What's happening
This bill changes election law to require individuals appointed, rather than nominated, to committees to file certificates of acceptance.
Why it matters
Clarifies who must officially accept committee positions. By changing the language from "nominated" to "appointed," the bill ensures that only those who are formally given a committee role (and not just considered for one) need to file a certificate of acceptance, reducing potential confusion and administrative burden.
Strengthens accountability and transparency. Requiring appointees to formally accept their roles in writing helps confirm their willingness to serve and provides a clear public record, potentially preventing disputes about committee membership.
Prevents unintended or unwanted appointments. The new requirement that appointments are null and void without a filed certificate of acceptance means no one can be placed on a committee without their explicit consent, protecting individuals from being named without their knowledge or agreement.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Update Acceptance Certificate Rules
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Substituted by A8999
- Ordered to third reading cal.120
- Referred to rules
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.
Clarify Committee Appointment Rules
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7196
IN SENATE
January 10, 2020
Introduced by Sen. MAYER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to certificates of acceptance
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 6-166 of the election law, as added by a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to certificates of acceptance, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5180-A and A.5219, is amended to read as follows:
3. Individuals [nominated] appointed to serve on the committee to receive notices, shall, in a certificate signed and acknowledged by him or her, and filed as provided in this article, accept the [nomination] appointment of the committee, otherwise such [nomination] appointment shall be null and void. All certificates of acceptance shall be filed not later than the fourth day after the last day to file petitions for the opportunity to ballot.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to certificates of acceptance, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5180-A and A.5219, takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06037-04-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to certificates of accept- ance
Purpose
This is a Chapter Amendment that makes changes to provisions of L.2019, Ch.456.
Summary of provisions
This legislation amends the underlying chapter by replacing the term "nomination" with the term "appointment."
Justification
The underlying chapter sought to preclude identity theft on Opportunity to Ballot Petition (OTBP). This chapter amendment makes a technical change to the underlying bill as it is more accurate to say that indi- viduals are appointed to service on committees to receive notices as opposed to nominated.
Legislative history
Chapter amendment to Chapter 456 of the Laws of 2019.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2019, amending the election law relating to certificates of acceptance, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S.5180-A and A.5219, takes effect.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.