 2017
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to creating a cost of living adjustment to be applied to the salaries of members of the legislature
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 5-a of the legislative law is amended by adding a new subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, as of the first Wednesday in January of the year two thousand eighteen and every second year thereafter, such base allowance shall be increased or decreased at the same rate as increases or decreases in the median household income for the state for the preceding two year period, as ascertained by the governor.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07492-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to creating a cost of living adjustment to be applied to the salaries of members of the legislature
Purpose
To adjust the salaries of members of the legislature in congruence with the cost of living adjustment.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. creates a new section of the legislative law to alter the salaries of members of the Legislature based upon the increases or decreases in the median household income for the state for the preceding two year period.
Justification
This bill ties the salaries of members of the legislature with the economic growth of the state. Consequently, this bill incentivizes the members of the legislature to promote policies that increase the median household income. This bill is modeled after the Article 118 of the Massachusetts Constitution which mandates that members of the state legislature receive wage increases.
Legislative history
2015-16: S.3981A - Amend and Recommit to Investigation and Gov't Ops 2013-14: S.3210 - Referred to Investigations and Gov't Ops 2011-12: S.2890 - Referred to Investigations and Gov't Ops
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.