S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
2054--A
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
January 11, 2017
___________
Introduced by Sen. BONACIC -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
ment Operations -- committee discharged, bill amended, ordered
reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend part E of chapter 60 of the laws of 2015, relating to
establishing a commission on legislative, judicial and executive
compensation, and providing for the powers and duties of the commis-
sion, in relation to prohibiting compensation from outside active
employment
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 2 of part E of chapter 60 of the laws of 2015
relating to establishing a commission on legislative, judicial and exec-
utive compensation, and providing for the powers and duties of the
commission is amended to read as follows:
§ 2. 1. On the first of June of every fourth year, commencing June 1,
[2015] 2018, there shall be established a commission on legislative,
judicial and executive compensation to examine, evaluate and make recom-
mendations with respect to adequate levels of compensation and non-sa-
lary benefits for members of the legislature, judges and justices of the
state-paid courts of the unified court system, statewide elected offi-
cials, and those state officers referred to in section 169 of the execu-
tive law.
2. (a) In accordance with the provisions of this section, the commis-
sion shall examine: (1) the prevailing adequacy of pay levels and other
non-salary benefits received by members of the legislature, statewide
elected officials, and those state officers referred to in section 169
of the executive law; and
(2) the prevailing adequacy of pay levels and non-salary benefits
received by the judges and justices of the state-paid courts of the
unified court system and housing judges of the civil court of the city
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04645-02-7
S. 2054--A 2
of New York and determine whether any of such pay levels warrant adjust-
ment; and
(b) The commission shall determine whether: (1) for any of the four
years commencing on the first of April of such years, following the year
in which the commission is established, the annual salaries for the
judges and justices of the state-paid courts of the unified court system
and housing judges of the civil court of the city of New York warrant an
increase; and
(2) on the first of January after the November general election at
which members of the state legislature are elected following the year in
which the commission is established, and on the first of January follow-
ing the next such election, the like annual salaries and allowances of
members of the legislature, and salaries of statewide elected officials
and state officers referred to in section 169 of the executive law
warrant an increase. ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMISSION SHALL DEFINE "OUTSIDE
ACTIVE EMPLOYMENT" AND THE TYPES OF PROHIBITED INCOME FOR MEMBERS OF THE
LEGISLATURE PURSUANT TO SECTION 6-A OF ARTICLE 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION.
3. In discharging its responsibilities under subdivision two of this
section, the commission shall take into account all appropriate factors
including, but not limited to: the overall economic climate; rates of
inflation; changes in public-sector spending; the levels of compensation
and non-salary benefits received by executive branch officials and
legislators of other states and of the federal government; the levels of
compensation and non-salary benefits received by professionals in
government, academia and private and nonprofit enterprise; [and] the
state's ability to fund increases in compensation and non-salary bene-
fits; AND THE DEFINITIONS OF INCOME FROM OUTSIDE ACTIVE EMPLOYMENT
UTILIZED BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS AND OTHER STATE LEGISLATURES
WHERE APPLICABLE.
§ 2. Paragraph 7 of section 3 of part E of chapter 60 of the laws of
2015 relating to establishing a commission on legislative, judicial and
executive compensation, and providing for the powers and duties of the
commission is amended to read as follows:
7. The commission shall make a report to the governor, the legislature
and the chief judge of the state of its findings, conclusions, determi-
nations and recommendations, if any, not later than the thirty-first of
December of the year in which the commission is established for judicial
compensation and the fifteenth of November the following year for
[legislative and] executive compensation AND LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION
AND PROHIBITED INCOME FROM OUTSIDE ACTIVE EMPLOYMENT. Any findings,
conclusions, determinations and recommendations in the report must be
adopted by a majority vote of the commission and findings, conclusions,
determinations and recommendations with respect to executive [and legis-
lative] compensation AND LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION AND PROHIBITED INCOME
FROM OUTSIDE ACTIVE EMPLOYMENT shall also be supported by at least one
member appointed by each appointing authority. Each recommendation made
to implement a determination pursuant to section two of this act shall
have the force of law, and shall supersede, where appropriate, incon-
sistent provisions of article 7-B of the judiciary law, section 169 of
the executive law, and sections 5 and 5-a of the legislative law, unless
modified or abrogated by statute prior to April first of the year as to
which such determination applies to judicial compensation and January
first of the year as to which such determination applies to [legislative
and] executive compensation AND LEGISLATIVE COMPENSATION AND PROHIBITED
INCOME FROM OUTSIDE ACTIVE EMPLOYMENT.
S. 2054--A 3
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
ing the date upon which the people shall approve and ratify amendments
to Article III of the constitution by a majority of the electors voting
thereon, as proposed by legislative bill number S.2056 of 2017.