S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
9135
I N A S S E M B L Y
February 8, 2024
___________
Introduced by M. of A. McMAHON, STECK -- read once and referred to the
Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to requiring
members of a public body to complete a minimum level of training on
the state's open meetings law and freedom of information law
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The public officers law is amended by adding a new section
79-a to read as follows:
§ 79-A. PUBLIC OFFICERS REQUIRED TRAINING. EACH LOCAL OFFICER, AS
DEFINED BY ARTICLE ONE OF THIS CHAPTER, SHALL COMPLETE NO LESS THAN TWO
HOURS OF TRAINING ANNUALLY, ON THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE OPEN MEETINGS
LAW, AS ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE SEVEN OF THIS CHAPTER, AND THE FREEDOM OF
INFORMATION LAW, AS ESTABLISHED BY ARTICLE SIX OF THIS CHAPTER. ALL
VILLAGE CLERKS, TOWN CLERKS, CITY CLERKS, LEGISLATIVE CLERKS TO A COUNTY
LEGISLATURE OR BOARD OF SUPERVISORS, VILLAGE ATTORNEYS, TOWN ATTORNEYS,
CITY ATTORNEYS, COUNTY ATTORNEYS OR OTHER DESIGNATED ATTORNEYS FOR A
PUBLIC BODY, AND ALL DESIGNATED RECORDS ACCESS OFFICERS AND FOIL APPEAL
OFFICERS SHALL BE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE SUCH TRAINING. SUCH TRAINING
SHALL BE APPROVED BY THE COMMITTEE ON OPEN GOVERNMENT ESTABLISHED UNDER
SECTION ONE HUNDRED NINE OF THIS CHAPTER AND MAY INCLUDE TRAINING
PROVIDED BY A STATE AGENCY, STATEWIDE MUNICIPAL ASSOCIATION, NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION, COLLEGE, OR ANY OTHER SIMILAR ENTITY THE COMMITTEE DEEMS
NECESSARY. SUCH TRAINING MAY BE PROVIDED IN A VARIETY OF FORMATS,
INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ELECTRONIC MEDIA, DISTANCE LEARNING OR
TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM TRAINING. ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST OF
EACH YEAR, THOSE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE SUCH TRAINING SHALL FILE WITH
THEIR DESIGNATED RECORDS ACCESS OFFICER PROOF OF THEIR ATTENDANCE AT ANY
SUCH TRAINING PROGRAMS REQUIRED BY THIS SECTION.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD13545-02-3
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