Bill Text: NY S03506 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Renames the supreme court the superior court and the court of appeals the supreme court.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-06-07 - COMMITTED TO RULES [S03506 Detail]
Download: New_York-2023-S03506-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 3506 2023-2024 Regular Sessions IN SENATE January 31, 2023 ___________ Introduced by Sens. SKOUFIS, MANNION, MAY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judici- ary CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 5 of article 3, section 1 of article 5, sections 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 34, 35 and 36-a of article 6, section 1 of article 7, sections 5, 7 and 7-a of article 8, section 1 of article 9, section 13 of article 13, section 5 of article 14 and section 4 of article 18 of the constitution, in relation to renaming the supreme court the superior court and the court of appeals the supreme court 1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the closing para- 2 graph of section 5 of article 3 of the constitution be amended to read 3 as follows: 4 An apportionment by the legislature, or other body, shall be subject 5 to review by the [supreme] superior court, at the suit of any citizen, 6 under such reasonable regulations as the legislature may prescribe; and 7 any court before which a cause may be pending involving an apportion- 8 ment, shall give precedence thereto over all other causes and 9 proceedings, and if said court be not in session it shall convene 10 promptly for the disposition of the same. The court shall render its 11 decision within sixty days after a petition is filed. In any judicial 12 proceeding relating to redistricting of congressional or state legisla- 13 tive districts, any law establishing congressional or state legislative 14 districts found to violate the provisions of this article shall be 15 invalid in whole or in part. In the event that a court finds such a 16 violation, the legislature shall have a full and reasonable opportunity 17 to correct the law's legal infirmities. 18 § 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 1 of article 5 of 19 the constitution be amended to read as follows: 20 Section 1. The comptroller and attorney-general shall be chosen at the 21 same general election as the governor and hold office for the same term, EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD89069-01-3S. 3506 2 1 and shall possess the qualifications provided in section 2 of article 2 IV. The legislature shall provide for filling vacancies in the office of 3 comptroller and of attorney-general. No election of a comptroller or an 4 attorney-general shall be had except at the time of electing a governor. 5 The comptroller shall be required: (1) to audit all vouchers before 6 payment and all official accounts; (2) to audit the accrual and 7 collection of all revenues and receipts; and (3) to prescribe such meth- 8 ods of accounting as are necessary for the performance of the foregoing 9 duties. The payment of any money of the state, or of any money under its 10 control, or the refund of any money paid to the state, except upon audit 11 by the comptroller, shall be void, and may be restrained upon the suit 12 of any taxpayer with the consent of the [supreme] superior court in 13 appellate division on notice to the attorney-general. In such respect 14 the legislature shall define the powers and duties and may also assign 15 to him or her: (1) supervision of the accounts of any political subdivi- 16 sion of the state; and (2) powers and duties pertaining to or connected 17 with the assessment and taxation of real estate, including determination 18 of ratios which the assessed valuation of taxable real property bears to 19 the full valuation thereof, but not including any of those powers and 20 duties reserved to officers of a county, city, town or village by virtue 21 of sections seven and eight of article nine of this constitution. The 22 legislature shall assign to him or her no administrative duties, except- 23 ing such as may be incidental to the performance of these functions, any 24 other provision of this constitution to the contrary notwithstanding. 25 § 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 1 of article 6 of 26 the constitution be amended to read as follows: 27 Section 1. a. There shall be a unified court system for the state. The 28 state-wide courts shall consist of the supreme court [of appeals], the 29 [supreme] superior court including the appellate divisions thereof, the 30 court of claims, the county court, the surrogate's court and the family 31 court, as hereinafter provided. The legislature shall establish in and 32 for the city of New York, as part of the unified court system for the 33 state, a single, city-wide court of civil jurisdiction and a single, 34 city-wide court of criminal jurisdiction, as hereinafter provided, and 35 may upon the request of the mayor and the local legislative body of the 36 city of New York, merge the two courts into one city-wide court of both 37 civil and criminal jurisdiction. The unified court system for the state 38 shall also include the district, town, city and village courts outside 39 the city of New York, as hereinafter provided. 40 b. The supreme court [of appeals], the [supreme] superior court 41 including the appellate divisions thereof, the court of claims, the 42 county court, the surrogate's court, the family court, the courts or 43 court of civil and criminal jurisdiction of the city of New York, and 44 such other courts as the legislature may determine shall be courts of 45 record. 46 c. All processes, warrants and other mandates of the supreme court [of47appeals], the [supreme] superior court including the appellate divisions 48 thereof, the court of claims, the county court, the surrogate's court 49 and the family court may be served and executed in any part of the 50 state. All processes, warrants and other mandates of the courts or court 51 of civil and criminal jurisdiction of the city of New York may, subject 52 to such limitation as may be prescribed by the legislature, be served 53 and executed in any part of the state. The legislature may provide that 54 processes, warrants and other mandates of the district court may be 55 served and executed in any part of the state and that processes, 56 warrants and other mandates of town, village and city courts outside theS. 3506 3 1 city of New York may be served and executed in any part of the county in 2 which such courts are located or in any part of any adjoining county. 3 § 4. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 2 of article 6 of 4 the constitution be amended to read as follows: 5 § 2. a. The supreme court [of appeals] is continued. It shall consist 6 of the chief judge and the six elected associate judges now in office, 7 who shall hold their offices until the expiration of their respective 8 terms, and their successors, and such justices of the [supreme] superior 9 court as may be designated for service in said court as hereinafter 10 provided. The official terms of the chief judge and the six associate 11 judges shall be fourteen years. 12 Five members of the court shall constitute a quorum, and the concur- 13 rence of four shall be necessary to a decision; but no more than seven 14 judges shall sit in any case. In case of the temporary absence or 15 inability to act of any judge of the supreme court [of appeals], the 16 court may designate any justice of the [supreme] superior court to serve 17 as associate judge of the court during such absence or inability to act. 18 The court shall have power to appoint and to remove its clerk. The 19 powers and jurisdiction of the court shall not be suspended for want of 20 appointment when the number of judges is sufficient to constitute a 21 quorum. 22 b. Whenever and as often as the supreme court [of appeals] shall 23 certify to the governor that the court is unable, by reason of the accu- 24 mulation of causes pending therein, to hear and dispose of the same with 25 reasonable speed, the governor shall designate such number of justices 26 of the [supreme] superior court as may be so certified to be necessary, 27 but not more than four, to serve as associate judges of the supreme 28 court [of appeals]. The justices so designated shall be relieved, while 29 so serving, from their duties as justices of the [supreme] superior 30 court, and shall serve as associate judges of the supreme court [of31appeals] until the court shall certify that the need for the services of 32 any such justices no longer exists, whereupon they shall return to the 33 [supreme] superior court. The governor may fill vacancies among such 34 designated judges. No such justices shall serve as associate judge of 35 the supreme court [of appeals] except while holding the office of 36 justice of the [supreme] superior court. The designation of a justice of 37 the [supreme] superior court as an associate judge of the supreme court 38 [of appeals] shall not be deemed to affect his or her existing office 39 any longer than until the expiration of his or her designation as such 40 associate judge, nor to create a vacancy. 41 c. There shall be a commission on judicial nomination to evaluate the 42 qualifications of candidates for appointment to the supreme court [of43appeals] and to prepare a written report and recommend to the governor 44 those persons who by their character, temperament, professional aptitude 45 and experience are well qualified to hold such judicial office. The 46 legislature shall provide by law for the organization and procedure of 47 the judicial nominating commission. 48 d. (1) The commission on judicial nomination shall consist of twelve 49 members of whom four shall be appointed by the governor, four by the 50 chief judge of the supreme court [of appeals], and one each by the 51 speaker of the assembly, the temporary president of the senate, the 52 minority leader of the senate, and the minority leader of the assembly. 53 Of the four members appointed by the governor, no more than two shall be 54 enrolled in the same political party, two shall be members of the bar of 55 the state, and two shall not be members of the bar of the state. Of the 56 four members appointed by the chief judge of the supreme court [ofS. 3506 4 1appeals], no more than two shall be enrolled in the same political 2 party, two shall be members of the bar of the state, and two shall not 3 be members of the bar of the state. No member of the commission shall 4 hold or have held any judicial office or hold any elected public office 5 for which he or she receives compensation during his or her period of 6 service, except that the governor and the chief judge may each appoint 7 no more than one former judge or justice of the unified court system to 8 such commission. No member of the commission shall hold any office in 9 any political party. No member of the judicial nominating commission 10 shall be eligible for appointment to judicial office in any court of the 11 state during the member's period of service or within one year thereaft- 12 er. 13 (2) The members first appointed by the governor shall have respective- 14 ly one, two, three and four year terms as the governor shall designate. 15 The members first appointed by the chief judge of the supreme court [of16appeals] shall have respectively one, two, three and four year terms as 17 the chief judge shall designate. The member first appointed by the 18 temporary president of the senate shall have a one-year term. The member 19 first appointed by the minority leader of the senate shall have a two- 20 year term. The member first appointed by the speaker of the assembly 21 shall have a four-year term. The member first appointed by the minority 22 leader of the assembly shall have a three-year term. Each subsequent 23 appointment shall be for a term of four years. 24 (3) The commission shall designate one of their number to serve as 25 chairperson. 26 (4) The commission shall consider the qualifications of candidates for 27 appointment to the offices of judge and chief judge of the supreme court 28 [of appeals] and, whenever a vacancy in those offices occurs, shall 29 prepare a written report and recommend to the governor persons who are 30 well qualified for those judicial offices. 31 e. The governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of the 32 senate, from among those recommended by the judicial nominating commis- 33 sion, a person to fill the office of chief judge or associate judge, as 34 the case may be, whenever a vacancy occurs in the supreme court [of35appeals]; provided, however, that no person may be appointed a judge of 36 the supreme court [of appeals] unless such person is a resident of the 37 state and has been admitted to the practice of law in this state for at 38 least ten years. The governor shall transmit to the senate the written 39 report of the commission on judicial nomination relating to the nominee. 40 f. When a vacancy occurs in the office of chief judge or associate 41 judge of the supreme court [of appeals] and the senate is not in session 42 to give its advice and consent to an appointment to fill the vacancy, 43 the governor shall fill the vacancy by interim appointment upon the 44 recommendation of a commission on judicial nomination as provided in 45 this section. An interim appointment shall continue until the senate 46 shall pass upon the governor's selection. If the senate confirms an 47 appointment, the judge shall serve a term as provided in subdivision a 48 of this section commencing from the date of his or her interim appoint- 49 ment. If the senate rejects an appointment, a vacancy in the office 50 shall occur sixty days after such rejection. If an interim appointment 51 to the supreme court [of appeals] be made from among the justices of the 52 [supreme] superior court or the appellate divisions thereof, that 53 appointment shall not affect the justice's existing office, nor create a 54 vacancy in the [supreme] superior court, or the appellate division ther- 55 eof, unless such appointment is confirmed by the senate and the appoint- 56 ee shall assume such office. If an interim appointment of chief judge ofS. 3506 5 1 the supreme court [of appeals] be made from among the associate judges, 2 an interim appointment of associate judge shall be made in like manner; 3 in such case, the appointment as chief judge shall not affect the exist- 4 ing office of associate judge, unless such appointment as chief judge is 5 confirmed by the senate and the appointee shall assume such office. 6 g. The provisions of subdivisions c, d, e and f of this section shall 7 not apply to temporary designations or assignments of judges or 8 justices. 9 § 5. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 3 of article 6 of 10 the constitution be amended to read as follows: 11 § 3. a. The jurisdiction of the supreme court [of appeals] shall be 12 limited to the review of questions of law except where the judgment is 13 of death, or where the appellate division, on reversing or modifying a 14 final or interlocutory judgment in an action or a final or interlocutory 15 order in a special proceeding, finds new facts and a final judgment or a 16 final order pursuant thereto is entered; but the right to appeal shall 17 not depend upon the amount involved. 18 b. Appeals to the supreme court [of appeals] may be taken in the 19 classes of cases hereafter enumerated in this section; 20 In criminal cases, directly from a court of original jurisdiction 21 where the judgment is of death, and in other criminal cases from an 22 appellate division or otherwise as the legislature may from time to time 23 provide. 24 In civil cases and proceedings as follows: 25 (1) As of right, from a judgment or order entered upon the decision of 26 an appellate division of the [supreme] superior court which finally 27 determines an action or special proceeding wherein is directly involved 28 the construction of the constitution of the state or of the United 29 States, or where one or more of the justices of the appellate division 30 dissents from the decision of the court, or where the judgment or order 31 is one of reversal or modification. 32 (2) As of right, from a judgment or order of a court of record of 33 original jurisdiction which finally determines an action or special 34 proceeding where the only question involved on the appeal is the validi- 35 ty of a statutory provision of the state or of the United States under 36 the constitution of the state or of the United States; and on any such 37 appeal only the constitutional question shall be considered and deter- 38 mined by the court. 39 (3) As of right, from an order of the appellate division granting a 40 new trial in an action or a new hearing in a special proceeding where 41 the appellant stipulates that, upon affirmance, judgment absolute or 42 final order shall be rendered against him or her. 43 (4) From a determination of the appellate division of the [supreme] 44 superior court in any department, other than a judgment or order which 45 finally determines an action or special proceeding, where the appellate 46 division allows the same and certifies that one or more questions of law 47 have arisen which, in its opinion, ought to be reviewed by the supreme 48 court [of appeals], but in such case the appeal shall bring up for 49 review only the question or questions so certified; and the supreme 50 court [of appeals] shall certify to the appellate division its determi- 51 nation upon such question or questions. 52 (5) From an order of the appellate division of the [supreme] superior 53 court in any department, in a proceeding instituted by or against one or 54 more public officers or a board, commission or other body of public 55 officers or a court or tribunal, other than an order which finally 56 determines such proceeding, where the supreme court [of appeals] shallS. 3506 6 1 allow the same upon the ground that, in its opinion, a question of law 2 is involved which ought to be reviewed by it, and without regard to the 3 availability of appeal by stipulation for final order absolute. 4 (6) From a judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate 5 division of the [supreme] superior court which finally determines an 6 action or special proceeding but which is not appealable under paragraph 7 (1) of this subdivision where the appellate division or the supreme 8 court [of appeals] shall certify that in its opinion a question of law 9 is involved which ought to be reviewed by the supreme court [of10appeals]. Such an appeal may be allowed upon application (a) to the 11 appellate division, and in case of refusal, to the supreme court [of12appeals], or (b) directly to the supreme court [of appeals]. Such an 13 appeal shall be allowed when required in the interest of substantial 14 justice. 15 (7) No appeal shall be taken to the supreme court [of appeals] from a 16 judgment or order entered upon the decision of an appellate division of 17 the [supreme] superior court in any civil case or proceeding where the 18 appeal to the appellate division was from a judgment or order entered in 19 an appeal from another court, including an appellate or special term of 20 the [supreme] superior court, unless the construction of the constitu- 21 tion of the state or of the United States is directly involved therein, 22 or unless the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court shall 23 certify that in its opinion a question of law is involved which ought to 24 be reviewed by the supreme court [of appeals]. 25 (8) The legislature may abolish an appeal to the supreme court [of26appeals] as of right in any or all of the cases or classes of cases 27 specified in paragraph (1) of this subdivision wherein no question 28 involving the construction of the constitution of the state or of the 29 United States is directly involved, provided, however, that appeals in 30 any such case or class of cases shall thereupon be governed by paragraph 31 (6) of this subdivision. 32 (9) The supreme court [of appeals] shall adopt and from time to time 33 may amend a rule to permit the court to answer questions of New York law 34 certified to it by the Supreme Court of the United States, a court of 35 appeals of the United States or an appellate court of last resort of 36 another state, which may be determinative of the cause then pending in 37 the certifying court and which in the opinion of the certifying court 38 are not controlled by precedent in the decisions of the courts of New 39 York. 40 § 6. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions b, c, h, j 41 and k of section 4 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read 42 as follows: 43 b. The appellate divisions of the [supreme] superior court are contin- 44 ued, and shall consist of seven justices of the [supreme] superior court 45 in each of the first and second departments, and five justices in each 46 of the other departments. In each appellate division, four justices 47 shall constitute a quorum, and the concurrence of three shall be neces- 48 sary to a decision. No more than five justices shall sit in any case. 49 c. The governor shall designate the presiding justice of each appel- 50 late division, who shall act as such during his or her term of office 51 and shall be a resident of the department. The other justices of the 52 appellate divisions shall be designated by the governor, from all the 53 justices elected to the [supreme] superior court, for terms of five 54 years or the unexpired portions of their respective terms of office, if 55 less than five years.S. 3506 7 1 h. A justice of the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court 2 in any department may be temporarily designated by the presiding justice 3 of his or her department to the appellate division in another judicial 4 department upon agreement by the presiding justices of the appellate 5 division of the departments concerned. 6 j. No justice of the appellate division shall, within the department 7 to which he or she may be designated to perform the duties of an appel- 8 late justice, exercise any of the powers of a justice of the [supreme] 9 superior court, other than those of a justice out of court, and those 10 pertaining to the appellate division, except that the justice may decide 11 causes or proceedings theretofore submitted, or hear and decide motions 12 submitted by consent of counsel, but any such justice, when not actually 13 engaged in performing the duties of such appellate justice in the 14 department to which he or she is designated, may hold any term of the 15 [supreme] superior court and exercise any of the powers of a justice of 16 the [supreme] superior court in any judicial district in any other 17 department of the state. 18 k. The appellate divisions of the [supreme] superior court shall have 19 all the jurisdiction possessed by them on the effective date of this 20 article and such additional jurisdiction as may be prescribed by law, 21 provided, however, that the right to appeal to the appellate divisions 22 from a judgment or order which does not finally determine an action or 23 special proceeding may be limited or conditioned by law. 24 § 7. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions c, d and e 25 of section 6 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as 26 follows: 27 c. The justices of the [supreme] superior court shall be chosen by the 28 electors of the judicial district in which they are to serve. The terms 29 of justices of the [supreme] superior court shall be fourteen years from 30 and including the first day of January next after their election. 31 d. The [supreme] superior court is continued. It shall consist of the 32 number of justices of the [supreme] superior court including the 33 justices designated to the appellate divisions of the [supreme] superior 34 court, judges of the county court of the counties of Bronx, Kings, 35 Queens and Richmond and judges of the court of general sessions of the 36 county of New York authorized by law on the thirty-first day of August 37 next after the approval and ratification of this amendment by the 38 people, all of whom shall be justices of the [supreme] superior court 39 for the remainder of their terms. The legislature may increase the 40 number of justices of the [supreme] superior court in any judicial 41 district, except that the number in any district shall not be increased 42 to exceed one justice for fifty thousand, or fraction over thirty thou- 43 sand, of the population thereof as shown by the last federal census or 44 state enumeration. The legislature may decrease the number of justices 45 of the [supreme] superior court in any judicial district, except that 46 the number in any district shall not be less than the number of justices 47 of the [supreme] superior court authorized by law on the effective date 48 of this article. 49 e. The clerks of the several counties shall be clerks of the [supreme] 50 superior court, with such powers and duties as shall be prescribed by 51 law. 52 § 8. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 7 of article 6 of 53 the constitution be amended to read as follows: 54 § 7. a. The [supreme] superior court shall have general original 55 jurisdiction in law and equity and the appellate jurisdiction herein 56 provided. In the city of New York, it shall have exclusive jurisdictionS. 3506 8 1 over crimes prosecuted by indictment, provided, however, that the legis- 2 lature may grant to the city-wide court of criminal jurisdiction of the 3 city of New York jurisdiction over misdemeanors prosecuted by indictment 4 and to the family court in the city of New York jurisdiction over crimes 5 and offenses by or against minors or between spouses or between parent 6 and child or between members of the same family or household. 7 b. If the legislature shall create new classes of actions and 8 proceedings, the [supreme] superior court shall have jurisdiction over 9 such classes of actions and proceedings, but the legislature may provide 10 that another court or other courts shall also have jurisdiction and that 11 actions and proceedings of such classes may be originated in such other 12 court or courts. 13 § 9. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 8 of article 6 of 14 the constitution be amended to read as follows: 15 § 8. a. The appellate division of the [supreme] superior court in each 16 judicial department may establish an appellate term in and for such 17 department or in and for a judicial district or districts or in and for 18 a county or counties within such department. Such an appellate term 19 shall be composed of not less than three nor more than five justices of 20 the [supreme] superior court who shall be designated from time to time 21 by the chief administrator of the courts with the approval of the 22 presiding justice of the appropriate appellate division, and who shall 23 be residents of the department or of the judicial district or districts 24 as the case may be and the chief administrator of the courts shall 25 designate the place or places where such appellate terms shall be held. 26 b. Any such appellate term may be discontinued and re-established as 27 the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court in each depart- 28 ment shall determine from time to time and any designation to service 29 therein may be revoked by the chief administrator of the courts with the 30 approval of the presiding justice of the appropriate appellate division. 31 c. In each appellate term no more than three justices assigned thereto 32 shall sit in any action or proceeding. Two of such justices shall 33 constitute a quorum and the concurrence of two shall be necessary to a 34 decision. 35 d. If so directed by the appellate division of the [supreme] superior 36 court establishing an appellate term, an appellate term shall have 37 jurisdiction to hear and determine appeals now or hereafter authorized 38 by law to be taken to the [supreme] superior court or to the appellate 39 division other than appeals from the [supreme] superior court, a surro- 40 gate's court, the family court or appeals in criminal cases prosecuted 41 by indictment or by information as provided in section six of article 42 one. 43 e. As may be provided by law, an appellate term shall have jurisdic- 44 tion to hear and determine appeals from the district court or a town, 45 village or city court outside the city of New York. 46 § 10. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 11 of article 6 47 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 48 § 11. a. The county court shall have jurisdiction over the following 49 classes of actions and proceedings which shall be originated in such 50 county court in the manner provided by law, except that actions and 51 proceedings within the jurisdiction of the district court or a town, 52 village or city court outside the city of New York may, as provided by 53 law, be originated therein: actions and proceedings for the recovery of 54 money, actions and proceedings for the recovery of chattels and actions 55 and proceedings for the foreclosure of mechanics liens and liens on 56 personal property where the amount sought to be recovered or the valueS. 3506 9 1 of the property does not exceed twenty-five thousand dollars exclusive 2 of interest and costs; over all crimes and other violations of law; over 3 summary proceedings to recover possession of real property and to remove 4 tenants therefrom; and over such other actions and proceedings, not 5 within the exclusive jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court, as 6 may be provided by law. 7 b. The county court shall exercise such equity jurisdiction as may be 8 provided by law and its jurisdiction to enter judgment upon a counter- 9 claim for the recovery of money only shall be unlimited. 10 c. The county court shall have jurisdiction to hear and determine all 11 appeals arising in the county in the following actions and proceedings: 12 as of right, from a judgment or order of the district court or a town, 13 village or city court which finally determines an action or proceeding 14 and, as may be provided by law, from a judgment or order of any such 15 court which does not finally determine an action or proceeding. The 16 legislature may provide, in accordance with the provisions of section 17 eight of this article, that any or all of such appeals be taken to an 18 appellate term of the [supreme] superior court instead of the county 19 court. 20 d. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the 21 jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court as set forth in section 22 seven of this article. 23 § 11. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions d and f of 24 section 12 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as 25 follows: 26 d. The surrogate's court shall have jurisdiction over all actions and 27 proceedings relating to the affairs of decedents, probate of wills, 28 administration of estates and actions and proceedings arising thereunder 29 or pertaining thereto, guardianship of the property of minors, and such 30 other actions and proceedings, not within the exclusive jurisdiction of 31 the [supreme] superior court, as may be provided by law. 32 f. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the 33 jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court as set forth in section 34 seven of this article. 35 § 12. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions c and d of 36 section 13 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as 37 follows: 38 c. The family court shall also have jurisdiction to determine, with 39 the same powers possessed by the [supreme] superior court, the following 40 matters when referred to the family court from the [supreme] superior 41 court: habeas corpus proceedings for the determination of the custody of 42 minors; and in actions and proceedings for marital separation, divorce, 43 annulment of marriage and dissolution of marriage, applications to fix 44 temporary or permanent support and custody, or applications to enforce 45 judgments and orders of support and of custody, or applications to modi- 46 fy judgments and orders of support and of custody which may be granted 47 only upon the showing to the family court that there has been a subse- 48 quent change of circumstances and that modification is required. 49 d. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the 50 jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court as set forth in section 51 seven of this article. 52 § 13. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions b, c and d 53 of section 15 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as 54 follows: 55 b. The court of city-wide civil jurisdiction of the city of New York 56 shall have jurisdiction over the following classes of actions andS. 3506 10 1 proceedings which shall be originated in such court in the manner 2 provided by law: actions and proceedings for the recovery of money, 3 actions and proceedings for the recovery of chattels and actions and 4 proceedings for the foreclosure of mechanics liens and liens on personal 5 property where the amount sought to be recovered or the value of the 6 property does not exceed fifty thousand dollars exclusive of interest 7 and costs, or such smaller amount as may be fixed by law; over summary 8 proceedings to recover possession of real property and to remove tenants 9 therefrom and over such other actions and proceedings, not within the 10 exclusive jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court, as may be 11 provided by law. The court of city-wide civil jurisdiction shall further 12 exercise such equity jurisdiction as may be provided by law and its 13 jurisdiction to enter judgment upon a counterclaim for the recovery of 14 money only shall be unlimited. 15 c. The court of city-wide criminal jurisdiction of the city of New 16 York shall have jurisdiction over crimes and other violations of law, 17 other than those prosecuted by indictment, provided, however, that the 18 legislature may grant to said court jurisdiction over misdemeanors pros- 19 ecuted by indictment; and over such other actions and proceedings, not 20 within the exclusive jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court, as 21 may be provided by law. 22 d. The provisions of this section shall in no way limit or impair the 23 jurisdiction of the [supreme] superior court as set forth in section 24 seven of this article. 25 § 14. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 19 of article 6 26 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 27 § 19. a. The [supreme] superior court may transfer any action or 28 proceeding, except one over which it shall have exclusive jurisdiction 29 which does not depend upon the monetary amount sought, to any other 30 court having jurisdiction of the subject matter within the judicial 31 department provided that such other court has jurisdiction over the 32 classes of persons named as parties. As may be provided by law, the 33 [supreme] superior court may transfer to itself any action or proceeding 34 originated or pending in another court within the judicial department 35 other than the court of claims upon a finding that such a transfer will 36 promote the administration of justice. 37 b. The county court shall transfer to the [supreme] superior court or 38 surrogate's court or family court any action or proceeding which has not 39 been transferred to it from the [supreme] superior court or surrogate's 40 court or family court and over which the county court has no jurisdic- 41 tion. The county court may transfer any action or proceeding, except a 42 criminal action or proceeding involving a felony prosecuted by indict- 43 ment or an action or proceeding required by this article to be dealt 44 with in the surrogate's court or family court, to any court, other than 45 the [supreme] superior court, having jurisdiction of the subject matter 46 within the county provided that such other court has jurisdiction over 47 the classes of persons named as parties. 48 c. As may be provided by law, the [supreme] superior court or the 49 county court may transfer to the county court any action or proceeding 50 originated or pending in the district court or a town, village or city 51 court outside the city of New York upon a finding that such a transfer 52 will promote the administration of justice. 53 d. The surrogate's court shall transfer to the [supreme] superior 54 court or the county court or the family court or the courts for the city 55 of New York established pursuant to section fifteen of this article anyS. 3506 11 1 action or proceeding which has not been transferred to it from any of 2 said courts and over which the surrogate's court has no jurisdiction. 3 e. The family court shall transfer to the [supreme] superior court or 4 the surrogate's court or the county court or the courts for the city of 5 New York established pursuant to section fifteen of this article any 6 action or proceeding which has not been transferred to it from any of 7 said courts and over which the family court has no jurisdiction. 8 f. The courts for the city of New York established pursuant to section 9 fifteen of this article shall transfer to the [supreme] superior court 10 or the surrogate's court or the family court any action or proceeding 11 which has not been transferred to them from any of said courts and over 12 which the said courts for the city of New York have no jurisdiction. 13 g. As may be provided by law, the [supreme] superior court shall 14 transfer any action or proceeding to any other court having jurisdiction 15 of the subject matter in any other judicial district or county provided 16 that such other court has jurisdiction over the classes of persons named 17 as parties. 18 h. As may be provided by law, the county court, the surrogate's court, 19 the family court and the courts for the city of New York established 20 pursuant to section fifteen of this article may transfer any action or 21 proceeding, other than one which has previously been transferred to it, 22 to any other court, except the [supreme] superior court, having juris- 23 diction of the subject matter in any other judicial district or county 24 provided that such other court has jurisdiction over the classes of 25 persons named as parties. 26 i. As may be provided by law, the district court or a town, village or 27 city court outside the city of New York may transfer any action or 28 proceeding, other than one which has previously been transferred to it, 29 to any court, other than the county court or the surrogate's court or 30 the family court or the [supreme] superior court, having jurisdiction of 31 the subject matter in the same or an adjoining county provided that such 32 other court has jurisdiction over the classes of persons named as 33 parties. 34 j. Each court shall exercise jurisdiction over any action or proceed- 35 ing transferred to it pursuant to this section. 36 k. The legislature may provide that the verdict or judgment in actions 37 and proceedings so transferred shall not be subject to the limitation of 38 monetary jurisdiction of the court to which the actions and proceedings 39 are transferred if that limitation be lower than that of the court in 40 which the actions and proceedings were originated. 41 § 15. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 20 of article 6 42 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 43 § 20. a. No person, other than one who holds such office at the effec- 44 tive date of this article, may assume the office of judge of the supreme 45 court [of appeals], justice of the [supreme] superior court, or judge of 46 the court of claims unless he or she has been admitted to practice law 47 in this state at least ten years. No person, other than one who holds 48 such office at the effective date of this article, may assume the office 49 of judge of the county court, surrogate's court, family court, a court 50 for the city of New York established pursuant to section fifteen of this 51 article, district court or city court outside the city of New York 52 unless he or she has been admitted to practice law in this state at 53 least five years or such greater number of years as the legislature may 54 determine. 55 b. A judge of the supreme court [of appeals], justice of the [supreme] 56 superior court, judge of the court of claims, judge of a county court,S. 3506 12 1 judge of the surrogate's court, judge of the family court or judge of a 2 court for the city of New York established pursuant to section fifteen 3 of this article who is elected or appointed after the effective date of 4 this article may not: 5 (1) hold any other public office or trust except an office in relation 6 to the administration of the courts, member of a constitutional conven- 7 tion or member of the armed forces of the United States or of the state 8 of New York in which latter event the legislature may enact such legis- 9 lation as it deems appropriate to provide for a temporary judge or 10 justice to serve during the period of the absence of such judge or 11 justice in the armed forces; 12 (2) be eligible to be a candidate for any public office other than 13 judicial office or member of a constitutional convention, unless he or 14 she resigns from judicial office; in the event a judge or justice does 15 not so resign from judicial office within ten days after his or her 16 acceptance of the nomination of such other office, his or her judicial 17 office shall become vacant and the vacancy shall be filled in the manner 18 provided in this article; 19 (3) hold any office or assume the duties or exercise the powers of any 20 office of any political organization or be a member of any governing or 21 executive agency thereof; 22 (4) engage in the practice of law, act as an arbitrator, referee or 23 compensated mediator in any action or proceeding or matter or engage in 24 the conduct of any other profession or business which interferes with 25 the performance of his or her judicial duties. 26 Judges and justices of the courts specified in this subdivision shall 27 also be subject to such rules of conduct as may be promulgated by the 28 chief administrator of the courts with the approval of the supreme court 29 [of appeals]. 30 c. Qualifications for and restrictions upon the judges of district, 31 town, village or city courts outside the city of New York, other than 32 such qualifications and restrictions specifically set forth in subdivi- 33 sion a of this section, shall be prescribed by the legislature, 34 provided, however, that the legislature shall require a course of train- 35 ing and education to be completed by justices of town and village courts 36 selected after the effective date of this article who have not been 37 admitted to practice law in this state. Judges of such courts shall also 38 be subject to such rules of conduct not inconsistent with laws as may be 39 promulgated by the chief administrator of the courts with the approval 40 of the supreme court [of appeals]. 41 § 16. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivision a of section 42 21 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 43 a. When a vacancy shall occur, otherwise than by expiration of term, 44 in the office of justice of the [supreme] superior court, of judge of 45 the county court, of judge of the surrogate's court or judge of the 46 family court outside the city of New York, it shall be filled for a full 47 term at the next general election held not less than three months after 48 such vacancy occurs and, until the vacancy shall be so filled, the 49 governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate, if the senate 50 shall be in session, or, if the senate not be in session, the governor 51 may fill such vacancy by an appointment which shall continue until and 52 including the last day of December next after the election at which the 53 vacancy shall be filled. 54 § 17. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 22 of article 6 55 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:S. 3506 13 1 § 22. a. There shall be a commission on judicial conduct. The commis- 2 sion on judicial conduct shall receive, initiate, investigate and hear 3 complaints with respect to the conduct, qualifications, fitness to 4 perform or performance of official duties of any judge or justice of the 5 unified court system, in the manner provided by law; and, in accordance 6 with subdivision d of this section, may determine that a judge or 7 justice be admonished, censured or removed from office for cause, 8 including, but not limited to, misconduct in office, persistent failure 9 to perform his or her duties, habitual intemperance, and conduct, on or 10 off the bench, prejudicial to the administration of justice, or that a 11 judge or justice be retired for mental or physical disability preventing 12 the proper performance of his or her judicial duties. The commission 13 shall transmit [an] any such determination to the chief judge of the 14 supreme court [of appeals] who shall cause written notice of such deter- 15 mination to be given to the judge or justice involved. Such judge or 16 justice may either accept the commission's determination or make written 17 request to the chief judge, within thirty days after receipt of such 18 notice, for a review of such determination by the supreme court [of19appeals]. 20 b. (1) The commission on judicial conduct shall consist of eleven 21 members, of whom four shall be appointed by the governor, one by the 22 temporary president of the senate, one by the minority leader of the 23 senate, one by the speaker of the assembly, one by the minority leader 24 of the assembly and three by the chief judge of the supreme court [of25appeals]. Of the members appointed by the governor one person shall be a 26 member of the bar of the state but not a judge or justice, two shall not 27 be members of the bar, justices or judges or retired justices or judges 28 of the unified court system, and one shall be a judge or justice of the 29 unified court system. Of the members appointed by the chief judge one 30 person shall be a justice of the appellate division of the [supreme] 31 superior court and two shall be judges or justices of a court or courts 32 other than the supreme court [of appeals] or appellate divisions. None 33 of the persons to be appointed by the legislative leaders shall be 34 justices or judges or retired justices or judges. 35 (2) The persons first appointed by the governor shall have respective- 36 ly one, two, three, and four-year terms as the governor shall designate. 37 The persons first appointed by the chief judge of the supreme court [of38appeals] shall have respectively two, three, and four-year terms as the 39 governor shall designate. The person first appointed by the temporary 40 president of the senate shall have a one-year term. The person first 41 appointed by the minority leader of the senate shall have a two-year 42 term. The person first appointed by the speaker of the assembly shall 43 have a four-year term. The person first appointed by the minority leader 44 of the assembly shall have a three-year term. Each member of the commis- 45 sion shall be appointed thereafter for a term of four years. Commission 46 membership of a judge or justice appointed by the governor or the chief 47 judge shall terminate if such member ceases to hold the judicial posi- 48 tion which qualified him or her for such appointment. Membership shall 49 also terminate if a member attains a position which would have rendered 50 him or her ineligible for appointment at the time of appointment. A 51 vacancy shall be filled by the appointing officer for the remainder of 52 the term. 53 c. The organization and procedure of the commission on judicial 54 conduct shall be as provided by law. The commission on judicial conduct 55 may establish its own rules and procedures not inconsistent with law. 56 Unless the legislature shall provide otherwise, the commission shall beS. 3506 14 1 empowered to designate one of its members or any other person as a 2 referee to hear and report concerning any matter before the commission. 3 d. In reviewing a determination of the commission on judicial conduct, 4 the supreme court [of appeals] may admonish, censure, remove or retire, 5 for the reasons set forth in subdivision a of this section, any judge of 6 the unified court system. In reviewing a determination of the commission 7 on judicial conduct, the supreme court [of appeals] shall review the 8 commission's findings of fact and conclusions of law on the record of 9 the proceedings upon which the commission's determination was based. The 10 supreme court [of appeals] may impose a less or more severe sanction 11 prescribed by this section than the one determined by the commission, or 12 impose no sanction. 13 e. The supreme court [of appeals] may suspend a judge or justice from 14 exercising the powers of his or her office while there is pending a 15 determination by the commission on judicial conduct for his or her 16 removal or retirement, or while the judge or justice is charged in this 17 state with a felony by an indictment or an information filed pursuant to 18 section six of article one. The suspension shall continue upon 19 conviction and, if the conviction becomes final, the judge or justice 20 shall be removed from office. The suspension shall be terminated upon 21 reversal of the conviction and dismissal of the accusatory instrument. 22 Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the commission on judicial 23 conduct from determining that a judge or justice be admonished, 24 censured, removed, or retired pursuant to subdivision a of this section. 25 f. Upon the recommendation of the commission on judicial conduct or on 26 its own motion, the supreme court [of appeals] may suspend a judge or 27 justice from office when he or she is charged with a crime punishable as 28 a felony under the laws of this state, or any other crime which involves 29 moral turpitude. The suspension shall continue upon conviction and, if 30 the conviction becomes final, the judge or justice shall be removed from 31 office. The suspension shall be terminated upon reversal of the 32 conviction and dismissal of the accusatory instrument. Nothing in this 33 subdivision shall prevent the commission on judicial conduct from deter- 34 mining that a judge or justice be admonished, censured, removed, or 35 retired pursuant to subdivision a of this section. 36 g. A judge or justice who is suspended from office by the supreme 37 court [of appeals] shall receive his or her judicial salary during such 38 period of suspension, unless the court directs otherwise. If the court 39 has so directed and such suspension is thereafter terminated, the court 40 may direct that the judge or justice shall be paid his or her salary for 41 such period of suspension. 42 h. A judge or justice retired by the supreme court [of appeals] shall 43 be considered to have retired voluntarily. A judge or justice removed by 44 the supreme court [of appeals] shall be ineligible to hold other judi- 45 cial office. 46 i. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the legisla- 47 ture may provide by law for review of determinations of the commission 48 on judicial conduct with respect to justices of town and village courts 49 by an appellate division of the [supreme] superior court. In such event, 50 all references in this section to the supreme court [of appeals] and the 51 chief judge thereof shall be deemed references to an appellate division 52 and the presiding justice thereof, respectively. 53 j. If a court on the judiciary shall have been convened before the 54 effective date of this section and the proceeding shall not be concluded 55 by that date, the court on the judiciary shall have continuing jurisdic- 56 tion beyond the effective date of this section to conclude the proceed-S. 3506 15 1 ing. All matters pending before the former commission on judicial 2 conduct on the effective date of this section shall be disposed of in 3 such manner as shall be provided by law. 4 § 18. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions a and b of 5 section 23 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as 6 follows: 7 a. Judges of the supreme court [of appeals] and justices of the 8 [supreme] superior court may be removed by concurrent resolution of both 9 houses of the legislature, if two-thirds of all the members elected to 10 each house concur therein. 11 b. Judges of the court of claims, the county court, the surrogate's 12 court, the family court, the courts for the city of New York established 13 pursuant to section fifteen of this article, the district court and such 14 other courts as the legislature may determine may be removed by the 15 senate, on the recommendation of the governor, if two-thirds of all the 16 members elected to the senate concur therein. 17 § 19. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 24 of article 6 18 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 19 § 24. The assembly shall have the power of impeachment by a vote of a 20 majority of all the members elected thereto. The court for the trial of 21 impeachments shall be composed of the president of the senate, the 22 senators, or the major part of them, and the judges of the supreme court 23 [of appeals], or the major part of them. On the trial of an impeachment 24 against the governor or lieutenant-governor, neither the lieutenant-gov- 25 ernor nor the temporary president of the senate shall act as a member of 26 the court. No judicial officer shall exercise his or her office after 27 articles of impeachment against him or her shall have been preferred to 28 the senate, until he or she shall have been acquitted. Before the trial 29 of an impeachment, the members of the court shall take an oath or affir- 30 mation truly and impartially to try the impeachment according to the 31 evidence, and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of 32 two-thirds of the members present. Judgment in cases of impeachment 33 shall not extend further than to removal from office, or removal from 34 office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any public office of 35 honor, trust, or profit under this state; but the party impeached shall 36 be liable to indictment and punishment according to law. 37 § 20. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions a and b of 38 section 25 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as 39 follows: 40 a. The compensation of a judge of the supreme court [of appeals], a 41 justice of the [supreme] superior court, a judge of the court of claims, 42 a judge of the county court, a judge of the surrogate's court, a judge 43 of the family court, a judge of a court for the city of New York estab- 44 lished pursuant to section fifteen of this article, a judge of the 45 district court or of a retired judge or justice shall be established by 46 law and shall not be diminished during the term of office for which he 47 or she was elected or appointed. Any judge or justice of a court abol- 48 ished by section thirty-five of this article, who pursuant to that 49 section becomes a judge or justice of a court established or continued 50 by this article, shall receive without interruption or diminution for 51 the remainder of the term for which he or she was elected or appointed 52 to the abolished court the compensation he or she had been receiving 53 upon the effective date of this article together with any additional 54 compensation that may be prescribed by law. 55 b. Each judge of the supreme court [of appeals], justice of the 56 [supreme] superior court, judge of the court of claims, judge of theS. 3506 16 1 county court, judge of the surrogate's court, judge of the family court, 2 judge of a court for the city of New York established pursuant to 3 section fifteen of this article and judge of the district court shall 4 retire on the last day of December in the year in which he or she 5 reaches the age of seventy. Each such former judge of the supreme court 6 [of appeals] and justice of the [supreme] superior court may thereafter 7 perform the duties of a justice of the [supreme] superior court, with 8 power to hear and determine actions and proceedings, provided, however, 9 that it shall be certificated in the manner provided by law that the 10 services of such judge or justice are necessary to expedite the business 11 of the court and that he or she is mentally and physically able and 12 competent to perform the full duties of such office. Any such certif- 13 ication shall be valid for a term of two years and may be extended as 14 provided by law for additional terms of two years. A retired judge or 15 justice shall serve no longer than until the last day of December in the 16 year in which he or she reaches the age of seventy-six. A retired judge 17 or justice shall be subject to assignment by the appellate division of 18 the [supreme] superior court of the judicial department of his or her 19 residence. Any retired justice of the [supreme] superior court who had 20 been designated to and served as a justice of any appellate division 21 immediately preceding his or her reaching the age of seventy shall be 22 eligible for designation by the governor as a temporary or additional 23 justice of the appellate division. A retired judge or justice shall not 24 be counted in determining the number of justices in a judicial district 25 for purposes of subdivision d of section six of this article. 26 § 21. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions a, b, c, d, 27 e, f and g of section 26 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to 28 read as follows: 29 a. A justice of the [supreme] superior court may perform the duties of 30 office or hold court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to 31 the [supreme] superior court in any judicial district or to the court of 32 claims. A justice of the [supreme] superior court in the city of New 33 York may be temporarily assigned to the family court in the city of New 34 York or to the surrogate's court in any county within the city of New 35 York when required to dispose of the business of such court. 36 b. A judge of the court of claims may perform the duties of office or 37 hold court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to the 38 [supreme] superior court in any judicial district. 39 c. A judge of the county court may perform the duties of office or 40 hold court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to the 41 [supreme] superior court in the judicial department of his or her resi- 42 dence or to the county court or the family court in any county or to the 43 surrogate's court in any county outside the city of New York or to a 44 court for the city of New York established pursuant to section fifteen 45 of this article. 46 d. A judge of the surrogate's court in any county within the city of 47 New York may perform the duties of office or hold court in any county 48 and may be temporarily assigned to the [supreme] superior court in the 49 judicial department of his or her residence. 50 e. A judge of the surrogate's court in any county outside the city of 51 New York may perform the duties of office or hold court in any county 52 and may be temporarily assigned to the [supreme] superior court in the 53 judicial department of his or her residence or to the county court or 54 the family court in any county or to a court for the city of New York 55 established pursuant to section fifteen of this article.S. 3506 17 1 f. A judge of the family court may perform the duties of office or 2 hold court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to the 3 [supreme] superior court in the judicial department of his or her resi- 4 dence or to the county court or the family court in any county or to the 5 surrogate's court in any county outside of the city of New York or to a 6 court for the city of New York established pursuant to section fifteen 7 of this article. 8 g. A judge of a court for the city of New York established pursuant to 9 section fifteen of this article may perform the duties of office or hold 10 court in any county and may be temporarily assigned to the [supreme] 11 superior court in the judicial department of his or her residence or to 12 the county court or the family court in any county or to the other court 13 for the city of New York established pursuant to section fifteen of this 14 article. 15 § 22. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 27 of article 6 16 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 17 § 27. The governor may, when in his or her opinion the public interest 18 requires, appoint extraordinary terms of the [supreme] superior court. 19 The governor shall designate the time and place of holding the term and 20 the justice who shall hold the term. The governor may terminate the 21 assignment of the justice and may name another justice in his or her 22 place to hold the term. 23 § 23. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions a and c of 24 section 28 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as 25 follows: 26 a. The chief judge of the supreme court [of appeals] shall be the 27 chief judge of the state of New York and shall be the chief judicial 28 officer of the unified court system. There shall be an administrative 29 board of the courts which shall consist of the chief judge of the 30 supreme court [of appeals] as chairperson and the presiding justice of 31 the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court of each judicial 32 department. The chief judge shall, with the advice and consent of the 33 administrative board of the courts, appoint a chief administrator of the 34 courts who shall serve at the pleasure of the chief judge. 35 c. The chief judge, after consultation with the administrative board, 36 shall establish standards and administrative policies for general appli- 37 cation throughout the state, which shall be submitted by the chief judge 38 to the supreme court [of appeals], together with the recommendations, if 39 any, of the administrative board. Such standards and administrative 40 policies shall be promulgated after approval by the supreme court [of41appeals]. 42 § 24. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivision a of section 43 29 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 44 a. The legislature shall provide for the allocation of the cost of 45 operating and maintaining the supreme court [of appeals], the appellate 46 division of the [supreme] superior court in each judicial department, 47 the [supreme] superior court, the court of claims, the county court, the 48 surrogate's court, the family court, the courts for the city of New York 49 established pursuant to section fifteen of this article and the district 50 court, among the state, the counties, the city of New York and other 51 political subdivisions. 52 § 25. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions a and b of 53 section 34 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as 54 follows: 55 a. The supreme court [of appeals], the appellate division of the 56 [supreme] superior court, the [supreme] superior court, the court ofS. 3506 18 1 claims, the county court in counties outside the city of New York, the 2 surrogate's court and the district court of Nassau county shall hear and 3 determine all appeals, actions and proceedings pending therein on the 4 effective date of this article except that the appellate division of the 5 [supreme] superior court in the first and second judicial departments or 6 the appellate term in such departments, if so directed by the appropri- 7 ate appellate division of the supreme court, shall hear and determine 8 all appeals pending in the appellate terms of the [supreme] superior 9 court in the first and second judicial departments and in the court of 10 special sessions of the city of New York and except that the county 11 court or an appellate term shall, as may be provided by law, hear and 12 determine all appeals pending in the county court or the [supreme] supe- 13 rior court other than an appellate term. Further appeal from a decision 14 of the county court, the appellate term or the appellate division of the 15 [supreme] superior court, rendered on or after the effective date of 16 this article, shall be governed by the provisions of this article. 17 b. The justices of the [supreme] superior court in office on the 18 effective date of this article shall hold their offices as justices of 19 the [supreme] superior court until the expiration of their respective 20 terms. 21 § 26. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivisions b, m and n 22 of section 35 of article 6 of the constitution be amended to read as 23 follows: 24 b. The judges of the county court of the counties of Bronx, Kings, 25 Queens and Richmond and the judges of the court of general sessions of 26 the county of New York in office on the effective date of this article 27 shall, for the remainder of the terms for which they were elected or 28 appointed, be justices of the [supreme] superior court in and for the 29 judicial district which includes the county in which they resided on 30 that date. The salaries of such justices shall be the same as the sala- 31 ries of the other justices of the [supreme] superior court residing in 32 the same judicial district and shall be paid in the same manner. All 33 actions and proceedings pending in the county court of the counties of 34 Bronx, Kings, Queens and Richmond and in the court of general sessions 35 of the county of New York on the effective date of this article shall be 36 transferred to the [supreme] superior court in the county in which the 37 action or proceedings was pending, or otherwise as may be provided by 38 law. 39 m. In the event that a judgment or order was entered before the effec- 40 tive date of this article and a right of appeal existed and notice of 41 appeal therefrom is filed after the effective date of this article, such 42 appeal shall be taken from the [supreme] superior court, the county 43 courts, the surrogate's courts, the children's courts, the court of 44 general sessions of the county of New York and the domestic relations 45 court of the city of New York to the appellate division of the [supreme] 46 superior court in the judicial department in which such court was 47 located; from the court of claims to the appellate division of the 48 [supreme] superior court in the third judicial department, except for 49 those claims which arose in the fourth judicial department, in which 50 case the appeal shall be to the appellate division of the [supreme] 51 superior court in the fourth judicial department; from the city court of 52 the city of New York, the municipal court of the city of New York, the 53 court of special sessions of the city of New York and the city magis- 54 trates' courts of the city of New York to the appellate division of the 55 [supreme] superior court in the judicial department in which such court 56 was located, provided, however, that such appellate division of theS. 3506 19 1 [supreme] superior court may transfer any such appeal to an appellate 2 term, if such appellate term be established; and from the district 3 court, town, village and city courts outside the city of New York to the 4 county court in the county in which such court was located, provided, 5 however, that the legislature may require the transfer of any such 6 appeal to an appellate term, if such appellate term be established. 7 Further appeal from a decision of a county court or an appellate term or 8 the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court shall be governed 9 by the provisions of this article. However, if in any action or proceed- 10 ing decided prior to the effective date of this article, a party had a 11 right of direct appeal from a court of original jurisdiction to the 12 supreme court [of appeals], such appeal may be taken directly to the 13 supreme court [of appeals]. 14 n. In the event that an appeal was decided before the effective date 15 of this article and a further appeal could be taken as of right and 16 notice of appeal therefrom is filed after the effective date of this 17 article, such appeal may be taken from the appellate division of the 18 [supreme] superior court to the supreme court [of appeals] and from any 19 other court to the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court. 20 Further appeal from a decision of the appellate division of the 21 [supreme] superior court shall be governed by the provisions of this 22 article. If a further appeal could not be taken as of right, such appeal 23 shall be governed by the provisions of this article. 24 § 27. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 36-a of article 25 6 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 26 § 36-a. The amendments to the provisions of sections two, four, seven, 27 eight, eleven, twenty, twenty-two, twenty-six, twenty-eight, twenty-nine 28 and thirty of article six and to the provisions of section one of arti- 29 cle seven, as first proposed by a concurrent resolution passed by the 30 legislature in the year nineteen hundred seventy-six and entitled 31 "Concurrent Resolution of the Senate and Assembly proposing amendments 32 to articles six and seven of the constitution, in relation to the manner 33 of selecting judges of the supreme court [of appeals], creation of a 34 commission on judicial conduct and administration of the unified court 35 system, providing for the effectiveness of such amendments and the 36 repeal of subdivision c of section two, subdivision b of section seven, 37 subdivision b of section eleven, section twenty-two and section twenty- 38 eight of article six thereof relating thereto", shall become a part of 39 the constitution on the first day of January next after the approval and 40 ratification of the amendments proposed by such concurrent resolution by 41 the people but the provisions thereof shall not become operative and the 42 repeal of subdivision c of section two, section twenty-two and section 43 twenty-eight shall not become effective until the first day of April 44 next thereafter which date shall be deemed the effective date of such 45 amendments and the chief judge and the associate judges of the supreme 46 court [of appeals] in office on such effective date shall hold their 47 offices until the expiration of their respective terms. Upon a vacancy 48 in the office of any such judge, such vacancy shall be filled in the 49 manner provided in section two of article six. 50 § 28. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 1 of article 7 51 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 52 Section 1. For the preparation of the budget, the head of each depart- 53 ment of state government, except the legislature and judiciary, shall 54 furnish the governor such estimates and information in such form and at 55 such times as the governor may require, copies of which shall forthwith 56 be furnished to the appropriate committees of the legislature. TheS. 3506 20 1 governor shall hold hearings thereon at which the governor may require 2 the attendance of heads of departments and their subordinates. Desig- 3 nated representatives of such committees shall be entitled to attend the 4 hearings thereon and to make inquiry concerning any part thereof. 5 Itemized estimates of the financial needs of the legislature, certi- 6 fied by the presiding officer of each house, and of the judiciary, 7 approved by the supreme court [of appeals] and certified by the chief 8 judge of the supreme court [of appeals], shall be transmitted to the 9 governor not later than the first day of December in each year for 10 inclusion in the budget without revision but with such recommendations 11 as the governor may deem proper. Copies of the itemized estimates of 12 the financial needs of the judiciary also shall forthwith be transmitted 13 to the appropriate committees of the legislature. 14 § 29. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the fourth undesignated 15 paragraph of subdivision C of section 5 of article 8 of the constitution 16 be amended to read as follows: 17 Except as otherwise provided herein, the legislature shall prescribe 18 the method by which and the terms and conditions under which the propor- 19 tionate amount of any such indebtedness to be so excluded shall be 20 determined and no proportionate amount of such indebtedness shall be 21 excluded except in accordance with such determination. The legislature 22 may provide that the state comptroller shall make such determination or 23 it may confer appropriate jurisdiction on the appellate division of the 24 [supreme] superior court in the judicial departments in which such coun- 25 ties, cities, towns or villages are located for the purpose of determin- 26 ing the proportionate amount of any such indebtedness to be so excluded. 27 § 30. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivision A of section 28 7 of article 8 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 29 A. Indebtedness contracted prior to the first day of January, nineteen 30 hundred ten, for dock purposes proportionately to the extent to which 31 the current net revenues received by the city therefrom shall meet the 32 interest on and the annual requirements for the amortization of such 33 indebtedness. The legislature shall prescribe the method by which and 34 the terms and conditions under which the amount of any such indebtedness 35 to be so excluded shall be determined, and no such indebtedness shall be 36 excluded except in accordance with such determination. The legislature 37 may confer appropriate jurisdiction on the appellate division of the 38 [supreme] superior court in the first judicial department for the 39 purpose of determining the amount of any such indebtedness to be so 40 excluded. 41 § 31. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the second undesignated 42 paragraph of subdivision B of section 7-a of article 8 of the constitu- 43 tion be amended to read as follows: 44 In determining whether indebtedness for transit purposes may be 45 excluded under this paragraph of this section, there shall first be 46 deducted from the current net revenue received by the city from such 47 railroads and facilities and properties used in connection therewith and 48 rights therein and securities owned by the city: (a) an amount equal to 49 the interest and amortization requirements on indebtedness for rapid 50 transit purposes heretofore excluded by order of the appellate division, 51 which exclusion shall not be terminated by or under any provision of 52 this section; (b) an amount equal to the interest on indebtedness 53 contracted pursuant to this section and of the annual requirements for 54 amortization on any sinking fund bonds and for redemption of any serial 55 bonds evidencing such indebtedness; (c) an amount equal to the sum of 56 all taxes and bridge tolls accruing to the city in the fiscal year ofS. 3506 21 1 the city preceding the acquisition of the railroads or facilities or 2 properties or rights therein or securities acquired by the city here- 3 under, from such railroads, facilities and properties; and (d) the 4 amount of net operating revenue derived by the city from the independent 5 subway system during such fiscal year. The legislature shall prescribe 6 the method by which and the terms and conditions under which the amount 7 of any indebtedness to be excluded hereunder shall be determined, and no 8 indebtedness shall be excluded except in accordance with the determi- 9 nation so prescribed. The legislature may confer appropriate jurisdic- 10 tion on the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court in the 11 first judicial department for the purpose of determining the amount of 12 any debt to be so excluded. 13 § 32. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivision (d) of 14 section 1 of article 9 of the constitution be amended to read as 15 follows: 16 (d) No local government or any part of the territory thereof shall be 17 annexed to another until the people, if any, of the territory proposed 18 to be annexed shall have consented thereto by majority vote on a refer- 19 endum and until the governing board of each local government, the area 20 of which is affected, shall have consented thereto upon the basis of a 21 determination that the annexation is in the over-all public interest. 22 The consent of the governing board of a county shall be required only 23 where a boundary of the county is affected. On or before July first, 24 nineteen hundred sixty-four, the legislature shall provide, where such 25 consent of a governing board is not granted, for adjudication and deter- 26 mination, on the law and the facts, in a proceeding initiated in the 27 [supreme] superior court, of the issue of whether the annexation is in 28 the over-all public interest. 29 § 33. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That subdivision (a) of 30 section 13 of article 13 of the constitution be amended to read as 31 follows: 32 (a) Except in counties in the city of New York and except as author- 33 ized in section one of article nine of this constitution, registers in 34 counties having registers shall be chosen by the electors of the respec- 35 tive counties once in every three years and whenever the occurring of 36 vacancies shall require; the sheriff and the clerk of each county shall 37 be chosen by the electors once in every three or four years as the 38 legislature shall direct. Sheriffs shall hold no other office. They may 39 be required by law to renew their security, from time to time; and in 40 default of giving such new security, their offices shall be deemed 41 vacant. The governor may remove any elective sheriff, county clerk, 42 district attorney or register within the term for which he or she shall 43 have been elected; but before so doing the governor shall give to such 44 officer a copy of the charges against him or her and an opportunity of 45 being heard in his or her defense. In each county a district attorney 46 shall be chosen by the electors once in every three or four years as the 47 legislature shall direct. The clerk of each county in the city of New 48 York shall be appointed, and be subject to removal, by the appellate 49 division of the [supreme] superior court in the judicial department in 50 which the county is located. In addition to his or her powers and duties 51 as clerk of the [supreme] superior court, he or she shall have power to 52 select, draw, summon and empanel grand and petit jurors in the manner 53 and under the conditions now or hereafter prescribed by law, and shall 54 have such other powers and duties as shall be prescribed by the city 55 from time to time by local law.S. 3506 22 1 § 34. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 5 of article 14 2 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 3 § 5. A violation of any of the provisions of this article may be 4 restrained at the suit of the people or, with the consent of the 5 [supreme] superior court in appellate division, on notice to the attor- 6 ney-general at the suit of any citizen. 7 § 35. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the opening paragraph of 8 section 4 of article 18 of the constitution be amended to read as 9 follows: 10 To effectuate any of the purposes of this article, the legislature may 11 authorize any city, town or village to contract indebtedness to an 12 amount which shall not exceed two per centum of the average assessed 13 valuation of the real estate of such city, town or village subject to 14 taxation, as determined by the last completed assessment roll and the 15 four preceding assessment rolls of such city, town or village, for city, 16 town or village taxes prior to the contracting of such indebtedness. In 17 ascertaining the power of a city, or village having a population of five 18 thousand or more as determined by the last federal census, to contract 19 indebtedness pursuant to this article there may be excluded any such 20 indebtedness if the project or projects aided by guarantees representing 21 such indebtedness or by loans for which such indebtedness was contracted 22 shall have yielded during the preceding year net revenue to be deter- 23 mined annually by deducting from the gross revenues, including periodic 24 subsidies therefor, received from such project or projects, all costs of 25 operation, maintenance, repairs and replacements, and the interest on 26 such indebtedness and the amounts required in such year for the payment 27 of such indebtedness; provided that in the case of guarantees such 28 interest and such amounts shall have been paid, and in the case of loans 29 an amount equal to such interest and such amounts shall have been paid 30 to such city or village. The legislature shall prescribe the method by 31 which the amount of any such indebtedness to be excluded shall be deter- 32 mined, and no such indebtedness shall be excluded except in accordance 33 with such determination. The legislature may confer appropriate juris- 34 diction on the appellate division of the [supreme] superior court in the 35 judicial departments in which such cities or villages are located for 36 the purpose of determining the amount of any such indebtedness to be so 37 excluded. 38 § 36. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendments 39 be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the 40 next succeeding general election of members of the Assembly, and, in 41 conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be 42 published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
