Authorizes a temporary bipartisan task force to be appointed to hold internal and public hearings on aspects of the legislative process and modes of communication for efficiency and effectiveness; requires report and recommendations to leadership within one year.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
6339
2009-2010 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
March 2, 2009
___________
Introduced by M. of A. GALEF, HOYT, DESTITO, DINOWITZ, LIFTON, MILLER,
SWEENEY, JOHN, MAGEE, SCOZZAFAVA, REILLY, LAVINE, SCHROEDER, FIELDS,
ALFANO -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BARRA, BURLING, CALHOUN,
CHRISTENSEN, CLARK, CROUCH, DelMONTE, ERRIGO, GIGLIO, KOLB, RAIA,
TEDISCO, THIELE, WALKER -- read once and referred to the Committee on
Governmental Operations
AN ACT to create a joint bipartisan task force to study the legislative
process and coordination between the assembly and senate; and provid-
ing for the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. A temporary eight member task force is hereby created to
2 study the current legislative process and modes of communication within
3 and between the assembly and senate.
4 § 2. The task force shall be bipartisan and consist of 3 members
5 appointed by the temporary president of the senate; 3 members appointed
6 by the speaker of the assembly; 1 member appointed by the minority lead-
7 er of the senate; and 1 member appointed by the minority leader of the
8 assembly. All appointments shall be made within 30 days after the date
9 on which this act shall have become a law.
10 § 3. The task force shall meet as soon as practicable and elect a
11 chair or co-chairs from among its members. The task force shall schedule
12 internal legislative hearings and take testimony from concerned parties.
13 Such task force shall examine and make recommendations concerning:
14 1. Time and schedule management in the legislature including, but not
15 limited to, the volume of legislation introduced and the distribution of
16 action on bills over the course of a session.
17 2. Bill management in the senate and assembly and coordination and
18 cooperation between these houses regarding such management including,
19 but not limited to, use of conferences and standing conference commit-
20 tees between the houses of the legislature, conference structure between
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01644-01-9
A. 6339 2
1 the standing committees of the legislative houses, creation of a stand-
2 ing conference committee, increased grouping of bills with similar
3 subject matter in committee agendas and expedited legislative process
4 for local and "home rule" bills.
5 3. Legislative oversight and foresight including, but not limited to,
6 review of previously enacted legislation and programs, biennial review
7 of existing committees and subcommittees, review of administrative rules
8 and regulations, increased use of fiscal impact notes on all bills whose
9 subject matter impact on state, county, local, school or other political
10 entities that may be affected and long range examination and planning of
11 state fiscal needs.
12 4. Such other issues as the task force may deem important to the effi-
13 cient and effective operation of the legislative process.
14 § 4. The task force may employ and at its pleasure remove such person-
15 nel as it may deem necessary for the performance of its functions.
16 § 5. The task force shall hold public hearings, and shall have all of
17 the powers of a legislative committee as provided in article 4 of the
18 legislative law.
19 § 6. The members of the task force shall receive no compensation for
20 their services, but shall be allowed their actual and necessary expenses
21 incurred in the performance of their duties as provided in this act when
22 rendering services as such task force member.
23 § 7. To the maximum extent feasible, the task force shall be entitled
24 to request and receive, and shall be provided with and utilize such
25 facilities, resources and data of any department, division, board,
26 bureau, commission or agency of the state or any political subdivision
27 thereof as it may reasonably request to properly carry out its powers
28 and duties under this act.
29 § 8. The task force shall make a written report to the temporary pres-
30 ident of the senate, speaker of the assembly, minority leader of the
31 senate, and minority leader of the assembly of its findings, conclusions
32 and recommendations on or before February 28, of the year next succeed-
33 ing the year in which this act shall have become a law. Such report
34 shall be made available to the public and include such legislative
35 proposals as shall be necessary to implement the task force's recommen-
36 dations.
37 § 9. This act shall take effect immediately, and shall expire on the
38 first of March of the year next succeeding the year in which it shall
39 have become a law, when upon such date the provisions of this act shall
40 be deemed repealed.
