NY State Senate Bill S2975

Archive: Last Bill Status - Vetoed by Governor

Introduced
In Committee
On Floor Calendar
- Passed Senate
- Passed Assembly
Delivered to Governor
Vetoed by Governor

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Actions

view actions (13)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Nov 25, 2019	vetoed memo.160
Nov 19, 2019	delivered to governor
Jun 03, 2019	returned to senate passed assembly ordered to third reading cal.471 substituted for a473
May 20, 2019	referred to governmental operations delivered to assembly passed senate
May 06, 2019	advanced to third reading
May 01, 2019	2nd report cal.
Apr 30, 2019	1st report cal.483
Jan 31, 2019	referred to finance

Votes

Co-Sponsors

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A473
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Add §100-a, Exec L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2009-2010: A10052
2011-2012: A73
2013-2014: A489
2015-2016: A1163, A9458
2017-2018: A2568
2021-2022: A843

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Requires the secretary of state to compile, make public and keep current certain information about state boards.

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S2975

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to information on state
boards

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

To create a centralized compilation of information about state boards
that will be available to the public.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1: Amends the executive law by adding a new section 100-A which
defines "board" and requires the Secretary of State to maintain a compi-
lation of the membership, duties, meeting and contact information, and
products of all state boards. The Secretary of State must keep such
inventory in a public record available on the Department of State
website.

This section also provides that all boards, or the state agencies they
advise, shall annually submit to the Secretary of State all information
needed to facilitate these publication requirements, and that the Secre-
tary of State must update the list annually.

This section provides that all boards, or the state agencies they
advise, must also provide to the Secretary of State on an annual basis
all costs associated with these boards for the prior year, and antic-
ipated costs for the coming year. The public can then access this infor-
mation upon request of the Secretary of State.

Finally, the Secretary of State is directed to report to the governor,
speaker of the assembly, temporary president of the senate, chair of the
assembly oversight, investigations and analysis committee, and chair of
the senate investigations and government operations committee on the
status of the inventory on or before June 1, 2020.

Section 2: Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

No complete public inventory of state commissions, boards, councils,
task forces, or similar bodies exists in New York. As a result, it is
difficult, if not impossible, for New Yorkers to have an understanding
of existing boards, their composition, purpose or legal responsibil-
ities. The Committee on Oversight, Analysis & Investigation recently
completed a review of more than one hundred statutorily authorized
boards, task forces, and commissions. The review found that only about
half have information online, only thirty percent listed public meet-
ings, and only forty-five had percent contact information was readily
available.

Forty-one states have some form of centralized compilation or list of
state boards. This legislation would bring New York in line with the
majority of states which already provide this information to their citi-
zens and enable New Yorkers to easily find information about boards.

Overall, this is an important step in improving accountability and
increasing government transparency. This information is critically
important to enable oversight authorities to make recommendations on
merging boards with duplicative duties and purposes or eliminate
nonfunctioning boards. Since being vetoed in 2010, executive action
through the SAGE Commission has helped address some of the issues but
failed to reach the level of transparency that a list of all commissions
would provide. Any costs for creating transparency far outweighed by the
potential cost saving of consolidation and the positive societal bene-
fits of transparency.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

A.2568 of 2017 and 2018, referred to governmental operations.
A.9458 of 2016, referred to governmental operations.
A.1163, same as S.1622 of 2015 was vetoed.
A.489A of 2013 and 2014 was referred to governmental operations.
A.73A of 2012 was referred to governmental operations.
A.10052A of 2010 passed both houses.
S.2526 of 2013 and 2014, passed senate both years.
S.24058, of 2012 passed senate.
S.7369 of 2010 passed both houses.
In 2010 the bill was vetoed, Veto No. 6807 of 2010.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

Minimal

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first of April next succeeding the
date on which it becomes law.

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf


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

                                  2975

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            January 31, 2019
                               ___________

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

AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to information  on  state
  boards

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The executive law is amended by adding a new section  100-a
to read as follows:
  §  100-A.  INFORMATION  ON  STATE  BOARDS.  1. AS USED IN THIS SECTION
"BOARD" MEANS ANY BOARD, COMMISSION, COMMITTEE, COUNCIL, TASK  FORCE  OR
ANY SIMILAR STATE PUBLIC ORGANIZATION, REQUIRED TO BE ESTABLISHED PURSU-
ANT  TO STATE STATUTES OR EXECUTIVE ORDER, FOR THE EXERCISE OF ANY FUNC-
TION OF STATE GOVERNMENT AND TO WHICH MEMBERS ARE APPOINTED OR  ELECTED.
"BOARD" DOES NOT INCLUDE:
  A.  ANY  INFORMAL  ADVISORY  ORGANIZATION ESTABLISHED EXCLUSIVELY BY A
STATE AGENCY TO ADVISE THE COMMISSIONER, SECRETARY, OR DIRECTOR OF  THAT
AGENCY ON AN INFORMAL BASIS;
  B. ANY JOINT STANDING COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE OR ANY COMMITTEE OF
THE  ASSEMBLY AND/OR SENATE COMPOSED ENTIRELY OF MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLA-
TURE;
  C. ANY COURT;
  D. THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF ANY INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION FINAN-
CIALLY SUPPORTED IN WHOLE OR IN PART BY THE STATE;
  E. ANY ENTITY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT;
  F. ANY PUBLIC AUTHORITY OR PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION, A  MAJORITY  OF
WHOSE  MEMBERS  ARE  APPOINTED  BY  THE  GOVERNOR OR SERVE AS MEMBERS BY
VIRTUE OF HOLDING STATE OFFICES TO WHICH  THEY  WERE  APPOINTED  BY  THE
GOVERNOR, OR ANY COMBINATION THEREOF; AND
  G. ANY BOARD OF ELECTIONS.
  2.  THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL MAINTAIN A COMPILATION OF THE MEMBER-
SHIP AND MEETING INFORMATION OF ALL STATE BOARDS, INCLUDING STATE BOARDS

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

                                                           LBD03770-01-9

S. 2975                             2

ESTABLISHED AFTER THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS SECTION. THE  SECRETARY  OF
STATE  MUST  KEEP  SUCH  INVENTORY  IN  A  PUBLIC  RECORD  AVAILABLE FOR
INSPECTION, AND UPDATED ANNUALLY ON THE  DEPARTMENT  OF  STATE  WEBSITE.
SUCH COMPILATION SHALL INCLUDE, BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
  A.  STATUTORY  LANGUAGE,  EXECUTIVE ORDER OR OTHER LEGAL BASIS FOR THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF SUCH BOARD;
  B. PUBLIC  INFORMATION  INCLUDING  DEPARTMENTAL  AFFILIATION,  CONTACT
ADDRESS, PHONE NUMBER, AND WEBSITE;
  C. A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PURPOSE OF THE BOARD AND ITS STATUTORILY
REQUIRED DUTIES, INCLUDING REQUIRED REPORTS OR OTHER PRODUCTS;
  D.  THE SIZE OF BOARD MEMBERSHIP, CURRENT MEMBER NAMES, AND ANY QUALI-
FICATIONS;
  E. WHETHER MEMBERS OF A BOARD ARE ELIGIBLE FOR PAYMENT OF EXPENSES  OR
OTHER COMPENSATION IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THEIR DUTIES AS MEMBERS OF THAT
BOARD;
  F. DATES AND LOCATIONS OF ALL MEETINGS HELD, AND TO BE HELD WITHIN SIX
MONTHS; AND
  G. ANY OTHER INFORMATION THE SECRETARY OF STATE MAY REQUIRE.
  3.  THE  SECRETARY  OF STATE SHALL UPDATE ON AN ANNUAL BASIS BEGINNING
APRIL FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO ON THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE WEBSITE,
ALL VACANCIES, EXPIRED TERMS, THOSE TERMS EXPIRING WITHIN ONE YEAR,  AND
THE PROCESS FOR FILLING SUCH VACANCIES ON SUCH BOARDS.
  4. EACH BOARD OR THE STATE AGENCY THAT PROVIDES ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT
OR  IS  OTHERWISE  AFFILIATED  WITH  A BOARD SHALL ANNUALLY ON OR BEFORE
JANUARY FIRST, SUBMIT TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE ALL INFORMATION PURSUANT
TO THIS SECTION IN A MANNER SPECIFIED  BY  THE  SECRETARY  OF  STATE  TO
FACILITATE   THE   PUBLICATION  REQUIREMENTS  OF  THIS  SECTION.    EACH
SUBMISSION SHALL ALSO INCLUDE INFORMATION ON COMPENSATION  AND  EXPENSES
INCURRED  IN  THE  PRIOR  AND CURRENT FISCAL YEARS, AS WELL AS PROJECTED
COSTS FOR THE COMING FISCAL YEAR.
  5. THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHALL RECEIVE FROM ANY DEPARTMENT, DIVISION,
BOARD, BUREAU, COMMISSION OR OTHER AGENCY OF THE STATE  ANY  INFORMATION
AND  RESOURCES  AS  WILL  ENABLE  HIM  OR  HER TO PROPERLY CARRY OUT THE
PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION.
  6. ON OR BEFORE JUNE FIRST, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO, THE SECRETARY  OF
STATE  SHALL  REPORT  TO  THE GOVERNOR, THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY, THE
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, THE CHAIR OF THE ASSEMBLY  OVERSIGHT,
ANALYSIS  AND INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE AND THE CHAIR OF THE SENATE INVES-
TIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS  COMMITTEE  ON  THE  STATUS  OF  THE
INVENTORY INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE NUMBER OF BOARDS REPORTED AND
VERIFIED;  AND  THE CONTENT AND COMPLETENESS OF THE INFORMATION GATHERED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION. THE SECRETARY SHALL
ALSO REPORT ON ANY IMPEDIMENTS TO OBTAINING INFORMATION.
  § 2. This act shall take effect on the first of April next  succeeding
the date on which it shall have become a law.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S2975

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Vetoed by Governor

Your Voice

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Votes

May 20, 2019 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 20, 2019

Apr 30, 2019 - Finance committee Vote

Finance Committee Vote: Apr 30, 2019

Co-Sponsors

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Details

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S2975

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Sponsored By

James Skoufis

Archive: Last Bill Status - Vetoed by Governor

Your Voice

Actions

Votes

May 20, 2019 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: May 20, 2019

Apr 30, 2019 - Finance committee Vote

Finance Committee Vote: Apr 30, 2019

Co-Sponsors

David Carlucci

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Details

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S2975 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments