S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
5913
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 20, 2019
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MALLIOTAKIS -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to vacancies in the
office of comptroller or attorney-general
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Section 41 of the public officers law, as amended by chap-
ter 91 of the laws of 1928, is amended to read as follows:
§ 41. Vacancies [filled by legislature] IN THE OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER
OR ATTORNEY-GENERAL. 1. When a vacancy occurs or exists[, other than by
removal,] in the office of comptroller or attorney-general, [or a resig-
nation of either such officer to take effect at any future day shall
have been made while the legislature is in session, the two houses ther-
eof, by joint ballot, shall appoint a person to fill such actual or
prospective vacancy] THE GOVERNOR SHALL, WITHIN SIXTY DAYS OF SUCH
VACANCY OCCURRING, SET THE DATE FOR A SPECIAL ELECTION TO FILL SUCH
OFFICE. THE DATE SET FOR THE SPECIAL ELECTION SHALL BE NO SOONER THAN
FORTY-FIVE DAYS OR LATER THAN SIXTY DAYS FROM THE PROCLAMATION OF THE
GOVERNOR ESTABLISHING THE ELECTION TO FILL THE VACANCY IN THE OFFICE OF
THE COMPTROLLER OR ATTORNEY-GENERAL. PROVIDED, HOWEVER, THAT IF A VACAN-
CY IN THE OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER OR ATTORNEY-GENERAL OCCURS IN THE SAME
CALENDAR YEAR AS THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED GENERAL ELECTION AT WHICH
THE COMPTROLLER AND ATTORNEY-GENERAL ARE TO BE CHOSEN, NO SPECIAL
ELECTION SHALL BE CALLED.
2. A. IN THE EVENT A VACANCY OCCURS IN THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER,
THE FIRST DEPUTY COMPTROLLER SHALL EXERCISE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE
OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A SPECIAL ELECTION IS HELD
TO ELECT A NEW COMPTROLLER. IN THE EVENT A VACANCY OCCURS IN THE OFFICE
OF THE COMPTROLLER IN THE SAME CALENDAR YEAR AS THE NEXT REGULARLY SCHE-
DULED GENERAL ELECTION AT WHICH SUCH OFFICE IS UP FOR ELECTION, THE
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09946-01-9
A. 5913 2
POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER SHALL BE EXERCISED BY
THE FIRST DEPUTY COMPTROLLER FOR THE REMAINING UNEXPIRED TERM OF OFFICE.
B. IN THE EVENT A VACANCY OCCURS IN THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY-GENER-
AL, THE SOLICITOR GENERAL SHALL EXERCISE THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE
OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL UNTIL SUCH TIME AS A SPECIAL ELECTION IS
HELD TO ELECT A NEW ATTORNEY-GENERAL. IN THE EVENT A VACANCY OCCURS IN
THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL IN THE SAME CALENDAR YEAR AS THE NEXT
REGULARLY SCHEDULED GENERAL ELECTION AT WHICH SUCH OFFICE IS UP FOR
ELECTION, THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL
SHALL BE EXERCISED BY THE SOLICITOR GENERAL FOR THE REMAINING UNEXPIRED
TERM OF OFFICE.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the same date as a "CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section
1 of article 5 of the constitution, in relation to filling vacancies in
the office of comptroller or attorney-general" takes effect.