What's happening
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment to restrict New York State budget bills to appropriations only, removing recommended legislation from budget submissions.
Why it matters
Narrows the governor’s annual budget submission to financial matters only. , meaning the governor could no longer include recommended policy or legislative changes as part of the budget package—this forces a clearer separation between appropriations and new laws.
Reduces the use of “omnibus” budget bills as a vehicle for unrelated policy changes. , which has often been criticized for limiting legislative debate and transparency on non-budgetary measures bundled with spending bills.
Requires that any new or amended laws not directly tied to appropriations be introduced and considered through the standard legislative process. , potentially increasing legislative oversight, public input, and scrutiny for non-fiscal proposals.
Aims to restore a more traditional checks-and-balances framework. between the executive and legislative branches in New York, addressing longstanding concerns about executive overreach in the budget process.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Change Governor's Budget Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 55
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
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3722
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 26, 2017
Introduced by Sens. FUNKE, GRIFFO -- 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 article 7 of the constitution, relating to content of article VII bills
Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 2 of article 7 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
§ 2. Annually, on or before the first day of February in each year following the year fixed by the constitution for the election of governor and lieutenant governor, and on or before the second Tuesday following the first day of the annual meeting of the legislature, in all other years, the governor shall submit to the legislature a budget containing a complete [plan] statement of expenditures proposed to be made before the close of the ensuing fiscal year and all moneys and revenues estimated to be available therefor, together with an explanation of the basis of such estimates [and recommendations as to proposed legislation, if any, which the governor may deem necessary to provide moneys and revenues sufficient to meet such proposed expenditures]. It shall also contain [such other recommendations and information as the governor may deem proper and] such additional information as may be required by law.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 3 of article 7 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
§ 3. At the time of submitting the budget to the legislature the governor shall submit a bill or bills containing all the proposed appropriations and reappropriations included in the budget [and the proposed legislation, if any, recommended therein].
The governor may at any time within thirty days thereafter and, with the consent of the legislature, at any time before the adjournment thereof, amend or supplement the budget and submit amendments to any bills submitted by him or her or submit supplemental bills.
The governor and the heads of departments shall have the right, and it shall be the duty of the heads of departments when requested by either
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89094-01-7
S. 3722 2
house of the legislature or an appropriate committee thereof, to appear and be heard in respect to the budget during the consideration thereof, and to answer inquiries relevant thereto. The procedure for such appearances and inquiries shall be provided by law.
§ 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendments 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.
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 article 7 of the constitution, relating to content of article VII bills
Purpose
Relates to the content of article VII bills submitted by the Governor
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section two of article seven of the constitution.
Section 2 amends section three of article seven of the constitution.
Section 3 states that the foregoing amendments 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 one of article nineteen of the constitution, be published for three months previous to the time of such election.
Justification
This bill would prevent legislation or policy proposals from being presented to the Legislature in the Governor's proposed budget. All too often, and most especially in the last two decades, each Governor's proposed budget has included a litany of policy proposals that should be negotiated and voted on individually so as to be properly vetted by members, their staffs and the constituencies that they impact. This legislation will allow for such consideration.
Legislative history
This is a new bill.
Effective date
The foregoing amendments 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 one of article nineteen of the constitution, be published for three 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.