What's happening
This bill allows SUNY trustees to participate in and vote at board meetings electronically, including through internet and phone.
Why it matters
Enhances flexibility and accessibility for trustees. Trustees who cannot attend meetings in person will still be able to participate fully and vote, potentially increasing engagement and allowing for diverse participation, especially for those with travel or scheduling constraints.
Requires accountability and verification. The bill mandates reasonable measures to verify the identity of remote participants and to keep accurate records of votes and actions taken electronically, aiming to maintain the integrity and transparency of board decisions.
Accommodates modern communication methods. By explicitly allowing telephonic and internet voting, the bill modernizes governance processes, which may make the board more adaptable to emergencies (like pandemics) or technological advancements.
Maintains current participation options. This change does not eliminate traditional forms of participation or voting, preserving flexibility for trustees to choose the method that works best for them.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Let SUNY Trustees Vote Online
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to higher education
- Referred to higher education
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7269
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 18, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. GUNTHER -- read once and referred to the Committee on Higher Education
AN ACT to amend the education law, in relation to SUNY trustee's participation and voting at board meetings by means of electronic communication
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The education law is amended by adding a new section 226-a to read as follows:
§ 226-a. Trustee's participation and voting by means of electronic communications. 1. A board of trustees may: (a) Implement reasonable measures to provide trustees not physically present at a board meeting a reasonable opportunity to participate in the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such proceedings; and
(b) Provide reasonable measures to enable trustees to vote or grant proxies with respect to matters submitted to the trustees at a board meeting by means of electronic communication; provided that the board shall, if applicable (i) implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of electronic communication is a trustee of record and (ii) keep a record of any vote or other action taken by a trustee participating and voting by means of electronic communications at a board meeting. A trustee participating in a board meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at such meeting.
2. Nothing in subdivision one of this section shall limit, restrict or supersede other forms of voting and participation in such trustee board meetings.
3. For purposes of this section, "reasonable measures" with respect to participating in proceedings shall include, but shall not be limited to, audio webcast or other broadcast of the meeting and for voting shall include, but shall not be limited to, telephonic and internet voting.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10930-03-9
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.