Bill Text: NY A00238 | 2011-2012 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Establishes a New York state legislative research service; provides for the appointment and compensation for the director of such service and specialists and senior specialists within such service; describes the duties of the director.

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-04 - referred to governmental operations [A00238 Detail]

Download: New_York-2011-A00238-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                          238
                              2011-2012 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                      (PREFILED)
                                    January 5, 2011
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. CAHILL, COLTON, FINCH -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M.
         of  A. DINOWITZ, PHEFFER -- read once and referred to the Committee on
         Governmental Operations
       AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to establishing  a  New
         York state legislative research service
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section  7-h
    2  to read as follows:
    3    S  7-H. LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH SERVICE.  1. THERE SHALL HEREBY BE ESTAB-
    4  LISHED A NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH SERVICE. IT  SHALL  BE  THE
    5  DUTY OF THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH SERVICE, WITHOUT PARTISAN BIAS TO:
    6    (A)  UPON  REQUEST, ADVISE AND ASSIST ANY COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE
    7  IN THE ANALYSIS, APPRAISAL,  AND  EVALUATION  OF  LEGISLATIVE  PROPOSALS
    8  WITHIN  SUCH COMMITTEE'S JURISDICTION, OR OF ANY RECOMMENDATIONS SUBMIT-
    9  TED TO THE LEGISLATURE BY THE GOVERNOR OR ANY EXECUTIVE AGENCY, SO AS TO
   10  ASSIST THE COMMITTEE IN:
   11    (I) DETERMINING THE ADVISABILITY OF ENACTING SUCH PROPOSALS;
   12    (II) ESTIMATING THE PROBABLE RESULTS OF SUCH  PROPOSALS  AND  ALTERNA-
   13  TIVES THERETO; AND
   14    (III)  EVALUATING ALTERNATIVE METHODS FOR ACCOMPLISHING THOSE RESULTS;
   15  AND, BY PROVIDING SUCH OTHER RESEARCH AND  ANALYTICAL  SERVICES  AS  THE
   16  COMMITTEE  CONSIDERS APPROPRIATE FOR THESE PURPOSES, OTHERWISE TO ASSIST
   17  IN FURNISHING A BASIS FOR THE PROPER  EVALUATION  AND  DETERMINATION  OF
   18  LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS AND RECOMMENDATIONS GENERALLY; AND IN THE PERFORM-
   19  ANCE  OF  THIS DUTY THE SERVICE SHALL HAVE AUTHORITY, WHEN SO AUTHORIZED
   20  BY A COMMITTEE AND ACTING AS THE AGENT OF THAT COMMITTEE, TO REQUEST  OF
   21  ANY  DEPARTMENT  OR  AGENCY  OF  THE STATE THE PRODUCTION OF SUCH BOOKS,
   22  RECORDS, CORRESPONDENCE, MEMORANDA, PAPERS AND DOCUMENTS AS THE  SERVICE
   23  CONSIDERS  NECESSARY,  AND  SUCH DEPARTMENT OR AGENCY OF THE STATE SHALL
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD01050-01-1
       A. 238                              2
    1  COMPLY WITH SUCH REQUEST; AND FURTHER IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THIS AND ANY
    2  OTHER RELEVANT DUTY, THE SERVICE SHALL MAINTAIN CONTINUOUS LIAISON  WITH
    3  ALL COMMITTEES;
    4    (B) MAKE AVAILABLE TO EACH COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE AT THE OPENING
    5  OF  A  NEW SESSION, A LIST OF PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES UNDER EXISTING LAW
    6  SCHEDULED TO TERMINATE DURING THE CURRENT SESSION, WHICH ARE WITHIN  THE
    7  JURISDICTION OF THE COMMITTEE;
    8    (C)  TO  MAKE  AVAILABLE  TO  EACH COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE AT THE
    9  OPENING OF A NEW SESSION, A LIST OF SUBJECTS AND POLICY AREAS WHICH  THE
   10  COMMITTEE MIGHT PROFITABLY ANALYZE IN DEPTH;
   11    (D)  UPON  REQUEST,  OR  UPON  ITS  OWN  INITIATIVE IN ANTICIPATION OF
   12  REQUESTS, PREPARE AND PROVIDE INFORMATION, RESEARCH, AND REFERENCE MATE-
   13  RIALS AND SERVICES TO COMMITTEES  AND  MEMBERS  OF  THE  LEGISLATURE  TO
   14  ASSIST THEM IN LEGISLATIVE FUNCTIONS;
   15    (E)  UPON  REQUEST,  OR  UPON  ITS  OWN  INITIATIVE IN ANTICIPATION OF
   16  REQUESTS, COLLECT, CLASSIFY AND ANALYZE IN THE FORM OF STUDIES, REPORTS,
   17  COMPILATIONS, DIGESTS, BULLETINS, INDEXES, TRANSLATIONS, AND  OTHERWISE,
   18  DATA  HAVING  A  BEARING ON LEGISLATION, AND TO MAKE SUCH DATA AVAILABLE
   19  AND SERVICEABLE TO COMMITTEES AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE;
   20    (F) PREPARE SUMMARIES AND DIGESTS OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS OF  PUBLIC,
   21  GENERAL NATURE INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE;
   22    (G)  UPON  REQUEST MADE BY ANY COMMITTEE OR MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE,
   23  PREPARE AND TRANSMIT TO SUCH COMMITTEE OR MEMBER  A  CONCISE  MEMORANDUM
   24  WITH  RESPECT TO ONE OR MORE LEGISLATIVE MEASURES UPON WHICH HEARINGS BY
   25  ANY COMMITTEE OF THE LEGISLATURE HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED,  WHICH  MEMORANDUM
   26  SHALL  CONTAIN  A STATEMENT OF THE PURPOSE AND EFFECT OF EACH SUCH MEAS-
   27  URE, A DESCRIPTION OF OTHER RELEVANT  MEASURES  OF  SIMILAR  PURPOSE  OR
   28  EFFECT PREVIOUSLY INTRODUCED IN THE LEGISLATURE, AND A RECITATION OF ALL
   29  ACTION  TAKEN  THERETOFORE  BY OR WITHIN THE LEGISLATURE WITH RESPECT TO
   30  EACH SUCH OTHER MEASURES; AND
   31    (H) DEVELOP AND MAINTAIN AN INFORMATION  AND  RESEARCH  CAPABILITY  TO
   32  INCLUDE  SENIOR  SPECIALISTS,  SPECIALISTS, OTHER EMPLOYEES AND CONSULT-
   33  ANTS, AS NECESSARY, TO PERFORM THE FUNCTIONS PROVIDED FOR IN THIS SUBDI-
   34  VISION.
   35    2. THE LIBRARIAN OF THE LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY SHALL APPOINT THE DIRECTOR
   36  OF THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH SERVICE. THE DIRECTOR SHALL RECEIVE A SALARY
   37  EQUAL TO THAT OF A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE AS SET FORTH IN SUBDIVISION
   38  ONE OF SECTION FIVE OF THIS ARTICLE.
   39    3. THE DIRECTOR IS AUTHORIZED TO APPOINT IN THE  LEGISLATIVE  RESEARCH
   40  SERVICE,  SPECIALISTS  AND  SENIOR  SPECIALISTS  IN  THE FOLLOWING BROAD
   41  FIELDS:
   42    (A) AGING;
   43    (B) AGRICULTURE;
   44    (C) ALCOHOLISM AND DRUG ABUSE;
   45    (D) CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION;
   46    (E) CRIME VICTIMS AND CORRECTIONS;
   47    (F) ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND JOB CREATION;
   48    (G) EDUCATION;
   49    (H) ENGINEERING AND PUBLIC WORKS;
   50    (I) ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION AND SUSTAINABILITY;
   51    (J) GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS;
   52    (K) HEALTH;
   53    (L) HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT;
   54    (M) INSURANCE;
   55    (N) LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT;
   56    (O) MONEY AND BANKING;
       A. 238                              3
    1    (P) SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY;
    2    (Q) SOCIAL WELFARE;
    3    (R) TAXATION AND FISCAL POLICY;
    4    (S) TRANSPORTATION;
    5    (T) URBAN AFFAIRS;
    6    (U) VETERANS AFFAIRS; AND
    7    (V) SUCH OTHER FIELDS, AS THE DIRECTOR MAY CONSIDER APPROPRIATE.
    8    SUCH  SPECIALISTS  AND  SENIOR  SPECIALISTS,  TOGETHER WITH SUCH OTHER
    9  EMPLOYEES OF THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH SERVICE AS MAY BE NECESSARY, SHALL
   10  BE AVAILABLE FOR SPECIAL WORK WITH THE COMMITTEES  AND  MEMBERS  OF  THE
   11  LEGISLATURE FOR THE PURPOSES STATED IN THIS SECTION.
   12    4. THE DIRECTOR IS AUTHORIZED:
   13    (A)  TO  CLASSIFY,  ORGANIZE,  ARRANGE, GROUP AND DIVIDE, FROM TIME TO
   14  TIME, AS THE DIRECTOR CONSIDERS  ADVISABLE,  THE  REQUESTS  FOR  ADVICE,
   15  ASSISTANCE,  AND  OTHER  SERVICES  SUBMITTED TO THE LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH
   16  SERVICE BY COMMITTEES AND MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE INTO  SUCH  CLASSES
   17  AND CATEGORIES AS THE DIRECTOR CONSIDERS NECESSARY TO:
   18    (I)  EXPEDITE  AND  FACILITATE THE HANDLING OF THE INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS
   19  SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE;
   20    (II) PROMOTE EFFICIENCY IN THE PERFORMANCE OF SERVICES FOR THE COMMIT-
   21  TEES OF THE LEGISLATURE; AND
   22    (III) PROVIDE A BASIS FOR THE EFFICIENT PERFORMANCE BY THE LEGISLATIVE
   23  RESEARCH SERVICE OF  ITS  LEGISLATIVE  RESEARCH  AND  RELATED  FUNCTIONS
   24  GENERALLY;
   25    (B)  TO  ESTABLISH  AND  CHANGE,  FROM  TIME  TO TIME, AS THE DIRECTOR
   26  CONSIDERS ADVISABLE,  WITHIN  THE  LEGISLATIVE  RESEARCH  SERVICE,  SUCH
   27  RESEARCH AND REFERENCE DIVISIONS OR OTHER ORGANIZATIONAL UNITS, OR BOTH,
   28  AS  SUCH DIRECTOR CONSIDERS NECESSARY TO ACCOMPLISH THE PURPOSES OF THIS
   29  SECTION; AND
   30    (C) TO PROCURE BY CONTRACT, WITHOUT REGARD TO  ANY  PROVISION  OF  LAW
   31  REQUIRING  ADVERTISING  FOR CONTRACT BIDS, THE TEMPORARY (FOR RESPECTIVE
   32  PERIODS NOT IN EXCESS OF ONE YEAR) OR INTERMITTENT ASSISTANCE OF  EDUCA-
   33  TIONAL,  RESEARCH,  OR  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS  OF EXPERTS AND CONSULTANTS
   34  (INCLUDING STENOGRAPHIC REPORTERS) AND  OF  EDUCATIONAL,  RESEARCH,  AND
   35  OTHER  ORGANIZATIONS  OF  PERSONS  LEARNED  IN PARTICULAR OR SPECIALIZED
   36  FIELDS OF KNOWLEDGE.
   37    S 2. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
   38  it shall have become a law.
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