Senate Bill S1639

                                 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.