Jacobs Votes To Require Term Limits For Senate and Assembly Leadership

(ALBANY, NY) New York State Senator Chris Jacobs (SD-60) yesterday voted on an important government reform bill that would put into law eight-year term limits for leadership positions in the Senate and Assembly.  The bill, of which Jacobs was a co-sponsor, limits the number of years a legislator can serve as a leader or committee chair.

“I have been a strong proponent of government reform that promotes accountability and transparency.  This bill accomplishes that,” said Jacobs.  “By limiting the terms of the leaders in both the Senate and the Assembly, as well as the terms of committee chairs, more members of the legislature will have a more active role and infuse new ideas and perspectives into public policy debates.”

The bill limits the tenure of the Temporary President of the Senate, Speaker of the Assembly, and minority leaders of both houses to eight years.  Legislative committee chairs would also be limited to serving no more than eight consecutive years.

The bill will now be sent to the Assembly, where it is sponsored by Assemblywoman Sandy Galef (A6109).

Immediately after being sworn into office in January, Jacobs introduced S676 that would limit the length a member of the New York Assembly or Senate, Governor, Comptroller and Attorney General could be in office to no more than 12 years.

“I made a pledge to residents of Erie County to push for term limits if elected, and I wanted the first piece of legislation I offered on my first day in office to be just that,” said Jacobs. “The bill we passed today keeps with the spirit of my pledge and will apply the same principles to the legislature’s leadership and committee chairs.”