Senate Passes "Sunshine Week" Bill to Increase Public Access to Legislative Proceedings

The New York State Senate today passed legislation that would require both houses to implement the Senate’s policy of making state legislative proceedings more open and transparent. The bill (S1909A), sponsored by Senator Carl L. Marcellino (R, Syosset), requires the webcasting and archiving of Senate and Assembly committees and hearings, along with the online posting of votes taken in committees or on the floor.

Senator Marcellino said, “It is extremely important to have transparency in government in order to ensure public trust and participation. This legislation promotes accountability by allowing the concerned public to follow day-to-day activities of the State Legislature as well as their elected representatives’ actions, showing them how and why decisions are made.”

The Senate website - http://www.nysenate.gov/ - already enables the public to learn more about their legislative representatives and also includes archived videos of session and committee meetings, and committee and floor vote records. The bill passed today would require both houses to post this information on their respective websites.

The bill will be sent to the Assembly.