NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A391A
SPONSOR: Hawley (MS) TITLE OF BILL: An act to provide for a referendum on the question "Do
you support the division of New York into two separate states?"; and
providing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
PURPOSE OF BILL: To allow individual counties to place an initiative
on their ballot to poll their citizens as to whether they support the
division of New York into two separate states.
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: This bill would permit the county board of
elections of each county in New York State, at the request of the county
legislature or other similar governing body, to place a non-binding
initiative on their county ballot, before December 31, 2014; as to
whether the citizens of the county would support the division of New
York into two separate states.
EFFECTS OF PRESENT LAW WHICH THIS BILL WOULD ALTER: This bill creates
a new unconsolidated law which would be automatically repealed and
expire on January 1, 2015.
JUSTIFICATION: Presently, there is a large degree of apparent support
for dividing New York into two separate states, so as to separate the
distinct social and political concerns between upstate and downstate New
York. This bill would help to measure this apparent support by permit-
ting county boards of elections to place an initiative on their ballot
to poll the citizens of their county on this issue.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 2009-10--A8213 Referred to local governments
2007-08-A.6444, Referred to local governments 2005-06-A.4795, Held for
consideration in Local Governments 2003-04-A.1980/S.1044, Referred to
local governments 2001-02-A.3376/S.2012, Referred to Elections Committee
1999-00-A.4133/S.2332, Senate Elections Committee 1997-95-A.3597/S.2229,
Senate Elections Committee 1995-96-A.2501/S.1717, Senate Elections
Committee 1993-94-A.3528/S.2040, Senate Rules Committee
1991-92-A.10836/S.8749, Senate Rules Committee 1/14/12 A1964 Referred to
Elections
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Minimal undetermined cost to counties to place an
initiative on the ballot.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Immediately.
