What's happening
This bill proposes four-year terms and a three-term limit for New York State senators and assembly members starting in 2020.
Why it matters
Longer legislative terms could promote stability and allow lawmakers to focus more on policy over campaigning. , as four-year terms mean fewer re-election cycles and potentially less time spent fundraising and campaigning compared to the current two-year terms.
Imposing a three-term limit (maximum of 12 consecutive years) for both senators and assembly members could encourage fresh perspectives and reduce entrenched incumbency. , possibly making the legislature more responsive to changing public needs and priorities.
Partial terms served before 2020 do not count toward the term limit, allowing current lawmakers to potentially serve beyond twelve years if part of their service was prior to the rule change. this could impact the pace at which legislative turnover actually occurs.
The changes may affect legislative expertise and institutional memory. , as term limits can lead to more frequent turnover, potentially reducing the depth of experience among lawmakers, but also opening opportunities for new leadership and ideas.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Set Term Limits, Longer Terms
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 4
3 Co-sponsors
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
608
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. BOYLE -- 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 length of the term of office and imposing term limits for members of the legislature
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 thousand eight hundred and ninety-five shall hold their offices for three years, and their successors] shall be [chosen] elected for terms of two years; provided, that senators elected in the year two thousand twenty and in subsequent years shall hold their offices for four years. The assembly shall consist of one hundred and fifty members. The assembly members [elected in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight, and their successors,] shall be [chosen] elected for terms of two years; provided, that assembly members elected in the year two thousand twenty and in subsequent years shall hold their offices for four years.
No person elected to office in the senate in the year two thousand twenty and in subsequent years shall serve as a member of the senate for more than three consecutive four year terms. No person elected to office in the assembly in the year two thousand twenty and in subsequent years shall serve as a member of the assembly for more than three consecutive four year terms. Any partial term of office held as a member of the legislature prior to the election to a consecutive four year term shall not be used to calculate any term limitation imposed pursuant to this paragraph.
§ 2. 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 three months previous to the time of such election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89052-01-7
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 length of the term of office and imposing term limits for members of the legislature
Purpose or general idea of bill
:
This legislation would increase the length of term of office for members of the legislature from two years to four years and would limit members of the legislature from serving more than three consecutive four year terms.
Summary of specific provisions
:
Section 2 Article 3 of the constitution is amended to increase the length of term of office for members of the legislature from two years to four years and would limit members of the legislature from serving more than three consecutive four year terms.
Section 2 states that the foregoing amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session after the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly and be published three months previous to the time of such election.
Justification
:
In the past few months there have been arrests and inquiries into several public elected officials. Accordingly New York State needs to undergo drastic election reform to prevent the repetition of such events. This legislation would increase the length of the term of office from four years to two years. Such a term increase would allow legislators to focus more intently on serving the needs of constituents rather than the up- coming election cycle. The second section of this legislation would limit the terms of members of the legislators to three consecutive four year terms (to twelve years total). A limit such as this one would benefit the legislature by preventing members from becoming "career politicians" - members who serve in the legislature endlessly and who may become out of touch with their constituents by promoting policies beneficial to their tenure in off ice rather than constituent needs and desires. An overall term limit would also decrease the emphasis on elections for members of the legislature by maintaining a set number of allowed years, and therefore upcoming elections, to be served.
Prior legislative history
:
None.
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.