NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A10148
SPONSOR: Rules (Brown K) TITLE OF BILL:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment
to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to imposing
term limits on members of the legislature
PURPOSE:
Impose term limits on members of the legislature.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 2: The senators shall be elected for terms of two years
provided, however, no senator shall serve for more than six consecutive
terms. The assembly members shall be elected for terms of two years
provide, however, no assembly member shall serve for more than six
consecutive terms.
Section 2: Identifies effective date.
JUSTIFICATION:
According to Unite NY's most recent poll, 80% of voters in New York
State support term limits for statewide offices.
Term limits may be divided into two broad categories: consecutive and
lifetime. With consecutive term limits, a legislator is limited to serv-
ing a specific number of years. Upon hitting the limit in one chamber, a
legislator may run for election to the other chamber or leave the legis-
lature. After a set period of time (usually two years), the clock resets
on the limit, and the legislator may run for election to their original
seat and serve up to the limit again. With lifetime limits, once a
legislator has served up to the limit, they may never again run for
election to that office. Lifetime limits are much more restrictive than
consecutive limits.
According to The National Conference of State Legislature's 16 States
currently have term limits for their legislators. In the 2023 legisla-
tive sessions, more states are considering term limits for state lawmak-
ers or amending previous laws via various pieces of term limit legis-
lation.
As stated in the News Advocate term limits can foster democratic repre-
sentation, limit corruption, and promote accountability.
Term limits allow for a more diverse pool of individuals to hold public
office. By preventing entrenched incumbency, they create opportunities
for fresh talent, new ideas and increased competition. Term limits also
help to mitigate corruption and abuse of power. Finally frequent turn-
over of elected officials can help maintain a healthy balance of power
and limit the influence of special interest groups. Under term limits,
lobbyists have to work harder to make their cases to legislators because
a substantial proportion of them are in their first term. Further,
incoming legislators tend to be more suspicious of the influence of
interest groups and lobbyists.
This bill will promote accountability by imposing term limits on the
members of the legislature. Knowing they have a limited time in office
members may feel compelled to take more decisive actions, fulfill
campaign promises, and deliver tangible results.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New Bill
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Resolved (if the concur), That the foregoing amendments be referred to
the first regular legislative session convening after the next succeed-
ing general election of members of the assembly, and, in conformity with
section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published for three
months previous to the time of such election.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
10148
IN ASSEMBLY
May 10, 2024
___________
Introduced by COMMITTEE ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. K. Brown) --
read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in
relation to imposing term limits on members of the legislature
1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That section 2 of article
2 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
3 § 2. The senate shall consist of fifty members, except as hereinafter
4 provided. The senators [elected in the year one thousand eight hundred
5 and ninety-five shall hold their offices for three years, and their
6 successors] shall be [chosen] elected for terms of two years provided,
7 however, no senator shall serve for more than six consecutive terms. The
8 assembly shall consist of one hundred and fifty members. The assembly
9 members [elected in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight,
10 and their successors,] shall be [chosen] elected for terms of two years
11 provided, however, no assembly member shall serve for more than six
12 consecutive terms.
13 § 2. Resolved (if the Senate concur), That the foregoing amendments be
14 referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
15 next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in
16 conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be
17 published for three months previous to the time of such election.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD89130-01-4
