Establishes the definition for legislation; provides that such proposed language shall be presented in a clear and concise manner, be limited to 50 pages and use words that have common everyday meanings.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2857
SPONSOR: Gray TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general construction law, in relation to the defi-
nition of legislation
PURPOSE:
To ensure that all legislation is proposed in language that is clear and
concise.
SUMMARY:
Section 1 amends the general construction law to require that all
proposed legislation be prepared in a manner that is clear and concise.
Section 2 provides the effective date.
JUSTIFICATION: The purpose of this legislation is to ensure that all
proposed legislation be introduced in a manner that is clear and concise
so that the general public can read and understand it in a reasonable
amount of time. Constituents deserve transparency and accountability
from their elected representatives. One way to accomplish this is to
draft proposed laws that are in plain language, using words with common,
everyday meanings, and that the proposals clearly explain to the public
the costs associated with any legislation.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.9359A of 2021-2022; referred to government operations
FISCAL IMPACT:
None.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
2857
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 27, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GRAY -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the general construction law, in relation to the defi-
nition of legislation
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The general construction law is amended by adding a new
2 section 27-a to read as follows:
3 § 27-a. Legislation. The term "legislation" shall refer to any
4 proposed language prepared in accordance with New York state law, the
5 rules of the assembly and the rules of the senate by the New York state
6 legislative bill drafting commission for introduction and passage by the
7 New York state legislature, whether such language be considered consol-
8 idated or unconsolidated for the purposes of enactment. Any such
9 language shall be prepared in a clear and concise manner, be limited to
10 no more than fifty pages, and consist of words having common everyday
11 meanings. The accompanying introducer's memorandum of support shall
12 identify organizations, associations or other non-governmental individ-
13 uals who have contributed to such legislative language and explain the
14 financial cost and expected funding sources for such legislation.
15 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06947-01-3
