What's happening
This bill sets that a majority of appointed voting members constitutes a quorum for the Early Intervention Coordinating Council.
Why it matters
Clarifies decision-making. By specifying that a majority of appointed voting members is needed for a quorum, the bill removes any ambiguity about how many council members must be present to officially conduct business, ensuring smoother operations and decision-making for the Early Intervention Coordinating Council.
Prevents delays. With a clear quorum rule, the council is less likely to face delays in meetings or actions due to uncertainty or disputes over whether enough members are present, which can be especially important for timely responses in early intervention services for children.
Enhances accountability. Establishing a specific quorum standard holds appointed voting members more accountable for attendance, as their presence becomes crucial for the council to function and make decisions that impact early intervention programs across New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Set Council Meeting Quorum
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Committed to rules
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.375
- Referred to health
- Referred to rules
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Set Council Quorum Majority
In Senate Committee · Health · Sponsor Richard Gottfried
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6867
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
September 6, 2017
Introduced by Sen. HANNON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the early intervention coordinating council quorum
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 2553 of the public health law is amended by adding a new paragraph (e) to read as follows:
(e) A majority of the appointed voting membership of the council shall constitute a quorum.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13349-02-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the early intervention coordinating council quorum
Purpose
To provide that a majority of the appointed voting membership shall constitute a quorum for the early intervention coordinating council.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 adds paragraph (e) to Public Health Law § 2553 to provide that a majority of the early intervention coordinating council's appointed voting membership shall constitute a quorum.
Section 2 is the effective date.
Justification
The Early Intervention Coordinating Council (EICC) has struggled to achieve quorum due to a lack of appointees, which has obstructed the council's ability to provide the guidance it was formed to produce. A similar amendment to the functioning of the Transplant Council was signed into law (Chapter 26 of 2017).
The General Construction Law § 41 provides that, unless provided otherwise, a government body's quorum shall be a majority of "the total number which the . . . body . . . would have were there no vacancies and were none of the persons or officers disqualified from acting." Pursuant to General Construction Law § 110, this bill would exclude vacant seats and non-voting members from the total number from which a majority is calculated.
Legislative history
New bill
Fiscal implications
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.