What's happening
This bill expands the definition of "public body" under New York's open meetings law to include advisory committees.
Why it matters
Expands transparency requirements. By including advisory committees under the definition of "public body," the bill ensures that these often-influential groups must follow open meetings laws, making their discussions and decisions accessible to the public.
Increases accountability. Advisory committees, which can shape policy recommendations or provide expertise, will now be subject to notice, agenda, and record-keeping requirements, making it harder for important decisions to be made out of public view.
Affects a wide range of government actions. The change applies to advisory committees at state and local levels, impacting how government agencies, departments, and public corporations operate and communicate with the public.
Potential for improved public trust. By requiring more governmental discussions to occur openly, the legislation aims to foster greater public trust in how decisions and recommendations are formed within New York’s government.
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Who cares
Advisory committee members
The bill would explicitly include advisory committees of public bodies in the definition covered by the Open Meetings Law.
State agencies and public corporations
They would need to account for the explicit inclusion of their public bodies’ advisory committees under the Open Meetings Law.
Reporters and open-government advocates
They would gain explicit statutory grounds for seeking Open Meetings Law access to advisory committee meetings.
Headline styles
Advisory Panels Made Public
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred 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.
Open Meetings for Advisory Panels
In Senate Committee · Investigations And Government Operations · Sponsor Kenneth P. LaValle
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
S. 3732 A. 5525
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
SENATE - ASSEMBLY
February 13, 2019
IN SENATE -- Introduced by Sen. LAVALLE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
IN ASSEMBLY -- Introduced by M. of A. THIELE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to the definition of a public body pursuant to the open meetings law
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 advisory committee or other similar body of such public body.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03191-01-9
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.