S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
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5495
2015-2016 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 24, 2015
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Introduced by M. of A. GALEF, DINOWITZ, ORTIZ, CAHILL, LUPARDO, CLARK,
RAIA, HAWLEY, JAFFEE, LAVINE, MAGNARELLI, KAVANAGH, GIGLIO, CAMARA,
GUNTHER, CUSICK -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. COLTON, CROUCH,
DUPREY, FINCH, FITZPATRICK, HIKIND, KOLB, LIFTON, MAGEE, McDONOUGH,
McKEVITT, PEOPLES-STOKES, PERRY, ROSENTHAL, RUSSELL, SALADINO, SCHI-
MEL, TEDISCO, THIELE, TITONE, WRIGHT, ZEBROWSKI -- read once and
referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to the continuity of
legislative sessions
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Legislative intent. The legislature finds that while New
York and most other states operate on two-year legislative calendars,
only the legislature of the state of New York interrupts procedural
continuity of legislation during the two-year session. This practice
commonly requires the reconsideration and readoption of hundreds of
bills during the second year which were previously considered and
adopted during the first year. The legislature determines that this
practice is usually unnecessary and expends time and taxpayer money
which could be better spent addressing other important legislative busi-
ness. The legislature therefore declares its intent to preserve the
procedural continuity of all bills within the biennial legislative
session.
S 2. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section 42-a to
read as follows:
S 42-A. CONTINUITY OF LEGISLATIVE SESSIONS. 1. UPON PASSAGE OF A BILL
BY ONE HOUSE OF THE LEGISLATURE, SUCH BILL SHALL AUTOMATICALLY BE SENT
TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMITTEE IN THE OTHER HOUSE FOR ACTION ON SUCH BILL,
WHERE THAT HOUSE MAY ACT ON THE BILL AT ANY TIME DURING THE REMAINDER OF
THE BIENNIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01452-01-5
A. 5495 2
2. NO BILL REPORTED BY A STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE SENATE OR ASSEMBLY
SHALL BE REFERRED BACK TO THAT COMMITTEE UNLESS SUCH BILL SHALL HAVE
BEEN AMENDED.
3. EVERY BILL WHICH SHALL HAVE REACHED THE ORDER OF THIRD READING BUT
WHICH SHALL NOT HAVE BEEN ACTED ON BY THE HOUSE BEFORE THE END OF THE
FIRST YEAR OF THE TWO-YEAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION SHALL MAINTAIN ITS PLACE
ON THE ORDER OF THIRD READING UNTIL THE HOUSE SHALL ACT ON SUCH BILL OR
UNTIL THE END OF THE TWO-YEAR LEGISLATIVE SESSION UNLESS SUCH BILL SHALL
HAVE BEEN AMENDED, IN WHICH CASE SUCH BILL MAY BE REFERRED BACK TO A
STANDING COMMITTEE FOR RECONSIDERATION.
4. THE PROVISIONS OF THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO BUDGET BILLS
INTRODUCED BY THE GOVERNOR PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE
CONSTITUTION, BILLS REQUIRING A HOME RULE MESSAGE FROM ONE OR MORE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS PURSUANT TO ARTICLE NINE OF THE CONSTITUTION, CONCURRENT
RESOLUTIONS TO AMEND THE CONSTITUTION PURSUANT TO ARTICLE NINETEEN OF
THE CONSTITUTION OR BILLS SUBJECT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION FIFTY OF
THIS ARTICLE.
S 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date on which it shall have become a law; provided, that the
senate and assembly shall, by concurrent resolution, adopt rules neces-
sary to implement this act within twenty days after such act shall have
become a law.