What's happening
This bill requires all New York state agencies to provide annual reports and public documents online in printable digital formats.
Why it matters
Expands public access and transparency. By requiring all state agencies to publish annual reports and public documents online, the bill makes it easier for New Yorkers to access government information, fostering greater transparency and accountability.
Modernizes government communications. Mandating printable digital formats encourages agencies to update outdated reporting practices, potentially speeding up document availability and reducing reliance on paper-based distribution.
Standardizes information availability across agencies. The bill covers a broad definition of “state agency,” including boards, commissions, and public authorities, ensuring consistent access to digital documents from all corners of state government.
Supports cost savings and environmental goals. By shifting to digital-first, printable documents, the state could reduce printing and mailing costs as well as paper waste, aligning with efficiency and environmental objectives.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Put Reports Online
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to finance
- Referred to finance
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.
Put State Documents Online
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1392
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Finance
AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the "online digital paperwork reduction act"
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Short title. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "online digital paperwork reduction act".
§ 2. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 170-c to read as follows:
§ 170-c. Availability of documents. Every state agency in the state shall make its annual reports and all other public documents available in a digital format on its website in a manner that allows such reports and documents to be printed. As used in this section, the term "state agency" shall mean any department, board, bureau, commission, division, office, council, committee or office of the state, a public benefit corporation or public authority.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05187-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to enacting the "online digital paperwork reduction act"
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to reduce the number of bills, reports, digests, records and various documents printed by the New York State Legislature and establish a process to make these documents available electronically through the websites of the New York State Senate, Assem- bly and State Agencies.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Known and cited as the Online Digital Paperwork Reduction Act.
Section 2. The Executive Law is amended by adding a new section 170-c, which reads as follows: Availability of documents. Every state agency in the state shall make its annual reports and all other public documents available in a digital format on its website in a manner that allows such reports and documents to be printed. The term "state agency" is defined.
Section 3. Establishes the effective date.
Justification
Each year, thousands of bills are introduced and every single measure gets printed multiple times. It has been estimated that this could save taxpayers millions of dollars.
Eliminating automatic bill printing would save money and save resources.
Instead of having all legislation and reports printed on paper, making them available on a digital format where lawmakers can view it on their laptops and mobile devices would deliver significant savings. If neces- sary, Members of the Legislature, State Agencies and the public could print a copy from their own computer.
The U.S. House of Representatives passed similar legislation (by a vote of 399-0) to stop the mandatory printing of congressional bills. Several state legislatures have gone paperless or are experimenting with going digital. They include California, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wiscon- sin, It's estimated that Ohio has saved $1.5 million since going digital.
Legislative history
02/18/15: S.3812 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 01/06/16: S.3812 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 02/03/17: S.4149 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 01/03/18: S.4149 REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 01/30/18: S.4149 1ST REPORT CAL.362 02/05/18: S.4149 2ND REPORT CAL. 02/06/18: S.4149 ADVANCED TO THIRD READING 02/27/18: S.4149 AMENDED ON THIRD READING 4149A 03/26/18: S.4149A PASSED SENATE 03/26/18: S.4149A DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY 03/26/18: S.4149A referred to governmental operations 06/07/18: S.4149A RECALLED FROM ASSEMBLY 06/07/18: S.4149A returned to senate 06/07/18: S.4149A VOTE RECONSIDERED - RESTORED TO THIRD READING 06/07/18: S.4149A AMENDED ON THIRD READING (T) 4149B 06/11/18: S.4149B REPASSED SENATE 06/11/18: S.4149B RETURNED TO ASSEMBLY 06/11/18: S.4149B referred to governmental operations
Fiscal implications
To be determined.
Effective date
This act will take effect on the 90th day after becoming law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.