What's happening
This bill expands the definition of a "public body" under New York law to include entities created for necessary decision-making functions.
Why it matters
Makes more government decision-making subject to transparency rules. By broadening the definition of "public body," more committees, subcommittees, and appointed entities involved in government decisions could now be required to follow open meeting laws, increasing public oversight.
Closes loopholes for advisory or temporary groups. Entities created or appointed specifically to perform necessary functions in the decision-making process—such as task forces or advisory panels—would no longer be able to operate outside of public scrutiny merely because they are not permanent standing bodies.
Could impact how government entities conduct business. Organizations that previously did not consider themselves "public bodies," and thus exempt from certain requirements, may now need to change their procedures, such as providing public notice, allowing public attendance, and keeping minutes.
Empowers citizens and journalists. The change gives the public and the press more tools to hold government accountable, as more meetings and records from a broader array of entities will potentially become accessible.
Albany, before your first meeting.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Expand Public Body Definition
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
13 Co-sponsors
4 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Print number 526a
- Amend and recommit to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
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.
Expand Public Body Definition
In Senate Committee · Rules · Sponsor James Skoufis
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
526--A
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY (Prefiled)
January 9, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. PAULIN, BLAKE, BUCHWALD, GALEF, ABINANTI, CARROLL, COOK, DINOWITZ, GOTTFRIED, LUPARDO, RICHARDSON, L. ROSENTHAL, ZEBROWSKI, MONTESANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. ENGLEBRIGHT, NIOU, SIMON, THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to amending the definition of a "public body"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 2 of section 102 of the public officers law, as amended by chapter 704 of the laws of 1979 and such section as renumbered by chapter 652 of the laws of 1983, is amended to read as follows:
2. "Public body" means any entity, for which a quorum is required in order to conduct public business and which consists of two or more members, performing a governmental function for the state or for an agency or department thereof, or for a public corporation as defined in section sixty-six of the general construction law, or committee or subcommittee or other similar body consisting of members of such public body or an entity created or appointed to perform a necessary function in the decision-making process.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03782-03-9
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.