NY State Senate Bill S1639

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Judiciary Committee

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
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Signed/Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (6)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Feb 15, 2018	opinion referred to judiciary
Jan 12, 2018	to attorney-general for opinion
Jan 03, 2018	referred to judiciary
Feb 10, 2017	opinion referred to judiciary
Jan 13, 2017	to attorney-general for opinion
Jan 10, 2017	referred to judiciary

Co-Sponsors

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A4182
Current Committee:: Senate Judiciary
Law Section:: Constitution, Concurrent Resolutions to Amend
Laws Affected:: Amd Art 4 §3, Constn
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2019-2020: S552, A282
2021-2022: S226, A458
2023-2024: S297, A4409

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Relates to establishing a procedure for the governor's annual message to the legislature regarding the state of the state.

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 BILL NUMBER:  S1639

 TITLE OF BILL :  CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to section 3 of article 4 of the constitution,
in relation to establishing a procedure for the governor's annual
message to the legislature regarding the state of the state

 PURPOSE :

This legislation would require that the Governor's annual State of the
State address be delivered orally in the Assembly Chamber, during the
first week of session, with a quorum of the Senate and the Assembly
present.

 SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS :

Section 1 requires that the Governor's annual State of the State
address be delivered orally in the Assembly Chamber, during the first
week of session, with a quorum of the Senate and the Assembly present.

Section 2 provides for the effective date.

 JUSTIFICATION :

Our public officials have a responsibility to ensure that any process
undertaken using taxpayer dollars is evident, open and transparent.

This openness sends a message to taxpayers that their government is
continuing to operate in the interest of the people it serves. For
example, the federal State of the Union is held annually, in the House
of Representatives, in the same format, and the information being
relayed is easily discernable by the entire Country at the same time.
As the peoples' representatives, we should be a primary conduit
between the Chief Executive recommendations and the citizens.

The NY State Constitution envisioned lawmakers as the target audience
for an annual message from the Governor on the overall well-being of
the State. Prior to 1923 when Governor Alfred E Smith used this
authority to create a State of the State address, governors
traditionally delivered a written message to the Legislature. Yet,
Article 4, Section 3 requires that the Governor "communicate by
message to the Legislature at each Session the condition of the state,
and recommend such matters to it as he or she shall judge expedient".
This leaves too much room for governors to inconsistently change the
venue and method by which the message is delivered, lessening the
opportunity for citizens to remain aware of the overall well-being of
their home State.

The Assembly Chamber, having served as the venue for the State of the
State address for most of the time since Governor Smith's address, is
adequately equipped and recognizable by our citizens as the location
for the event, and has served to keep our citizens informed our
Legislators working together.

 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

This is a new bill.

 FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 LOCAL FISCAL IMPLICATIONS :

None.

 EFFECTIVE DATE :
Resolved (if the HOUSE concurs), That the foregoing amendment be
referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and in
conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf


                    S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________

                                  1639

                       2017-2018 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 10, 2017
                               ___________

Introduced  by  Sen. TEDISCO -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
  printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary

            CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY

proposing an amendment to section 3 of article 4 of the constitution, in
  relation to establishing a procedure for the governor's annual message
  to the legislature regarding the state of the state

  Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 3 of  arti-
cle 4 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
  §  3.  The  governor  shall  be commander-in-chief of the military and
naval forces of the state. The governor shall have power to convene  the
legislature, or the senate only, on extraordinary occasions. At extraor-
dinary  sessions  convened pursuant to the provisions of this section no
subject shall be acted upon, except such as the governor  may  recommend
for  consideration.  The  governor  shall  communicate by message to the
legislature at every session the condition of the state,  and  recommend
such matters to it as he or she shall judge expedient. THE MESSAGE SHALL
BE  DELIVERED  ORALLY  IN THE ASSEMBLY CHAMBER, DURING THE FIRST WEEK OF
LEGISLATIVE SESSION, WITH A QUORUM OF THE ASSEMBLY AND A QUORUM  OF  THE
SENATE  PRESENT. The governor shall expedite all such measures as may be
resolved upon by the legislature, and shall take care that the laws  are
faithfully executed.  The governor shall receive for his or her services
an  annual  salary  to  be  fixed  by joint resolution of the senate and
assembly, and there shall be provided for his or her use a suitable  and
furnished executive residence.
  §  2.  Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendment
be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
next succeeding general election of members of  the  assembly,  and,  in
conformity  with  section  1  of  article  19  of  the  constitution, be
published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.


 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD89073-01-7

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S1639

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Judiciary Committee

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Co-Sponsors

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Details

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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senate Bill S1639

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Sponsored By

James Tedisco

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Judiciary Committee

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Co-Sponsors

Leroy Comrie

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Details

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S1639 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments