What's happening
This bill allows the court attendant for the town of Somers, Westchester County, to reside anywhere within the county, not just the town.
Why it matters
Expanding the eligible pool of candidates for court attendant. By allowing residents from anywhere in Westchester County (not just the town of Somers) to serve, this bill could help attract a wider range of applicants, potentially improving the quality or availability of candidates for the position.
Addressing recruitment or staffing challenges. The change may be a response to difficulties in finding qualified individuals within Somers itself, suggesting that the town has struggled to fill the role under the previous, more restrictive residency rule.
Maintaining local control elsewhere. The bill specifically preserves stricter residency requirements for court attendants in other towns, unless similarly changed by state law, signaling that this is a tailored solution rather than a broad policy shift across New York.
Balancing flexibility with accountability. While expanding eligibility, the bill still requires court attendants to live within Westchester County, maintaining some local connection and oversight rather than allowing out-of-county residents to hold the position.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Loosen Somers Court Attendant Residency
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 40
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
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.
Loosen Somers Court Residency Rule
In Senate Committee · Local Government · Sponsor Kevin M. Byrne
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 7761 A. 9890
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
February 20, 2018
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. MURPHY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. BYRNE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the town law and the public officers law, in relation to the residency requirement for the court attendant for the town of Somers, in the county of Westchester
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 23 of the town law is amended by adding a new subdivision 32 to read as follows:
32. Notwithstanding subdivision one of this section, in the town of Somers, in the county of Westchester, the provisions of this section requiring a person to be a resident of the political subdivision or municipal corporation of the state for which he or she shall be chosen or within which his or her official functions are required to be exercised, shall not prevent a person from holding the position of court attendant for the town of Somers, provided that such person resides in the county in which such town is located. Provided, however, the person performing the functions of court attendant in any other town shall be a resident of such town, unless otherwise provided by an act of the state legislature.
§ 2. Section 3 of the public officers law is amended by adding a new subdivision 67 to read as follows:
67. In the town of Somers, in the county of Westchester, the provisions of this section requiring a person to be a resident of the political subdivision or municipal corporation of the state for which he or she shall be chosen or within which his or her official functions are required to be exercised shall not prevent a person from holding the position of court attendant for the town of Somers, provided that such person resides in the county in which such town is located. Provided, however, the person performing the functions of court attendant in any other town shall be a resident of such town, unless otherwise provided by an act of the state legislature.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14775-01-8
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law and the public officers law, in relation to the residency requirement for the court attendant for the town of Somers, in the county of Westchester
Purpose
Relates to the residency requirement for the court attendant for the town of Somers in the county of Westchester
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends the town law to allow for a person hold- ing the title of court attendant for the town of Somers to be a resident of the county of Westchester. Section two of the bill amends the public officers law to allow for a person holding the title of court attendant for the town of Somers to be a resident of the county of Westchester. Section three contains he effective date.
Legislative history
New bill
Justification
The town of Somers has requested legislation that will allow their court attendant to be a resident of anywhere within Westchester County.
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.