15 Jul 2020
Joint Public Hearing: Evaluating Constitutional Provisions Impacting Redistricting in 2022
Virtual Public Hearing
10:00 AM Archived Video
Joint – Legislative Task Force on Demographic Research and Reapportionment
Co-Chair: Senator Michael Gianaris
Co-Chair: Assembly Member Robert Rodriguez
Senate Standing Committee on the Judiciary
Chair: Senator Brad Hoylman
and Assembly Standing Committee on Governmental Operations
Chair: Assembly Member Kenneth Zebrowski
Public Hearing: Evaluating Constitutional Provisions Impacting Redistricting in 2022
Place: Online: https://www.nysenate.gov/events; https://www.nyassembly.gov/av/live/
Time: 10:00 A.M.
Contact: Kenan Kurt (518) 455-3201; Brian Williams (518) 455-4355
Media Contact: Senate Majority Press Office (518) 455-2415;
Assembly Press Office (518) 455-3888
ORAL TESTIMONY BY INVITATION ONLY
Subject: Evaluating Constitutional Provisions Impacting Redistricting in 2022
Purpose: To evaluate the current legal structure of redistricting in New York State in advance of the upcoming redistricting cycle in 2021-2022
In 2014, New York voters approved amendments to the New York State Constitution altering the process for legislative redistricting. Among other changes, a 10 member Independent Redistricting Commission was created to propose legislative district lines during the once-a-decade reapportionment.
Since the enactment of these redistricting reforms, additional developments have raised questions of the process by which redistricting will occur. The process of undertaking the decennial census has also been thrown into question due to the impacts of COVID-19. As a result, New York faces a series of unprecedented questions and challenges in undertaking the necessary redistricting process. This legislative hearing will examine state law on the redistricting process in the context of current events, and seek to determine what challenges the state will face in undertaking this critical work.
Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearing should complete and return the enclosed reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified of means by which to testify and/or in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.
Oral testimony will be limited to 5 minutes’ duration. In preparing the order of witnesses, the Committee will attempt to accommodate individual requests to speak at particular times in view of special circumstances. These requests should be made on the attached reply form or communicated to Committee staff as early as possible.
Attendees and participants at any legislative public hearing should be aware that these proceedings are video recorded. Their likenesses may be included in any video coverage shown on television or the internet. In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee’s interest in hearing testimony from all sources.
In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Legislature, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to the Senate’s facilities and activities.
