Bill Text: NY S07098 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Bill 7098 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Relates to the text of proposed constitutional amendments and questions.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-01-03 - REFERRED TO ELECTIONS [S07098 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-S07098-Introduced.html

                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                          7098
                    IN SENATE
                                       (Prefiled)
                                     January 3, 2018
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by Sen. KAVANAGH -- read twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
        AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the  text  of  proposed
          constitutional amendments and questions
          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:
     1    Section 1. Section 4-108 of the election law, paragraph b of  subdivi-
     2  sion  1  as  amended  by chapter 117 of the laws of 1985, paragraph d of
     3  subdivision 1 and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 136 of the laws of
     4  1978, and subdivision 3 as added by chapter 234 of the laws of 1976,  is
     5  amended to read as follows:
     6    § 4-108. Certification of proposed constitutional amendments and ques-
     7  tions.    1.  a.  Whenever any proposed amendment to the constitution or
     8  other question provided by law to be submitted to a statewide vote shall
     9  be submitted to the people  for  their  approval,  the  state  board  of
    10  elections  at  least three months prior to the general election at which
    11  such amendment, proposition or question is to be  submitted,  shall  (i)
    12  transmit  to each county board of elections a certified copy of the text
    13  of each amendment, proposition or question and a statement of  the  form
    14  in  which  it is to be submitted; and (ii) publish a copy of the text of
    15  each amendment, proposition or question and a statement of the  form  in
    16  which  it  is  to  be  submitted on the state board of elections website
    17  until the day after the general election of that particular year.
    18    b. Whenever any proposal, proposition or referendum as provided by law
    19  is to be submitted to a vote of the people  of  a  county,  city,  town,
    20  village  or  special  district, at an election conducted by the board of
    21  elections, the clerk of such political subdivision, at least  thirty-six
    22  days prior to the election at which such proposal, proposition or refer-
    23  endum  is  to  be submitted, shall transmit to each board of elections a
    24  certified copy of the text of such proposal, proposition  or  referendum
    25  and a statement of the form in which it is to be submitted. If a special
    26  election  is  to  be  held, such transmittal shall also give the date of
    27  such election.
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02362-01-7

        S. 7098                             2
     1    c. Such certified copy shall set out all new  matter  in  italics  and
     2  enclose  in brackets, [     ], all matter to be eliminated from existing
     3  law, and at the bottom of each page shall be appended the words:
     4    Explanation: Matter in italics is new, to be added; matter in brackets
     5  [    ] is old law, to be omitted.
     6    d.  In  addition  to  the  text, as required under paragraph a of this
     7  subdivision, such transmittal shall contain an abstract of such proposed
     8  amendment, proposition or question, [prepared  by  the  state  board  of
     9  elections]  concisely  stating the purpose and effect thereof in a clear
    10  and coherent manner using words with common and everyday meanings.
    11    2. The form in which the proposed amendment, proposition  or  question
    12  is to be submitted shall consist of only an abbreviated title indicating
    13  generally  and  briefly,  and  in  a clear, unbiased and coherent manner
    14  using words with common and every-day meanings, the  subject  matter  of
    15  the amendment, proposition or question. If more than one such amendment,
    16  proposition  or question is to be voted upon at such election, each such
    17  amendment, proposition or question respectively shall be separately  and
    18  consecutively numbered.
    19    3.  The  attorney general shall [advise in the preparation of] prepare
    20  and deliver such abstract and such form of submission, as required under
    21  paragraphs a and d of subdivision one of  this  section,  to  the  state
    22  board of elections at least four months prior to the general election at
    23  which such amendment, proposition or question is to be submitted.
    24    §  2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a
    25  law.