Increases the term of office of members of the legislature to 4 years; limits statewide elected officers and legislators to 3 consecutive 4 year terms.

JUDICIARYOPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARYGENERAL FOR OPINIONREFERRED TO JUDICIARY S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K ________________________________________________________________________ 21 2 9 2 1 Regular Sessions I N S E N A T E (PREFILED) January 7, 2 9 ___________ Introduced by Sen. ADAMS read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to increasing the terms of office of members of the legisla ture to four years and limiting the terms of office as a member of the legislature any person may serve; proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 4 of the constitution, in relation to limiting the terms of office as governor or lieutenant governor any person may serve; and proposing an amendment to section 1 of article of the constitution, in relation to limiting the terms of office as comptroller or attor ney general any person may serve 1 Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 2 of arti 2 cle 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows: 3 S 2. The senate shall consist of fifty members, except as hereinafter 4 provided. The senators [elected in the year one thousand eight hundred and ninety five shall hold their offices for three years, and their 6 successors] shall be [chosen] ELECTED for TERMS OF two years; PROVIDED, 7 THAT SENATORS ELECTED IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TEN AND IN SUBSEQUENT 8 YEARS SHALL HOLD THEIR OFFICES FOR FOUR YEARS. The assembly shall 9 consist of one hundred and fifty members. The assembly members [elected 1 in the year one thousand nine hundred and thirty eight, and their 11 successors,] shall be [chosen] ELECTED for TERMS OF two years; PROVIDED, 12 THAT ASSEMBLY MEMBERS ELECTED IN THE YEAR TWO THOUSAND TEN AND IN SUBSE 13 QUENT YEARS SHALL HOLD THEIR OFFICES FOR FOUR YEARS. 14 NO PERSON SHALL SERVE AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE FOR MORE THAN 1 THREE CONSECUTIVE FOUR YEAR TERMS, WHETHER SUCH SERVICE IS AS A SENATOR, 16 ASSEMBLY MEMBER, OR CONSECUTIVE TERMS AS A SENATOR AND AN ASSEMBLY 17 MEMBER; PROVIDED THAT ANY PARTIAL TERM OF OFFICE HELD AS A MEMBER OF THE 18 LEGISLATURE PRIOR TO THE ELECTION TO A CONSECUTIVE FOUR YEAR TERM SHALL EXPLANATION Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD89 19 1 9 S. 21 2 1 NOT BE USED TO CALCULATE ANY TERM LIMITATION IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS 2 PARAGRAPH. 3 S 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 1 of article 4 of 4 the constitution be amended to read as follows: Section 1. The executive power shall be vested in the governor, who 6 shall hold office for four years; the lieutenant governor shall be 7 chosen at the same time, and for the same term. The governor and lieu 8 tenant governor shall be chosen at the general election held in the year 9 nineteen hundred thirty eight, and each fourth year thereafter. They 1 shall be chosen jointly, by the casting by each voter of a single vote 11 applicable to both offices, and the legislature by law shall provide for 12 making such choice in such manner. The respective persons having the 13 highest number of votes cast jointly for them for governor and lieuten 14 ant governor respectively shall be elected. NO PERSON SHALL HOLD THE 1 OFFICE OF GOVERNOR OR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR FOR MORE THAN THREE CONSEC 16 UTIVE FOUR YEAR TERMS; PROVIDED THAT ANY PARTIAL TERM OF OFFICE SERVED 17 IN EITHER SUCH OFFICE PRIOR TO THE ELECTION TO A CONSECUTIVE FOUR YEAR 18 TERM SHALL NOT BE USED TO CALCULATE ANY TERM LIMITATION IMPOSED PURSUANT 19 TO THIS SECTION. 2 S 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 1 of article of 21 the constitution be amended to read as follows: 22 Section 1. The comptroller and attorney general shall be chosen at the 23 same general election as the governor and hold office for the same term, 24 and shall possess the qualifications provided in section 2 of article 2 IV. NO PERSON SHALL HOLD THE OFFICE OF COMPTROLLER OR ATTORNEY GENERAL 26 FOR MORE THAN THREE CONSECUTIVE FOUR YEAR TERMS; PROVIDED THAT ANY 27 PARTIAL TERM OF OFFICE SERVED IN EITHER SUCH OFFICE PRIOR TO THE 28 ELECTION TO A CONSECUTIVE FOUR YEAR TERM SHALL NOT BE USED TO CALCULATE 29 ANY TERM LIMITATION IMPOSED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION. The legislature 3 shall provide for filling vacancies in the office of comptroller and of 31 attorney general. No election of a comptroller or an attorney general 32 shall be had except at the time of electing a governor. The comptroller 33 shall be required: (1) to audit all vouchers before payment and all 34 official accounts; (2) to audit the accrual and collection of all reven 3 ues and receipts; and (3) to prescribe such methods of accounting as are 36 necessary for the performance of the foregoing duties. The payment of 37 any money of the state, or of any money under its control, or the refund 38 of any money paid to the state, except upon audit by the comptroller, 39 shall be void, and may be restrained upon the suit of any taxpayer with 4 the consent of the supreme court in appellate division on notice to the 41 attorney general. In such respect the legislature shall define the 42 powers and duties and may also assign to him or her: (1) supervision of 43 the accounts of any political subdivision of the state; and (2) powers 44 and duties pertaining to or connected with the assessment and taxation 4 of real estate, including determination of ratios which the assessed 46 valuation of taxable real property bears to the full valuation thereof, 47 but not including any of those powers and duties reserved to officers of 48 a county, city, town or village [by virtue of sections seven and eight 49 of article nine of this constitution]. The legislature shall assign to him or her no administrative duties, excepting such as may be incidental 1 to the performance of these functions, any other provision of this 2 constitution to the contrary notwithstanding. 3 S 4. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the provisions of the 4 foregoing amendments shall apply only to terms of offices commencing after such amendments shall have been adopted pursuant to section 1 of 6 article 19 of the constitution. S. 21 3 1 S . Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing amendments 2 be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the 3 next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in 4 conformity with section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published three months previous to the time of such election. BILL NUMBER: S21 TITLE OF BILL : CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to increasing the terms of office of members of the legislature to four years and limiting the terms of office as a member of the legislature any person may serve; proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 4 of the constitution, in relation to limiting the terms of office as governor or lieutenant governor any person may serve; and proposing an amendment to section 1 of article of the constitution, in relation to limiting the terms of office as comptroller or attorney general any person may serve PURPOSE: This legislation aims to expand and limit legislative terms in an attempt to reform state government. The 12 consecutive years provided by this amendment would allow elected officials to accrue seniority without remaining so long as to constrict the influx of new people and ideas into New York State Government. SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS: This legislation would amend section 2 of article 3 of the constitution in relation to increasing the terms of office of members of the legislature to four years and limiting the terms of office as a member of the legislature any person may serve; proposing an amendment to section 1 of article 4 of the constitution, in relation to limiting the terms of office as governor or lieutenant governor any person may serve; and proposing an amendment to section 1 of article of the constitution, in relation to limiting the terms of office as comptroller or attorney general any person may serve. JUSTIFICATION: The people of New York State have continually called for reform in its state government, and the expansion and limitation of terms would be an effective manner by which to bring about the desired changes. The two year legislative terms for which the Constitution presently provides are not efficient, as members must constantly campaign. A four year legislative term would allow lawmakers to concentrate more fully on that which they are elected to do instead of focusing on campaigning for reelection every two years. The three consecutive term limit for statewide positions would force a turnover of fresh ideas and officials within New York State Government. The rationale behind limiting the amount of terms to three is that twelve years is sufficient time to advocate for that legislation which is of particular importance to each elected official before allowing another individual twelve years to pursue his or her political agenda, as best to serve the constituents of each district. This constant churning of the legislature would allow issues and voices of more New Yorkers to be heard, as well as trigger a sense of urgency to enact important policy concerns into law. PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: This is a new bill. FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: To be determined. EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.