NY State Senate Bill 2019-S8551

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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Actions

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Date of Action	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jul 08, 2020	to attorney-general for opinion
Jun 12, 2020	referred to rules

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:: Senate Rules
Law Section:: Constitution, Concurrent Resolutions to Amend
Laws Affected:: Amd Art 3 §1, renum Art 20 to be Art 21; add Art 20, Constn

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Provides a process for the legislature to submit certain legislative proposals to the people for a statewide vote prior to enactment.

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                
 
BILL NUMBER: S8551

SPONSOR: MARTINEZ
 
TITLE OF BILL:

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment
to section 1 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to submission
of certain legislation to a statewide vote and adding a new article 20
relating thereto

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This legislation would create a statewide referendum process to allow a
statewide vote on legislatively referred legislation.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1. Amends section 1 of the constitution

Section 2. Creation of a Legislative Referendum; a majority vote of the
Senate and the Assembly may vote to refer such legislation to the

People. Similar to a constitutional amendment, a Legislatively Referred
Referendum must be passed during two separate sessions and go before the
People

Section 3: Provides for effective date

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Civic participation is a right and sacred duty for all New Yorkers.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 26 states
have a process for direct democracy such as referendum or ballot initi-
atives. This legislation will expand participation of citizen's civic
duty by allowing citizens to vote on legislation directly when such
legislation is referred to the citizens by the Legislature.  Similar to
a constitutional amendment or a bond vote, once referred by the Legisla-
ture, citizens would be able to view the policy in entirety before
voting on such potential statute.  Referendums provide opportunities for
average citizens to become more involved in the legislative process and
the many laws that may affect their lives. America was built by the
people and this legislation will allow New Yorkers to empower themselves
and engage in direct democracy. Ultimately, this legislation will lead
to increased political discussion and education on complex political
issues.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

New Bill

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Effective upon approval by two separately elected Legislatures, and
consequently upon approval by the voters after legislative passage.

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8551
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                               June 12, 2020
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. MARTINEZ -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
 
             CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
 
 proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 3 of the constitution, in
   relation to submission of certain legislation to a statewide vote  and
   adding a new article 20 relating thereto

   Section  1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 1 of arti-
 cle 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
   Section 1. [The] EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN ARTICLE  XX  legisla-
 tive power of this state shall be vested in the senate and assembly.
   § 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That article 20 of the consti-
 tution be renumbered article 21 and a new article 20 be added to read as
 follows:
                                ARTICLE XX
                          LEGISLATIVE REFERENDUM
 
   SECTION 1. ANY AMENDMENT TO THE CONSOLIDATED OR UNCONSOLIDATED LAWS OF
 THIS  STATE,  EXCEPT  LAWS IMMEDIATELY NECESSARY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF
 THE PUBLIC PEACE, HEALTH, OR SAFETY, OR FOR THE SUPPORT AND  MAINTENANCE
 OF  THE  DEPARTMENTS OF THE STATE GOVERNMENT AND STATE INSTITUTIONS, MAY
 BE PROPOSED BY A MAJORITY VOTE OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY TO BE RATIFIED
 BY A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORS OF THE STATE. IF THE AMENDMENT  OR  AMEND-
 MENTS  AS PROPOSED OR AS AMENDED SHALL BE AGREED TO BY A MAJORITY OF THE
 MEMBERS ELECTED TO EACH OF THE TWO HOUSES, SUCH  PROPOSED  AMENDMENT  OR
 AMENDMENTS  SHALL  BE  ENTERED  ON THEIR JOURNALS, AND THE AYES AND NOES
 TAKEN THEREON, AND REFERRED TO  THE  NEXT  REGULAR  LEGISLATIVE  SESSION
 CONVENING AFTER THE SUCCEEDING GENERAL ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE ASSEM-
 BLY,  AND  SHALL  BE  PUBLISHED FOR THREE MONTHS PREVIOUS TO THE TIME OF
 MAKING SUCH CHOICE; AND IF IN SUCH LEGISLATIVE  SESSION,  SUCH  PROPOSED
 AMENDMENT  OR  AMENDMENTS  SHALL  BE  AGREED TO BY A MAJORITY OF ALL THE
 MEMBERS ELECTED TO EACH HOUSE, THEN IT SHALL BE THE DUTY OF THE LEGISLA-
 TURE TO SUBMIT EACH PROPOSED AMENDMENT OR AMENDMENTS TO THE  PEOPLE  FOR
 APPROVAL  IN  SUCH  MANNER  AND  AT  SUCH TIMES AS THE LEGISLATURE SHALL
 PRESCRIBE; AND IF THE PEOPLE SHALL APPROVE AND RATIFY SUCH AMENDMENT  OR
 AMENDMENTS  BY A MAJORITY OF THE ELECTORS VOTING THEREON, SUCH AMENDMENT

  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD89160-01-0

 S. 8551                             2

 OR AMENDMENTS SHALL BECOME LAW PURSUANT TO THE EFFECTIVE DATE PRESCRIBED
 BY THE LEGISLATION.
   §  3.  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 three months previous to the time of such election.

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Senate Bill S8551

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Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

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2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Details

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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Sponsored By

Monica R. Martinez

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Rules Committee

Actions

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Details

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Summary

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2019-S8551 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments