STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
7623--A
2021-2022 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
December 22, 2021
___________
Introduced by Sens. GAUGHRAN, HOYLMAN -- read twice and ordered printed,
and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules -- recom-
mitted to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations in
accordance with Senate Rule 6, sec. 8 -- committee discharged, bill
amended, ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said commit-
tee
AN ACT to amend chapter 417 of the laws of 2021 relating to authorizing
political subdivisions to permit any public body to hold meetings
remotely and without in-person access during the COVID-19 state disas-
ter emergency, in relation to public bodies holding meetings remotely
and to the effectiveness thereof
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Sections 1 and 2 of part E of chapter 417 of the laws of
2 2021 relating to authorizing political subdivisions to permit any public
3 body to hold meetings remotely and without in-person access during the
4 COVID-19 state disaster emergency, are amended to read as follows:
5 Section 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of article 7 of the public
6 officers law to the contrary, any [state agency, department, corpo-
7 ration, office, authority, board, or commission] public body, as [well
8 as any local public body] defined pursuant to section one hundred two of
9 the public officers law, [or public corporation as defined in section 66
10 of the general construction law, or political subdivisions as defined in
11 section 100 of the general municipal law, or a committee or subcommittee
12 or other similar body of such entity,] shall be authorized to meet and
13 take such action authorized by law without permitting in public in-per-
14 son access to meetings and authorize such meetings to be held remotely
15 by conference call or similar service, provided that the public has the
16 ability to view or listen to such proceeding and that such meetings are
17 recorded and later transcribed. ["Local public body" shall mean any
18 entity for which a quorum is required in order to conduct public busi-
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD14074-03-2
S. 7623--A 2
1 ness and which consists of two or more members, performing a govern-
2 mental function for an entity limited in the execution of its official
3 functions to a portion only of the state, or a political subdivision of
4 the state, or for an agency or department thereof.]
5 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
6 deemed repealed [January 15, 2022] upon the expiration or termination of
7 the state disaster emergency declared pursuant to executive order 11 of
8 2021 or any extension or modification thereof; provided that the
9 commissioner of health shall notify the legislative bill drafting
10 commission upon the occurrence of the expiration or termination of such
11 executive order in order that the commission may maintain an accurate
12 and timely effective database of the official text of the laws of the
13 state of New York in furtherance of effectuating the provisions of
14 section 44 of the legislative law and section 70-b of the public offi-
15 cers law.
16 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.