S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
8233
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
August 25, 2021
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SANTABARBARA -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Judiciary
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 4 of the constitution, in
relation to decreasing the length of the term of office for the gover-
nor and lieutenant-governor to two years; and proposing an amendment
to section 1 of article 5 of the constitution, in relation to the
length of the term for the comptroller and attorney general
Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article
4 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in the governor, who
shall hold office for [four] TWO years; the lieutenant-governor shall be
chosen at the same time, and for the same term. The governor and lieu-
tenant-governor shall be chosen at the general election held in the year
[nineteen hundred thirty-eight] TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-SIX, and each
[fourth] SECOND year thereafter. They shall be chosen jointly, by the
casting by each voter of a single vote applicable to both offices, and
the legislature by law shall provide for making such choice in such
manner. The respective persons having the highest number of votes cast
jointly for them for governor and lieutenant-governor respectively shall
be elected.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 1 of article 5 of
the constitution be amended to read as follows:
Section 1. The comptroller and attorney-general shall be chosen at the
same general election as the governor and hold office for [the same
term] FOUR YEARS, and shall possess the qualifications provided in
section 2 of article IV. The legislature shall provide for filling
vacancies in the office of comptroller and of attorney-general. No
election of a comptroller or an attorney-general shall be had except at
the time of electing a governor. The comptroller shall be required: (1)
to audit all vouchers before payment and all official accounts; (2) to
audit the accrual and collection of all revenues and receipts; and (3)
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89154-01-1
A. 8233 2
to prescribe such methods of accounting as are necessary for the
performance of the foregoing duties. The payment of any money of the
state, or of any money under its control, or the refund of any money
paid to the state, except upon audit by the comptroller, shall be void,
and may be restrained upon the suit of any taxpayer with the consent of
the supreme court in appellate division on notice to the attorney-gener-
al. In such respect the legislature shall define the powers and duties
and may also assign to him or her: (1) supervision of the accounts of
any political subdivision of the state; and (2) powers and duties
pertaining to or connected with the assessment and taxation of real
estate, including determination of ratios which the assessed valuation
of taxable real property bears to the full valuation thereof, but not
including any of those powers and duties reserved to officers of a coun-
ty, city, town or village by virtue of [sections seven and eight]
SECTION ONE of article nine AND SECTION THIRTEEN OF ARTICLE THIRTEEN of
this constitution. The legislature shall assign to him or her no admin-
istrative duties, excepting such as may be incidental to the performance
of these functions, any other provision of this constitution to the
contrary notwithstanding.
§ 3. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing be referred
to the first regular legislative session convening after the next
succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in conform-
ity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for 3
months previous to the time of such election.