BILL NUMBER:S3245

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to
distribution of the state register; and to repeal certain provisions of
the executive law relating thereto

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:  This bill would reduce state expendi-
tures by eliminating requirements to Provide free hard copies of the
State Register to entities that prefer to access the free online
version.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:  Bill § 1 repeals paragraph (c) of subdivision of
§ 148 of the Executive Law, requiring the Department of State to write
annually to city, town and village clerks to advise them that they may
receive a copy of the weekly State Register upon written request of the
governing body.

Bill § 2 amends subdivisions 2 and 3 of § 148 and adds a new subdivision
4, providing that (a) the requirement to provide a free copy of the
weekly Register to each state agency and legislator may be dispensed
with upon request of the recipient, and (b) the authorization to charge
a fee for the Register applies only to the paper version - the statute
is amended to explicitly recognize the availability at no cost of an
online version of the publication.

EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS BILL WOULD ALTER:  Currently, the
              

Department of State is required to provide written notice to city,
village and town clerks advising them that they receive the weekly hard-
copy Register upon written request of the governing body, and is
required to provide such copies to agencies and legislators. Although
there is no statutory provision requiring it, the online version of the
Register has been available without charge since 2003.

JUSTIFICATION:  The Executive Law § 102 contains requirements for free
distribution of the paper version of the weekly State Register (listing
rulemaking actions and other public notices) that predate the creation
of a free online version of the publication. Currently, anyone can view
the State Register without charge at
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/info/register.htm.

This bill will enable the Department to conserve state resources and
reduce paper waste by eliminating an annual mailing to city, town and
village clerks to advise them of how to request pacer copies of the
publication. Executive Law § 148(1) (a) will continue to allow them to
receive these copies upon written request, but they can be informed of
this in less costly ways. The bill will also save money and paper by
allowing discontinuance of print subscriptions at the request of agen-
cies or individual legislators.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2011-12 - S.4818-A - Passed the Senate

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act takes effect immediately