What's happening
This bill requires mandatory initial and annual training for New York election commissioners and key board of elections staff.
Why it matters
Aims to standardize and professionalize election administration. by requiring all new election commissioners and certain key staff to complete a state-provided training course within six months of their appointment, ensuring a baseline level of knowledge and competence.
Mandates annual continuing education. for these officials, potentially improving the consistency and quality of election oversight across counties, as ongoing training can address new laws, technologies, and best practices.
Includes accountability measures. by notifying county legislatures, city councils, and party chairs if required trainings are not completed, which could encourage compliance and highlight areas where local election administration may be falling short.
Expands accessibility of training. through a required web-based recorded format for annual instruction, making it easier for staff to participate regardless of location and reducing logistical barriers to compliance.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Election Official Training
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
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.
Require Election Staff Training
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Rebecca Seawright
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
5417
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
April 30, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MYRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to mandatory training curriculum for election commissioners and key staff of boards of elections
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 3-213 to read as follows:
§ 3-213. Boards of elections; mandatory training curriculum. 1. Election commissioners and such other board of elections employees as determined by the state board of elections shall within six months after their first appointment complete a course of instruction on the operation of a board of elections which shall be provided by the state board of elections. The curriculum shall be established by the state board of elections in consultation with election commissioners and shall not exceed thirty hours of instruction.
2. Annually, election commissioners and other board of elections employees as determined by the state board of elections, shall complete before June first a continuing course of instruction on the operation of a board of elections which shall be provided by the state board of elections. The curriculum shall be established by the state board of elections in consultation with the election commissioners and shall not exceed three hours of instruction.
3. The state board of elections shall provide the training required by subdivision two of this section through, in addition to other methods it may choose, a web-based recorded format.
4. Upon the failure of a commissioner or other employee to complete the instruction within the time required by this section, the state board of elections shall send a letter to the county legislature or city
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01920-01-9
S. 5417 2
council and the respective county party chair of the jurisdiction of the commissioner stating the delinquency.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and completed on or before such effective date.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to mandatory training curriculum for election commissioners and key staff of boards of elections
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to ensure consistent training of Election Commissioners by the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE)
Summary of provisions
Section one requires Election Commissioners, and other staff as deter- mined by NYSBOE, to complete a course of instruction within six months of their appointment. It also requires Election Commissioners, and other designated staff, to complete continuing education on an annual basis. The State Board may provide the training in the format it desires including in a web-based format. Failure to complete the required train- ing would result in a letter from the Board to the County legislature or City Council and respective party chair citing the delinquency of train- ing.
Difference between original and amended version (if applicable)
Not applicable.
Justification
The job responsibilities of Election Commissioners are vitally important to ensuring our electoral process. This bill would require the New York State Board of Elections to create a mandatory, uniform training for all Election Commissioners. This ensures that all Commissioners are provided with the same baseline training. The NYSBOE and County Election Commis- sioners generally have a very close working relationship and engage in informal training workshops at the New York State Election Commissioners Association conferences held each winter and summer. Feedback from those conferences includes interest for a general training program.
Legislative history
2017-18: 5.6006 (Avella) - Referred to Senate Elections Committee / A.6741 (Seawright) - Referred to Assembly Ways and Means Committee
Fiscal implications
None noted. The State Board actively assists Election Commissioners. This bill simply streamlines that effort.
Effective date
180 days after enactment.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.