S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   2876
 
                        2021-2022 Regular Sessions
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 26, 2021
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by Sen. KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
 
 AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the  text  of  proposed
   constitutional amendments and questions
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Paragraphs a and d of subdivision 1 and subdivisions 2  and
 3 of section 4-108 of the election law, paragraph d of subdivision 1 and
 subdivision  2 as amended by chapter 136 of the laws of 1978, and subdi-
 vision 3 as added by chapter 234 of the laws of  1976,  are  amended  to
 read as follows:
   a.  Whenever any proposed amendment to the constitution or other ques-
 tion provided by law to be  submitted  to  a  statewide  vote  shall  be
 submitted to the people for their approval, the state board of elections
 at least three months prior to the general election at which such amend-
 ment,  proposition or question is to be submitted, shall (I) transmit to
 each county board of elections a certified copy  of  the  text  of  each
 amendment,  proposition or question and a statement of the form in which
 it is to be submitted; AND (II) PUBLISH A  COPY  OF  THE  TEXT  OF  EACH
 AMENDMENT,  PROPOSITION OR QUESTION AND A STATEMENT OF THE FORM IN WHICH
 IT IS TO BE SUBMITTED ON THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS WEBSITE UNTIL  THE
 DAY AFTER THE GENERAL ELECTION OF THAT PARTICULAR YEAR.
   d.  In  addition  to  the  text, AS REQUIRED UNDER PARAGRAPH A OF THIS
 SUBDIVISION, such transmittal shall contain an abstract of such proposed
 amendment, proposition or question, [prepared  by  the  state  board  of
 elections]  concisely  stating the purpose and effect thereof in a clear
 and coherent manner using words with common and everyday meanings.
   2. The form in which the proposed amendment, proposition  or  question
 is to be submitted shall consist of only an abbreviated title indicating
 generally  and  briefly,  and  in  a clear, UNBIASED and coherent manner
 using words with common and [every-day] EVERYDAY meanings,  the  subject
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
              

                                                            LBD01593-02-1

 S. 2876                             2
 
 matter  of the amendment, proposition or question. If more than one such
 amendment, proposition or question is to be voted upon at such election,
 each such amendment, proposition or question respectively shall be sepa-
 rately and consecutively numbered.
   3.  The  attorney general shall [advise in the preparation of] PREPARE
 AND DELIVER such abstract and such form of submission, AS REQUIRED UNDER
 PARAGRAPHS A AND D OF SUBDIVISION ONE OF  THIS  SECTION,  TO  THE  STATE
 BOARD OF ELECTIONS AT LEAST FOUR MONTHS PRIOR TO THE GENERAL ELECTION AT
 WHICH SUCH AMENDMENT, PROPOSITION OR QUESTION IS TO BE SUBMITTED.
   §  2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
 law.