S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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10199--A
I N A S S E M B L Y
May 16, 2016
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Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Election Law -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to create a temporary commission on consolidating the conduct of
municipal elections by boards of elections; making an appropriation
therefor; and providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expira-
tion thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. A temporary state commission is hereby created to make
recommendations and prepare proposed legislation to: (i) consolidate the
conduct of all public entity elections by the county boards of
elections; and (ii) consolidate all public entity elections to the date
of the November general election or another date upon which multiple
public entity elections may be consolidated.
S 2. The commission shall consist of nine members, each to serve for a
term of two years, to be forthwith appointed as follows: two shall be
appointed by the temporary president of the senate and one by the minor-
ity leader of the senate; two shall be appointed by the speaker of the
assembly and one by the minority leader of the assembly; three shall be
appointed by the governor. No more than four appointees shall be legis-
lators. By a majority vote, the commission shall designate the chair
and vice chair from among the appointees to the commission. Vacancies in
the membership of the commission and among its officers shall be filled
in the manner provided for original appointments.
S 3. The commission may employ and at pleasure remove such personnel
as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions and fix
their compensation within the amounts made available therefor.
S 4. The commission may meet within and without the state, shall hold
public hearings, and shall have all the powers of a legislative commit-
tee pursuant to the legislative law.
S 5. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for
their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
incurred in the performance of their duties hereunder.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13594-03-6
A. 10199--A 2
S 6. To the maximum extent feasible, the commission shall be entitled
to request and receive and shall utilize and be provided with such
facilities, resources, and data of any court, department, division,
board, bureau, commission, or agency of the state or any political
subdivision thereof as it may reasonably request to properly carry out
its powers and duties hereunder.
S 7. The commission shall make a preliminary report to the governor
and the legislature of its findings, conclusions and recommendation not
later than December 31, 2017 and a final report of its findings, conclu-
sions and recommendations not later than April 30, 2018, and shall
submit with its report such legislative proposals as it deems necessary
to implement its recommendations.
S 8. The sum of seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars
($750,000.00), or so much thereof as may be necessary, is hereby appro-
priated to the temporary commission on consolidating the conduct of
municipal elections by boards of elections out of any moneys in the
state treasury in the general fund, to the credit of the state purposes
account, not otherwise appropriated, and made immediately available, for
the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this act. Such moneys
shall be payable on the audit and warrant of the comptroller on vouchers
certified or approved by the chair of the temporary commission estab-
lished by this act.
S 9. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire on May 1,
2018, when upon such date the provisions of this act shall be deemed
repealed.