SUBJECT:

PURPOSE:

The United States Constitution requires that congressional and state legislative district boundaries be redrawn every ten years in a manner reflecting population shifts identified by the Federal census, a process referred to as "redistricting and reapportionment." In New York State, the state legislature, pursuant to statute, is responsible for meeting this constitutional requirement. These hearings will examine if the current process, which relies on a bipartisan legislative task force, which consists of members of both the Senate and the Assembly, to hold hearings and recommend legislation, should be retained or altered in order to ensure that a fair and efficient process for creating election districts is in place before the next reapportionment following the 2010 census. Further, the hearings will consider proposals for changes to the reapportionment process and evaluate improvements that would more closely conform the New York State system to the requirements of the federal Voting Rights Act, United State Department of Justice rulings, and other federally mandated requirements. Bills pending in the Assembly on this issue include: A.624 (Brodsky); A.2056 (Galef); and A.6287-a (Gianaris).

Persons wishing to present pertinent testimony to the Committee at the above hearings should complete and return the reply form as soon as possible. It is important that the reply form be fully completed and returned so that persons may be notified in the event of emergency postponement or cancellation.

Oral testimony will be limited to ten minutes' duration. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committee would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements.

In order to further publicize these hearings, please inform interested parties and organizations of the Committee's interest in hearing testimony from all sources.

In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Assembly, in accordance with its policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Assembly facilities and activities.

PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM

Persons wishing to present testimony at the public hearings on Reapportionment are requested to complete this reply form as soon as possible and mail it to:

Nichole Hedglin
Committee Assistant
Assembly Committee on Governmental Operations
Alfred E. Smith State Office Building, 22nd Floor
Phone: (518) 455-4355
Fax: (518) 455-7250

I will address my remarks to the following subjects:

I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required: