NY State Senate Bill 2023-S8116

Senate Bill S8116

2023-2024 Legislative Session

In relation to enrollment eligibility for election officials in the address confidentiality program

download bill text pdf

Current Bill Status - In Senate Committee Investigations And Government Operations Committee

Introduced
- In Committee Assembly
- In Committee Senate
- On Floor Calendar Assembly
- On Floor Calendar Senate
- Passed Assembly
- Passed Senate
Delivered to Governor
Signed By Governor

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	Assembly Actions - Lowercase Senate Actions - UPPERCASE
Jan 08, 2024	referred to investigations and government operations

2023-S8116 (ACTIVE) - Details

See Assembly Version of this Bill:: A3240
Current Committee:: Senate Investigations And Government Operations
Law Section:: Executive Law
Laws Affected:: Amd §108, Exec L

2023-S8116 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Permits enrollment in the address confidentiality program for election officers.

2023-S8116 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

                                 
BILL NUMBER: S8116REVISED 5/1/2024

SPONSOR: SKOUFIS
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the executive law, in relation to enrollment eligibility
for election officials in the address confidentiality program

 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:

In relation to enrollment eligibility for election officials in the
address confidentiality program.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section one amends the opening paragraph of section 108 of the executive
law to authorize election officers to apply for the address confiden-
tiality program.

Section two amends clause (A) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of
subdivision 2 and subdivision 3 of section 108 of the executive law to
oblige the secretary of state to designate county board of elections to

assist election officers in applying for the address confidentiality
program.

Section three amends subdivision 1 of section 108 of the executive law
to designate an election officer as having the same meaning as set forth
in section 1-104 of the election law.

Section four amends clause (B) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of
subdivision 2 of section 108 of the executive law to exempt election
officers from being required to leave their previous homes in order to
qualify for the address confidentiality program.

Section five amends subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2
of section 108 of the executive law to include election officers on the
list of those who qualify for the address confidentiality program.

Section six provides the immediate effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

Following the 2020 elections, national political figures attempted to
delegitimize and deny the results of the election. Because of these
efforts, significant attention turned to state and local election offi-
cials from both parties who upheld the integrity of the election
results. One month after the 2020 election, a New York Times report
documented chilling threats of death or violence aimed at state election
officials, local election supervisors, and voting machine technicians.

Threats aimed at election officials have continued beyond 2020. In 2021,
a Reuters report documented more than 100 threats of death or violence
that targeted election workers and officials. These threats have taken a
toll on election officials throughout the country, and a report released
by the California Voter Foundation found that trauma, stress, and anxie-
ty were - frequently experienced by those targeted by threats. Addi-
tionally, a survey conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice, found
that one in five election officials are considering leaving their roles
by 2024, in light of increasing threats and harassment. The loss of
election officials who safeguard the integrity of elections would put
further strain on future elections in New York State.

Considering the crucial role that election officials play in maintaining
the integrity of our democracy, this legislation aims to better protect
the safety of election officials and their families by allowing such
officials to apply for the address confidentiality program.

 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

This is a new bill.

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:

TBD.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect immediately.

2023-S8116 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                             
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   8116
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                              January 8, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
   printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Govern-
   ment Operations
 
 AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to enrollment eligibility
   for election officials in the address confidentiality program
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1. The opening paragraph of section 108 of the executive law,
 as separately amended by chapters 222 and 521 of the laws  of  2022,  is
 amended to read as follows:
   There  is created in the office of the secretary of state a program to
 be known as the "address confidentiality program" to protect victims  of
 domestic  violence, victims of human trafficking, victims of kidnapping,
 victims of a sexual offense, victims  of  stalking,  [and]  reproductive
 health  care  services  providers,  employees,  volunteers, patients, or
 immediate family members of reproductive health care services providers,
 AND ELECTION OFFICERS by authorizing the use of designated addresses for
 such [victims] INDIVIDUALS and their minor children. The  program  shall
 be administered by the secretary of state.
   §  2. Clause (A) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision 2
 and subdivision 3 of section 108 of the  executive  law,  as  separately
 amended by chapters 222 and 521 of the laws of 2022, are amended to read
 as follows:
   (A)  the  applicant,  or  the  minor  or incapacitated person on whose
 behalf the application is made, is a victim of domestic violence, victim
 of human trafficking, victim of kidnapping, victim of a sexual  offense,
 victim  of  stalking, [or] a reproductive health care services provider,
 employee, volunteer, patient, or an immediate family member of a  repro-
 ductive health care services provider, OR AN ELECTION OFFICER;
   3.  Designation  of agencies to assist applicants. The secretary shall
 designate state, local or nonprofit agencies  that  provide  counseling,
 referral,  shelter  or other specialized services to victims of domestic
 violence, victims of human trafficking, victims of  kidnapping,  victims
 of  a  sexual offense, victims of stalking, and reproductive health care
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.

                                                            LBD03118-01-3
 S. 8116                             2
 
 services providers, employees, volunteers, patients, or immediate family
 members of reproductive health care services providers to assist persons
 applying to be program participants. THE SECRETARY SHALL DESIGNATE COUN-
 TY  BOARDS  OF  ELECTIONS  TO ASSIST ELECTION OFFICERS IN APPLYING TO BE
 PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. Such persons providing assistance shall be trained
 by the secretary. Any assistance and counseling rendered by  an  officer
 of  the  secretary or his or her designees to applicants shall in no way
 be construed as legal advice.
   § 3. Subdivision 1 of section 108 of the executive law is  amended  by
 adding a new paragraph (o) to read as follows:
   (O)  "ELECTION  OFFICER"  SHALL  HAVE THE SAME MEANING AS SET FORTH IN
 SECTION 1-104 OF THE ELECTION LAW.
   § 4. Clause (B) of subparagraph (i) of paragraph (a) of subdivision  2
 of  section  108  of the executive law, as amended by chapter 222 of the
 laws of 2022, is amended to read as follows:
   (B) the applicant, or the  minor  or  incapacitated  person  on  whose
 behalf the application is made, has left his or her residence because of
 such violence or acts, provided, however, this clause shall not apply if
 the applicant is a reproductive health care services provider, employee,
 volunteer,  patient,  or  an  immediate  family member of a reproductive
 health care services provider, OR AN ELECTION OFFICER;
   § 5. Subparagraph (iv) of paragraph (a) of subdivision  2  of  section
 108 of the executive law, as amended by chapter 222 of the laws of 2022,
 is amended to read as follows:
   (iv)  the  actual address or addresses that the applicant requests not
 be disclosed because of the increased risk of domestic violence, a sexu-
 al offense, stalking, physical injury or in  the  case  of  reproductive
 health care services provider, employee, volunteer, patient, or an imme-
 diate  family member of a reproductive health care services provider, OR
 AN ELECTION OFFICER, other threats of violence; and
   § 6. This act shall take effect immediately.

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