STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6523
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 5, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. K. BROWN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Local Governments
AN ACT to amend the town law and the village law, in relation to requir-
ing certain municipal positions take continuing legal education cours-
es
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The town law is amended by adding a new section 51-a to
2 read as follows:
3 § 51-a. Continuing legal education requirements for members of a town
4 board. 1. Each member of a town board shall complete six credit hours of
5 accredited continuing legal education courses in ethics within one year
6 of such member's election to such town board. The six hours of accred-
7 ited continuing legal education courses in ethics shall be completed in
8 one hour increments.
9 2. Members of such town board shall complete six credit hours of
10 accredited continuing legal education courses in ethics annually there-
11 after. The six credit hours of accredited continuing legal education
12 courses in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments.
13 § 2. The town law is amended by adding a new section 60-b to read as
14 follows:
15 § 60-b. Continuing legal education requirements for members of a town
16 board. 1. Each member of a town board shall complete six credit hours of
17 accredited continuing legal education courses in ethics within one year
18 of such member's election to such town board. The six hours of accred-
19 ited continuing legal education courses in ethics shall be completed in
20 one hour increments.
21 2. Members of such town board shall complete six credit hours of
22 accredited continuing legal education courses in ethics annually there-
23 after. The six credit hours of accredited continuing legal education
24 courses in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10234-01-5
A. 6523 2
1 § 3. Subdivision 7-a of section 267 of the town law is amended by
2 adding a new paragraph (a-1) to read as follows:
3 (a-1) (i) In addition to the training required pursuant to paragraph
4 (a) of this subdivision, each member of the zoning board of appeals
5 shall complete, at a minimum, six credit hours of accredited continuing
6 legal education courses in ethics within one year of such member's
7 appointment to the zoning board of appeals. The six hours of accredited
8 continuing legal education courses in ethics shall be completed in one
9 hour increments. Such training shall be approved by the town board and
10 may include, but not be limited to, training provided by a municipality,
11 regional or county planning office or commission, county planning feder-
12 ation, state agency, statewide municipal association, college or other
13 similar entity. Training may be provided in a variety of formats,
14 including but not limited to, electronic media, video, distance learning
15 and traditional classroom training.
16 (ii) Members of the zoning board of appeals shall complete six credit
17 hours of accredited continuing legal education courses in ethics annual-
18 ly thereafter. The six credit hours of accredited continuing legal
19 education courses in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments,
20 in the same format as provided in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.
21 § 4. Subdivision 7-a of section 271 of the town law is amended by
22 adding a new paragraph a-1 to read as follows:
23 a-1. (i) In addition to the training required pursuant to paragraph a
24 of this subdivision, each member of the planning board shall complete,
25 at a minimum, six credit hours of accredited continuing legal education
26 courses in ethics within one year of such member's appointment to the
27 planning board. The six hours of accredited continuing legal education
28 courses in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments. Such train-
29 ing shall be approved by the town board and may include, but not be
30 limited to, training provided by a municipality, regional or county
31 planning office or commission, county planning federation, state agency,
32 statewide municipal association, college or other similar entity.
33 Training may be provided in a variety of formats, including but not
34 limited to, electronic media, video, distance learning and traditional
35 classroom training.
36 (ii) Members of the planning board shall complete six credit hours of
37 accredited continuing legal education courses in ethics annually there-
38 after. The six credit hours of accredited continuing legal education
39 courses in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments, in the same
40 format as provided in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.
41 § 5. Section 4-412 of the village law is amended by adding a new
42 subdivision 4 to read as follows:
43 4. Continuing legal education requirements for members of a village
44 board of trustees. a. Each member of a board of trustees shall complete
45 six credit hours of accredited continuing legal education courses in
46 ethics within one year of such member's election to the village board of
47 trustees. The six hours of accredited continuing legal education courses
48 in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments.
49 b. Members of such board of trustees shall complete six credit hours
50 of accredited continuing legal education courses in ethics annually
51 thereafter. The six credit hours of accredited continuing legal educa-
52 tion courses in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments.
53 § 6. Subdivision 7-a of section 7-712 of the village law is amended by
54 adding a new paragraph (a-1) to read as follows:
55 (a-1) (i) In addition to the training required pursuant to paragraph
56 (a) of this subdivision, each member of the zoning board of appeals
A. 6523 3
1 shall complete, at a minimum, six credit hours of accredited continuing
2 legal education courses in ethics within one year of such member's
3 appointment to the zoning board of appeals. The six hours of accredited
4 continuing legal education courses in ethics shall be completed in one
5 hour increments. Such training shall be approved by the town board and
6 may include, but not be limited to, training provided by a municipality,
7 regional or county planning office or commission, county planning feder-
8 ation, state agency, statewide municipal association, college or other
9 similar entity. Training may be provided in a variety of formats,
10 including but not limited to, electronic media, video, distance learning
11 and traditional classroom training.
12 (ii) Members of the zoning board of appeals shall complete six credit
13 hours of accredited continuing legal education courses in ethics annual-
14 ly thereafter. The six credit hours of accredited continuing legal
15 education courses in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments,
16 in the same format as provided in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.
17 § 7. Subdivision 7-a of section 7-718 of the village law is amended by
18 adding a new paragraph a-1 to read as follows:
19 a-1. (i) In addition to the training required pursuant to paragraph a
20 of this subdivision, each member of the planning board shall complete,
21 at a minimum, six credit hours of accredited continuing legal education
22 courses in ethics within one year of such member's appointment to the
23 planning board. The six hours of accredited continuing legal education
24 courses in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments. Such train-
25 ing shall be approved by the town board and may include, but not be
26 limited to, training provided by a municipality, regional or county
27 planning office or commission, county planning federation, state agency,
28 statewide municipal association, college or other similar entity.
29 Training may be provided in a variety of formats, including but not
30 limited to, electronic media, video, distance learning and traditional
31 classroom training.
32 (ii) Members of the planning board shall complete six credit hours of
33 accredited continuing legal education courses in ethics annually there-
34 after. The six credit hours of accredited continuing legal education
35 courses in ethics shall be completed in one hour increments, in the same
36 format as provided in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph.
37 § 8. This act shall take effect immediately.
