NY State Senate Bill S6805

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

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

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Actions

view actions (7)

	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 09, 2020	referred to transportation delivered to assembly passed senate ordered to third reading cal.4 reported and committed to rules
Jan 08, 2020	referred to elections
Oct 25, 2019	referred to rules

Votes

view votes

Jan 9, 2020 - floor Vote

S6805

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Jan 9, 2020 - Elections committee Vote

S6805

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

show Elections committee vote details

Elections Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

aye (5)

aye wr (2)

Jan 9, 2020 - Rules committee Vote

S6805

committee

Aye

Nay

Aye with Reservations

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Jan 8, 2020 - floor Vote

S6805

floor

Aye

Nay

Absent

Excused

Abstained

Co-Sponsors

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A9706
Current Committee:: Assembly Transportation
Law Section:: Highway Law
Laws Affected:: Add §332, Hway L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:: 2017-2018: S7369
2021-2022: S262, A4505
2023-2024: S2388

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Authorizes variable message signs placed within the right of way of highways to display certain voting related communications; provides that no such communications shall be displayed if advised by the United States Department of Transportation or any of its agencies that the display of such information will interfere with federal law or regulation or result in the reduction of federal aid highway funds.

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

 
BILL NUMBER: S6805             Revised 1/10/2020

SPONSOR: MYRIE
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the highway law, in relation to authorizing variable
message signs placed within the right of way of highways to display
certain voting related communications

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

This bill authorizes the commissioner of the Department of Transporta-
tion ("DOT") and local municipalities to place variable message signs
along highways that display election and voting related messages during
certain times of the year.

 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:

Section one adds a new section 332 to the Highway Law providing the
Department of Transportation Commissioner with authority to place vari-
able message boards with election and voting related messages along any
highway under which the state has jurisdiction. The term "variable

message boards" is defined within the bill. Such signs could display
messages including, without limitation:

(1) notice of the deadline to register to vote beginning five days
before such deadline; and

(2) notice of any upcoming primary, general, or special election for any
statewide election beginning three days before said election and includ-
ing said day.

The section also authorizes any political subdivision within the state
to place variable message signs displaying the above referenced voting
related on local highways as well, subject to the restrictions above.

The commissioner of DOT and local municipalities shall consult with the
State Board of Elections prior to displaying voter related communi-
cations to ensure such communications are uniform and accurate.

The bill also provides DOT with flexibility to give priority to any
other message sign communications, including, but not limited to emer-
gency alerts, amber alerts, missing vulnerable adult alerts, as well as
other transportation related messages.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

This bill would authorize the state and local municipalities to display
voting notification related signs during key times in an election cycle.
New York's voter participation rates continue to lag behind other states
in the union. This proposal will increase voter awareness at a minimal
cost.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

S.7369 of 2018 sponsored by Senator Dilan 1/10/2018 - referred to Trans-
portation committee

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
Minimal; the equipment to display such signs is already owned by the
state and local political subdivisions.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law. The department of transportation and state board of
elections are both authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations
necessary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date
or before such date.

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

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

                                  6805

                       2019-2020 Regular Sessions

                            I N  S E N A T E

                            October 25, 2019
                               ___________

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

AN ACT to amend the highway law, in  relation  to  authorizing  variable
  message  signs  placed  within the right of way of highways to display
  certain voting related communications

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

  Section  1.  The highway law is amended by adding a new section 332 to
read as follows:
  § 332. VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS; VOTING RELATED COMMUNICATIONS. (A)  THE
COMMISSIONER IS AUTHORIZED TO PLACE, CAUSE TO BE PLACED, OR PERMIT TO BE
PLACED  PERMANENT OR PORTABLE VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS WITHIN THE RIGHT OF
WAY OF ANY HIGHWAY OVER WHICH HE OR  SHE  HAS  JURISDICTION,  DISPLAYING
VOTING RELATED COMMUNICATIONS INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION:
  (I) NOTICE OF THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE BEGINNING THE FIFTH DAY
PRIOR  TO  THE  RESPECTIVE  DEADLINE  FOR A STATEWIDE PRIMARY OR GENERAL
ELECTION; AND
  (II) NOTICE OF ANY STATEWIDE GENERAL, PRIMARY, OR SPECIAL ELECTION FOR
ANY STATEWIDE PUBLIC OFFICE, BEGINNING THREE DAYS PRIOR TO AND INCLUDING
ELECTION DAY.
  (B) PROVIDED THAT IT DOES NOT INTERFERE WITH STATE OR FEDERAL  LAW  OR
REGULATION,  ANY  POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE HAVING JURISDICTION
OVER ANY HIGHWAY IS AUTHORIZED TO PLACE, CAUSE TO BE PLACED,  OR  PERMIT
TO  BE  PLACED  PERMANENT  OR PORTABLE VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS DISPLAYING
VOTING RELATED COMMUNICATIONS WITHIN THE RIGHT OF WAY OF  SUCH  HIGHWAY,
INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION:
  (I) NOTICE OF THE DEADLINE TO REGISTER TO VOTE BEGINNING THE FIFTH DAY
PRIOR  TO  THE  RESPECTIVE  DEADLINE  FOR A STATEWIDE PRIMARY OR GENERAL
ELECTION; AND

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD14043-01-9

S. 6805                             2

  (II) NOTICE OF ANY STATEWIDE GENERAL, PRIMARY, OR SPECIAL ELECTION FOR
ANY STATEWIDE PUBLIC OFFICE, BEGINNING THREE DAYS PRIOR TO AND INCLUDING
ELECTION DAY.
  (C)  THE COMMISSIONER SHALL CONSULT THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS PRIOR
TO DISPLAYING VOTING RELATED COMMUNICATIONS TO ENSURE THAT SUCH COMMUNI-
CATIONS ARE UNIFORM AND ACCURATE. ANY POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE
HAVING JURISDICTION OVER ANY HIGHWAY SHALL CONSULT THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
ELECTIONS  PRIOR  TO  DISPLAYING VOTING RELATED COMMUNICATIONS TO ENSURE
THAT SUCH COMMUNICATIONS ARE UNIFORM AND ACCURATE.
  (D) FOR PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION, THE TERM  "VARIABLE  MESSAGE  SIGNS"
SHALL INCLUDE CHANGEABLE MESSAGE SIGNS AS ADOPTED BY THE FEDERAL HIGHWAY
SAFETY  ADMINISTRATION'S  MANUAL  ON  UNIFORM  TRAFFIC  CONTROL DEVICES,
DYNAMIC MESSAGE SIGNS DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE  NATIONAL  TRANSPORTATION
COMMUNICATION FOR ITS PROTOCOL, AND VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGNS AS DEFINED BY
THE COMMISSIONER.
  (E)  THE  COMMISSIONER MAY GIVE PRIORITY TO OTHER APPROPRIATE VARIABLE
MESSAGE SIGN COMMUNICATIONS, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE  DISPLAY
OF  EMERGENCY  ALERTS,  AMBER  ALERTS,  MISSING VULNERABLE ADULT ALERTS,
MISSING OR EXPLOITED CHILDREN ALERTS AND  OTHER  TRANSPORTATION  RELATED
MESSAGES, OVER THE COMMUNICATIONS AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION.
  §  2.  No information authorized to be displayed on a variable message
sign pursuant to section 332 of the highway law as  added  by  this  act
shall  be displayed if advised by the United States Department of Trans-
portation or any of its agencies that the display  of  such  information
will interfere with federal law or regulation or result in the reduction
of federal aid highway funds.
  §  3.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
have become a law. The department of transportation and state  board  of
elections  are authorized to promulgate any rules and regulations neces-
sary to implement the provisions of this act on its effective date on or
before such date.

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The New York State Senate

senate Bill S6805

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

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Votes

Jan 9, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 9, 2020 - Elections committee Vote

Elections Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 9, 2020 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 8, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jan 8, 2020

Co-Sponsors

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Details

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments

senate Bill S6805

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Archive: Last Bill Status - Passed Senate

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Votes

Jan 9, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 9, 2020 - Elections committee Vote

Elections Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 9, 2020 - Rules committee Vote

Rules Committee Vote: Jan 9, 2020

Jan 8, 2020 - floor Vote

Floor Vote: Jan 8, 2020

Co-Sponsors

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Details

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Summary

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

S6805 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

Comments