What's happening
This bill clarifies that vacancies on the council on the arts do not limit its powers if filled within a reasonable time.
Why it matters
Ensures the council on the arts can continue to operate fully and make decisions, even if there are temporary vacancies. this helps avoid disruptions in arts funding, programming, or policy due to unfilled seats.
Requires vacancies to be filled within a “reasonable time,”. introducing some accountability and encouraging prompt appointments, which may lead to more consistent regional representation.
Maintains the goal of geographic diversity. by specifying that new appointments should move the council closer to having members from all ten state regions “to the extent practicable,” reinforcing efforts toward statewide inclusion.
Prevents legal challenges or delays based solely on temporary vacancies,. which could otherwise be used to contest the council’s authority or the validity of its actions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Fill Arts Council Vacancies Faster
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.88
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.40
- Substituted for A435
- Referred to tourism, parks, arts and sports development
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 59–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.67
- 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.
Fill Arts Council Vacancies
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Carrie Woerner
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
793
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE (Prefiled)
January 8, 2025
Introduced by Sen. HINCHEY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to vacancies on the council of the arts
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph (c) of subdivision 1 of section 3.03 of the arts and cultural affairs law, as amended by a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the arts and cultural affairs law relating to requiring the council on the arts to have members from each of the ten regions of the state, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7296-A and A. 8978-A, is amended to read as follows:
(c) The council on the arts shall not be out of compliance with this section upon vacancy, and shall retain its full powers enumerated in section 3.05 of this article, provided that[, to the extent practicable, as each new successive vacancy occurs,] such vacancy is filled within a reasonable time and the appointment made for such new vacancy shall move the composition of the council closer to the requirement that each of the ten regions of the state as defined by the empire state development corporation be represented by at least one member of the council to the extent practicable.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date and in the same manner as a chapter of the laws of 2024 amending the arts and cultural affairs law relating to requiring the council on the arts to have members from each of the ten regions of the state, as proposed in legislative bills numbers S. 7296-A and A. 8978-A, takes effect.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02726-01-5
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the arts and cultural affairs law, in relation to vacan- cies on the council of the arts
Purpose or general idea of bill
This is a chapter amendment that clarifies that the underlying chapter does not affect the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) powers to fulfill its duties.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 makes explicit that NYSCA shall retain its full powers despite any vacancies that result in a lack of full regional representation.
Section 2 sets the effective date.
Justification
This legislation is a negotiated change to the underlying chapter to ensure that NYSCA retains full powers regardless of whether a vacancy results in lack of full regional representation as required by the underlying chapter.
Prior legislative history
This is a chapter amendment to Chapter 629 of the Laws of 2024.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
On the same date and in the same manner as the underlying chapter.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.