What's happening
This bill proposes a constitutional amendment requiring the governor's budget bills to include only monetary appropriations, with all other substantive law changes submitted separately.
Why it matters
Separating policy from funding increases legislative transparency. By requiring that the governor’s budget bills contain only monetary appropriations, and that all other substantive changes to law be introduced separately, the amendment makes it easier for legislators and the public to see exactly what spending is being proposed versus what policy or legal changes are being sought.
Limits executive power to make policy changes through the budget process. Governors often use the budget process to include policy reforms (“riders”) that might not pass on their own. This amendment would force those policy changes to be debated and voted on independently, making it harder to bypass standard legislative scrutiny.
Could slow down or complicate budget negotiations. With spending and policy changes split into separate bills, lawmakers may have to negotiate and vote on more bills, potentially leading to longer or more complex budget sessions and increasing the risk of budget delays.
Increases legislative control over non-fiscal policy decisions. By requiring substantive law changes to go through the regular legislative process, the amendment strengthens the legislature’s hand in shaping state policy, rather than allowing the governor to tie policy changes to essential budget legislation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Limit Governor Budget Powers
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
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History
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to ways and means
- Opinion referred to judiciary
- To attorney-general for opinion
- Referred to ways and means
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3868
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PRETLOW -- read once and referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 3 of article 7 of the constitution in relation to appropriations included in the governor's budget proposal
Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 3 of article 7 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
§ 3. At the time of submitting the budget to the legislature the governor shall submit a bill or bills containing all the proposed appropriations and reappropriations included in the budget and the proposed legislation, if any, recommended therein. The governor shall only include monetary items authorizing appropriations and re-appropriations for the applicable fiscal year and all substantive changes to existing law, temporary or permanent, shall be set forth in separate legislation for consideration by the legislature.
The governor may at any time within thirty days thereafter and, with the consent of the legislature, at any time before the adjournment thereof, amend or supplement the budget and submit amendments to any bills submitted by him or her or submit supplemental bills.
The governor and the heads of departments shall have the right, and it shall be the duty of the heads of departments when requested by either house of the legislature or an appropriate committee thereof, to appear and be heard in respect to the budget during the consideration thereof, and to answer inquiries relevant thereto. The procedure for such appearances and inquiries shall be provided by law.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendment 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 for 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.
LBD89092-01-9
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.