Senate Bill S4358

                                BILL NUMBER:S4358

TITLE OF BILL:  An act to amend the executive law, in relation to the
creation of an internet website to discuss and introduce issues and
ideas to the government of this state and to provide for the creation,
viewing and signing of petitions

PURPOSE:  "The People of the State of New York" an internet website
that will allow constituents to: browse open petitions, create
petitions and add signatures to petitions in regards to specific
issues within New York State. If the petition meets the requirement of
2,500 signatures a response must be made by the executive or any state
agency that the executive designates to provide such response.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section 31-a
to read as follows:

§ 31-a. The people of the State of New York; internet website. 1. The
department shall, in consultation with the office of information
technology services, develop and maintain an internet website for the
purpose of providing the people of this state with the opportunity to
voice opinions, create and sign petitions, and otherwise discuss and
introduce issues and ideas to the government of this state. Such
internet website shall be called " The People of the State of New
              

York" and shall use as its model the "we the People" internet website
implemented and maintained by the executive branch of the federal
government. Such internet website shall provide:

a. a platform for the people of this state to create, view, respond to
and sign petitions;

b. a blog maintained by the executive;

c. responses to petitions pursuant to subdivision two of this section;
and

d. any additional information the executive deems relevant.

2. Upon the creation of a petition on the internet website developed
and maintained pursuant to subdivision one of this section, any person
in this state may sign such petition as a method of demonstrating such
person's agreement with the content of such petition.Any petition that
receives two thousand five hundred or more signatures shall be
provided with a response on or before the sixtieth day after such
total of two thousand five hundred signatures was reached. Such
response shall be:

a. made by the executive, or by any state agency that the executive
designates to provide such response;

b. made in writing;

1. c. posted on the The People of State of New York Internet website.


JUSTIFICATION:  Throughout our history, Americans have used petitions
as a way to join together around issues they care about. This new
platform would give all New Yorkers a way to create and sign petitions
on a range of issues affecting our state much like the federal "We the
People Website". If a petition gathers 2,500 online signatures, it
would be reviewed by the executive, or by any state agency that the
executive designates, to provide an official response. It would also
assist our lawmakers in addressing the needs of their constituents by
seeing what the community at large thinks about specific issues.
Giving all New Yorkers a way to engage their government.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: NEW

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
have become a law, provided, however, that effective immediately, the
addition, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary
for the implementation of this act on its effective date. Is
authorized to be made and completed on or before such date.