What's happening
This bill eliminates additional allowances for New York legislators serving as officers of either legislative house.
Why it matters
Eliminates extra compensation for legislative officers. By repealing Section 5-a, the bill removes additional monetary allowances previously given to legislators serving as officers (such as Speaker, Majority/Minority Leader, etc.), meaning these roles will no longer come with extra pay beyond the standard legislative salary.
Promotes fiscal responsibility and transparency. Ending these officer allowances could reduce overall legislative spending and address public concerns about government salaries and perceived perks or special treatment for those in leadership positions.
Standardizes compensation among legislators. All legislators, regardless of whether they hold an officer title, will now be compensated equally for their legislative service, with no special salary enhancements for holding leadership roles.
May influence leadership incentives and internal dynamics. The removal of these financial incentives could impact how legislative leadership positions are sought after and filled, potentially shifting motivations and the internal balance of power within the legislature.
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Who cares
Headline styles
End Legislative Officer Bonuses
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
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4587
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 21, 2017
Introduced by Sen. KRUEGER -- 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 eliminating allowances for members serving as an officer of either house of the legislature; and to repeal section 5-a of the legislative law relating thereto
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 Section 5-a of the legislative law is REPEALED.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 5 of the legislative law, as added by chapter 635 of the laws of 1998, is amended to read as follows:
3. "Legislative passage of the budget", solely for the purposes of this section [and section five-a of this article], shall mean that the appropriation bill or bills submitted by the governor pursuant to section three of article seven of the state constitution have been finally acted on by both houses of the legislature in accordance with article seven of the state constitution and the state comptroller has determined that such appropriation bill or bills that have been finally acted on by the legislature are sufficient for the ongoing operation and support of state government and local assistance for the ensuing fiscal year. In addition, legislation submitted by the governor pursuant to section three of article seven of the state constitution determined necessary by the legislature for the effective implementation of such appropriation bill or bills shall have been acted on. Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the prohibition contained in section five of article seven of the state constitution.
§ 3. Subdivision 3 of section 83-c of the legislative law, as added by chapter 141 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
3. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05804-01-7
S. 4587 2
and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise have all of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services[, except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter,] but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
§ 4. Subdivision 7 of section 83-e of the legislative law, as added by chapter 141 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
7. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions and fix compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise have all of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members of the commission and advisory board shall receive no compensation for their services[, except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter,] but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
§ 5. Subdivision 4 of section 83-f of the legislative law, as added by chapter 141 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise have all of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services[, except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter,] but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
§ 6. Subdivision 4 of section 83-i of the legislative law, as added by chapter 141 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The commission may hold public and private hearings, and otherwise have all of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services[, except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter,] but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
§ 7. Subdivision 4 of section 83-l of the legislative law, as amended by chapter 83 of the laws of 1995, is amended to read as follows:
4. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel as it may deem necessary for the performance of the commission's functions and fix their compensation within the amount appropriated therefor. The commission may hold public and private hearings and otherwise have all of the powers of a legislative committee under this chapter. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services[, except as provided pursuant to section five-a of this chapter,] but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
§ 8. This act shall take effect immediately, provided, however, that the amendments to sections 83-c, 83-e, 83-f, 83-i and 83-l of the legislative law made by sections three, four, five, six and seven of this act shall not affect the repeal of such sections and shall be deemed repealed therewith.
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 eliminating allowances for members serving as an officer of either house of the legislature; and to repeal section 5-a of the legislative law relating thereto
Purpose
To eliminate the stipends on top of the legislative salary each member gets for being a Chair or Ranking Member of a standing committee.
Summary of provisions
Repeals section 5-a of the legislative law.
Justification
Every state senator receives a stipend on top of their salary because every state senator is assigned as chair or ranking minority member of a committee by their leader. Many senators also receive another additional stipend if they are also assigned to leadership posts within their conference. Stipends vary greatly depending on one's position in the hierarchy of the Senate. These stipends are an unnecessary perk for Senators and considering the financial difficulties the state is currently facing, the Senate should eliminate them.
Fiscal implications
None.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.