What's happening
This bill requires all New York municipalities to maintain regularly updated official websites with key public information and documents.
Why it matters
Improves transparency and accountability. by requiring municipalities to post critical information online, such as meeting agendas, minutes, local laws, and financial documents, making it easier for residents to monitor local government actions and spending.
Enhances public participation and awareness. by mandating timely online notice of elections, public hearings, and meetings, so residents are better informed about opportunities to engage in local decision-making.
Standardizes digital access across municipalities. , reducing disparities between areas with and without robust online resources, and ensuring basic government information is accessible to all regardless of local resources or priorities.
Protects residents’ privacy. by requiring municipal websites to include clear privacy policies about data collection and use, addressing concerns about personal information when interacting with local government online.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Towns to Run Websites
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
7 Co-sponsors
1 Multi-sponsor
History
- Referred to local governments
- Referred to local governments
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.
Require Towns to Run Websites
In Senate Committee · Local Government · Sponsor James Skoufis
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3319
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 29, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ZEBROWSKI, GALEF, GOTTFRIED, JAFFEE, STIRPE, STECK, ASHBY -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COOK -- read once and referred to the Committee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the general municipal law, in relation to requiring municipalities to maintain municipal websites
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general municipal law is amended by adding a new article 13-E to read as follows:
ARTICLE 13-E
MUNICIPAL WEBSITES Section 300. Municipal websites.
§ 300. Municipal websites. 1. All municipal corporations shall maintain an official website accessible to the public. The official website shall contain basic information on the municipality including but not limited to hours of operations, elected officials and services provided. The website should contain an easily understood privacy policy that informs website visitors of any information that is being collected and how it is being used.
2. Official municipal websites should be updated on a regular basis and contain the following information:
a. all documents required by section thirty of this chapter;
b. notice of all municipal elections, public hearings and public meetings including regular board or legislative meetings;
c. agenda and minutes of municipal meetings as required by article seven of the public officers law; and
d. updated version of the municipality's code or laws.
§ 2. Subdivision 7 of section 30 of the general municipal law, as added by section 10 of part O of chapter 56 of the laws of 2008, is amended to read as follows:
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02134-01-9
A. 3319 2
7. [To the extent practicable, each] Each municipal corporation shall make accessible [to the public via its official internet web site] on its official municipal website documentation pertaining to its most recent annual financial reports, current year budget, most recent independent audit report and most recent fiscal performance plan or multiyear financial plan required pursuant to paragraph g of subdivision ten of section fifty-four of the state finance law, unless such information is covered by subdivision two of section eighty-seven of the public officers law.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after it shall have become a law.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.