What's happening
This bill prohibits local laws or resolutions from overriding state rules on establishing ward systems for electing town councilmen.
Why it matters
Establishes state authority as final. By preventing local laws or resolutions from overriding state rules on town council ward systems, this bill ensures that decisions about how councilmen are elected are standardized across New York, potentially reducing local variation.
Limits local government flexibility. Towns and municipalities lose the ability to tailor or modify their election ward systems based on local needs or preferences, centralizing power at the state level.
Could impact representation and local democracy. The inability to adjust ward systems locally might affect how well council members represent their communities, especially in towns with unique demographic or geographic considerations.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Town Ward Elections
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 38
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to local government
- Referred to local government
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.
Create Council Election Wards
In Assembly Committee · Local Governments · Sponsor Kenneth Zebrowski
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3088
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 1, 2019
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Local Government
AN ACT to amend the town law, in relation to the establishment of ward systems for the election of councilmen
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 85 of the town law is amended by adding a new subdivision 3 to read as follows:
3. The provisions of this section shall not be superseded or deemed to be superseded by any local law or resolution.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06416-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the town law, in relation to the establishment of ward systems for the election of councilmen
Purpose
This bill will prohibit local laws from superseding the state law with respect to the responsibility of drawing ward boundaries if a ward referendum is successful.
Summary of provisions
Section one of the bill amends section 85 of the town law as it relates to prohibiting the superseding of the provision by local law.
Section two of the bill relates to the effective date.
Justification
Section 85 of the Town Law delineates the process for towns in the first class to adopt a ward system for the election of board members. The process states that if a ward system is adopted by the voters then the county board of elections must draw the boundaries for the next election. Several towns have preempted, the prospect of voters adopting a ward system by enacting local laws that superseded the provisions of state law. These local laws have shifted the responsibility of drawing the ward boundaries from the board of elections to the town; creating a conflict of interest. This bill will ensure that this process is not superseded by local law.
Legislative history
2017-18: S1720/A1242 - LOCAL GOVT/local govt's 2015-16: S3292/A4182 - local government/local government
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.