RULES OF THE SENATE
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
2011-2012
Rules of the Senate for the year 2011-2012, as adopted by Senate Resolution
number 338 of 2011, and as amended by Senate Resolution number 1055.
Permanent Joint Rules of the Senate and Assembly, as adopted by Concur-
rent Resolution numbers 459 (Senate) and 544 (Assembly) of 1984 and as
amended by Concurrent Resolution number 260 (Senate) of 1995 and as amended
by Concurrent Resolution number 147 (Assembly) of 2007 and as amended by
Concurrent Resolution number 2775 (Senate) and number 787 (Assembly) of
2009.
3/31/11
RULES OF THE SENATE
OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
2011-2012
RULE I
THE PRESIDENT
Section 1. The Lieutenant Governor of the State shall be President of the
Senate, but shall have only a casting vote therein.
RULE II
THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT
Section 1. The Senate shall be the judge of the elections, returns and
qualifications of its own members and the Senate shall choose a Temporary
President, by resolution adopted upon the vote of a majority of the members
of the Senate elected, who shall be the majority leader and who shall pre-
side, or designate some other member to preside, in case of the absence
from the Chamber or impeachment of the Lieutenant Governor, or when he or
she shall refuse to act as President, or shall act as Governor. The tempo-
rary president may not serve in such capacity longer than eight years.
ß 2. He or she shall appoint the Deputy Majority Leader for Legislative
Operations, the Deputy Majority Leader, the chair, vice-chair and members
of all committees and sub-committees, except when the Senate shall other-
wise order.
ß 3. He or she shall be the Chair of the Committee on Rules.
ß 4. He or she shall appoint such officers and employees of the Senate as
may be necessary for the work of the Senate.
ß 5. He or she shall designate the persons entitled to admission to the
floor as reporters for the news media.
ß 6. He or she shall have general control, except as otherwise provided
by law or in these rules, of the Senate Chamber and the lobbies and gal-
leries thereof, and of the rooms, corridors and passages in that part of
the Capitol and Legislative Office Building assigned to the use of the Sen-
ate, and any other property leased or utilized by the Senate.
ß 7. He or she shall appoint, in conjunction with the Speaker of the
Assembly and the Legislative Librarian, an Assistant Legislative Librarian,
to have charge and custody of all legislative documents, as defined in this
section, who shall be responsible for collecting, numbering, indexing and
retaining the same in the legislative library in an area designated for
such use by the Legislative Librarian. At least two copies of all such doc-
uments shall be kept in such library at all times and made available to
Members of the Legislature and legislative employees for public inspection
and duplication during library hours.
The function of the Legislative Library is to serve the information and
research needs of Members of the Legislature and legislative staff as
defined by the Legislative Law. The services provided shall include profes-
sional reference, access to standard commercial online databases and the
availability of records of the Library's holding on the Legislative
Retrieval System (LRS). The Library is charged with the collection and cus-
tody of all Legislative and State documents as defined by this section.
Access to the collection shall be provided by the Legislative Library State
Documents (LLSD) database on LRS. Documents may be retained in paper,
microform, laser disk or any other medium approved for archiving documents.
To effectuate the purposes of this section, the Assistant Legislative
Librarian in charge of legislative documents may request from any commit-
tee, commission, task force or office of the Legislature, and the same are
authorized to provide, such assistance, services and data as will enable
such librarian to carry out his or her duties as prescribed in this sec-
tion.
For purposes of this section, the term legislative document shall mean
and include the Rules of the Senate, the Rules of the Assembly, reports of
the Legislature and reports of every legislative committee, subcommittee,
task force or other adjunct of the Legislature and all reports and docu-
ments required by law or regulation to be submitted to the Legislature by
any department, board, bureau, commission or other agency of the State.
The provisions of this section and paragraph ten of subdivision c of sec-
tion one of Rule I of the Assembly are intended to result in the appoint-
ment of a single Assistant Legislative Librarian to serve both Houses of
the Legislature.
ß 8. He or she shall represent the Senate, or engage legal representation
on behalf of the Senate, in any legal action or proceeding involving the
interpretation or effect of any law of the federal, state or local govern-
ment or the constitutionality thereof or with regard to the enforcement or
defense of any right, privilege or prerogative of the Senate.
ß 9. He or she shall, to the extent practicable, use the Internet and
other electronic media to provide access to the public policy debates,
decision-making process and legislative records of the Senate.
RULE III
PRESIDING OFFICER
Section 1. The Presiding Officer of the Senate shall preserve order and
decorum in the Senate Chamber; ensure that debate is germane to the ques-
tion under discussion; in case of disturbance or disorderly conduct in the
lobby or galleries, he or she may cause the same to be cleared; he or she
shall decide all questions of order, subject to appeal to the Senate. On
every appeal he or she shall have the right, in his or her place, to assign
his or her reasons for his or her decision.
ß 2. Immediately upon the final passage by the Senate of any bill, or
concurrent resolution proposing amendments to the Constitution of the
State, and concurrent resolutions proposing or ratifying amendments to the
Constitution of the United States he or she shall certify that the same has
been duly passed, with the date thereof, together with the fact whether
passed as a majority or two-thirds bill or resolution, or with three-fifths
of the members present, as the case may be, as required by the Constitution
and laws of the State, and deliver said bill or resolution to the Secre-
tary.
ß 3. When the Presiding Officer is other than the President of the Sen-
ate, such Presiding Officer shall be vested with all of the powers and
duties conferred by these rules and by any other rule or law upon the Pres-
ident.
RULE IV
THE SENATE AND ITS OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES
Section 1. The Senate shall not discriminate because of race, creed,
color, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, or disability in judg-
ing the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, or in the
appointment of any member to committee or other office, or in the appoint-
ment of any of its officers or employees.
ß 2. The administration and operations of the Senate shall be conducted
in a fair and nonpartisan manner, including access to services necessary to
all members and their offices, without regard to the members conference.
ß 3. The minority leader shall not serve in such capacity longer than
eight years.
ß 4. The Senate may choose a Secretary, a Sergeant at Arms and an Offi-
cial Stenographer who shall be elected for the term of the Senate. Such
employees may be appointed as shall be provided for by appropriation, in
the manner provided by law. Each officer and employee of the Senate shall
perform such duties as may be prescribed by law, or by these rules, or as
may be incumbent upon them in their respective positions.
ß 5. It shall be the duty of the Secretary to have the journals, bills,
calendars, messages and other documents printed and distributed in the man-
ner provided by law. He or she shall present to the Governor, and enter
upon the journals, such bills as shall have originated in the Senate and
shall have been passed by both houses. He or she shall, subject to the
Rules of the Senate, transmit to the Assembly all bills or concurrent
resolutions which have passed the Senate.
ß 6. The Sergeant at Arms, under the jurisdiction of the Secretary, shall
be the security officer of the Senate, and, except when absent in the dis-
charge of his or her duties, shall be in constant attendance upon the ses-
sions of the Senate and shall assign Assistant Sergeants at Arms to act as
doorkeepers and, under the direction of the Presiding Officer, aid in
enforcing order on the floor of the Senate, in the lobbies, and in the
rooms adjoining the Senate Chamber, and also see that no person remains on
the floor unless entitled to the privileges of the same. He or she shall
also assist in maintaining order at hearings of the Senate and in that part
of the Capitol and Legislative Office Building assigned to the use of the
Senate and on sites in New York State where members are conducting the
business of the Senate and security is deemed necessary by the Secretary.
ß 7. The Official Stenographer or designee shall attend every session of
the Senate and take stenographic notes of the debates of the Senate. He or
she shall make a stenographic record of the proceedings and make copies
available to the Secretary of the Senate. In addition, the Official Stenog-
rapher shall be responsible, under the direction of the Secretary, for mak-
ing a stenographic record of public hearings at the request of the Standing
Committee Chair or appointed officer and make copies available to the Com-
mittee Chair and the Secretary.
RULE V
PROCEEDINGS
Section 1. a. The Journal. The Senate shall keep a journal of its pro-
ceedings and publish the same, except such parts as may require secrecy.
The legislative and executive proceedings of the Senate shall each be
recorded in a separate journal.
b. Video of Senate proceedings. The Senate shall video record its pro-
ceedings and make such video available through the Senate web site.
ß 2. Hours in session. No session shall be held between 12:00 A.M. and
8:00 A.M.; provided, however, that the Senate may remain in session to com-
plete action on a measure or measures upon which debate was begun prior to
12:00 A.M. or to act on a measure or measures for which a message of neces-
sity has been received from the Governor or upon a majority vote of all of
the members elected to the Senate.
ß 3. Order of Business. a. The Presiding Officer shall take the Chair at
the hour to which the Senate shall have adjourned and following a recital
of the pledge of allegiance to the flag, the first business of the day
shall be the reading of the journal of the preceding day, to the end that
any mistakes therein may be corrected.
After the reading and approving of the journal, the order of business
shall be as follows:
(1) Presentation of petitions.
(2) Messages from the Assembly.
(3) Messages from the Governor.
(4) Reports of standing committees.
(5) Reports of select committees.
(6) Communications and reports from State officers.
b. A quorum being present the Senate shall proceed to:
(1) Motions and resolutions.
(2) The calendar.
(3) Petition for chamber consideration.
c. All questions relating to the priority of business shall be decided
without debate.
ß 4. Messages. Messages from the Governor and Assembly, communications
and reports from State officers, reports from a committee involving the
right of a Senator to his or her seat, and reports from the Committee on
Rules shall be received at any time.
ß 5. Special orders. Whenever any bill or other matter is made a special
order for a particular day, and it shall not be completed on that day, it
shall, unless otherwise ordered, retain its place on the calendar as a spe-
cial order in the order of business in which it was considered. When a spe-
cial order is under consideration, it shall take precedence over any spe-
cial order for a subsequent hour of the same day; but such subsequent order
may be taken up immediately after disposal of the previous special order.
ß 6. Calendar. a. The matters upon the Senate Calendar shall be arranged
and acted upon in the following order:
(1) Resolutions.
(2) Bills on order of first report.
(3) Bills on order of second report.
(4) Bills on order of special report.
(5) Bills starred after report.
(6) Bills on third reading calendar from special report.
(7) Bills on third reading.
(8) Bills starred on third reading.
(9) Resolution to amend the Senate Rules.
(10) Motions for chamber consideration.
b. Bills laid aside by the office of the Temporary President shall con-
tinue to retain their place in their regular order of business until called
for debate by the Temporary President.
c. Except for bills reported from a standing committee and placed on that
part of the calendar designated as "order of special report," bills
reported from a standing committee shall be placed on the first report cal-
endar and, unless starred, shall be automatically advanced to the second
report part of the calendar after one calendar legislative day. Bills on
second report shall, unless starred, be advanced to the order of third
reading after one calendar legislative day. No debate shall be allowed on
the advancement of bills on the order of first or second report or special
report. The order of special report shall be marked with an asterisk to
indicate that such bills will be subject to debate on the next calendar
legislative day. In the event that such bills are not debated on such day,
they shall be removed from the order of special report and placed on that
part of the calendar designated "bills on order of first report".
ß 7. Executive Session. The Senate shall go into consideration of execu-
tive business at such times as may be ordered by a vote of the majority of
the Senators present. On motion to close the doors of the Senate, on the
discussion of business which in the opinion of any Senator may require
secrecy, and during the consideration of all business in executive session,
the Presiding Officer shall direct all persons, except the Senators, the
Counsel to the Majority, the Counsel to the Minority, Secretary of the Sen-
ate, his or her messenger, the Journal Clerk and Sergeant at Arms of the
Senate to withdraw; and during the discussion of said motion the doors
shall remain shut; and every Senator and officer of the Senate shall keep
secret all such matters, proceedings and things which shall transpire while
the doors remain closed.
ß 8. Motions. a. When a question is before the Senate, only the following
motions shall be made by a Senator, and such motions shall have precedence
in the order here stated, viz.:
(1) For an adjournment.
(2) For a call of the Senate.
(3) For the previous question.
(4) To lay on the table.
(5) To postpone to a certain day.
(6) To commit to a standing committee.
(7) To commit to a select committee.
(8) To change calendar arrangement.
(9) To amend.
b. The motion to adjourn, or for a call of the Senate, or for the previ-
ous question, or to lay on the table, shall be decided without debate, and
shall always be in order except as provided in Rules five, seven and nine.
c. Except for the motions enumerated in subdivision a hereof, all other
motions shall be reduced to writing, if desired by the Presiding Officer or
any five Senators, delivered to the Secretary, and read before the same
shall be debated; and any motion may be withdrawn at any time before deci-
sion or amendment.
d. A motion for the previous question, or a motion to postpone to a cer-
tain day, or to commit, or refer to a standing or select committee, until
it is decided, shall preclude all debate of the main question.
e. A motion for the previous question shall only be in order when made by
the Temporary President, the Minority Leader or their designee. The "previ-
ous question" shall be put as follows: "Shall the main question now be put
before the house?" and until it is decided, shall preclude all amendments
or debate. When, on taking the previous question, the Senate shall decide
that the main question shall now be put, the main question shall be put to
an immediate vote. When, on taking the previous question, the Senate shall
decide that the main question shall not now be put, the main question shall
be considered as still remaining under debate. The "main question" shall be
the advancement or passage of the bill, resolution or other matter under
consideration. Such motion shall require the affirmative vote of a majority
of the Senators elected.
ß 9. Reconsideration. a. When a question has once been put and decided,
it shall be in order for any Senator to move for the reconsideration there-
of; but no motion for the reconsideration of any vote shall be in order
after the bill, resolution, message, report, amendment, nomination or
motion, upon which the vote was taken, shall have gone out of the pos-
session of the Senate; nor shall any motion for reconsideration be in order
unless made on the same day on which the vote was taken, or within the next
three days of the actual session of the Senate thereafter. Nor shall any
question be reconsidered more than once; but when a bill or resolution
shall have been recalled from the Assembly, a motion for reconsideration
may be made at any time thereafter while the same is in the possession of
the Senate, and all resolutions recalling a bill or resolution from the
Assembly shall be regarded as privileged. No vote shall be reconsidered
upon either of the following motions:
To adjourn.
To lay on the table.
b. The vote on the final passage of any bill appropriating moneys or pro-
perty, or creating, continuing, altering or removing any body politic or
corporate, shall not be reconsidered whenever any such bill shall be lost,
unless by a vote of a majority of all the Senators elected, but all other
bills, when the same shall have been lost, may be reconsidered by a vote of
a majority of all the Senators present and voting.
RULE VI
INTRODUCTION OF BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
Section 1. Introduction. Bills and resolutions shall be introduced by a
Senator, or on the report of a committee, or by message from the Assembly,
or by order of the Senate, or by the Governor pursuant to Article VII of
the Constitution. Every bill introduced shall be in duplicate and shall
have endorsed thereon a title and the name of the bill's sponsor and shall
be accompanied by the introducer's memorandum in quadruplicate. Such memo-
randum shall contain a statement of the purposes and intent of the bill
and, if the member deems it appropriate, may set forth such other state-
ments that the member feels necessary including, but not limited to, state-
ments relating to economic impact, environmental impact or the impact on
the judicial system of the bill. A Committee, where it deems necessary, may
require that the introducer's memorandum be amended to include such appro-
priate statements.
Bills introduced by Senators shall be deposited with the Revision Clerk
for the purpose of having such clerk examine and correct bills to avoid
repetition of introduction and ensure accuracy in the text and references.
Upon introduction, each bill shall be deemed to have had its first and sec-
ond reading, unless otherwise ordered and shall be given a number and imme-
diately referred to the appropriate standing committee by the Temporary
President or an officer designated by the Temporary President in accordance
with a set of guidelines to be published annually by the Temporary Presi-
dent setting forth the respective statutes over which each of the standing
committees shall have subject matter jurisdiction for purposes of referral.
Such referrals shall reflect the subject matter having predominance in the
bill as determined by the Temporary President.
ß 2. Multi-sponsorship. Any Senator may join together in the multi-spon-
sorship of a bill. If two or more Senators join together when a bill is
first introduced and before it is printed, the names of all multi-sponsors
shall appear on the printed bill upon the following conditions:
a. Multi-sponsors shall file a written request in duplicate to act as
such, on forms provided, with the Revision Clerk of the Senate. The first
name appearing on the bill shall be deemed the introducer and all others
deemed multi-sponsors.
b. The introducer shall at all times retain exclusive control of the bill
until formally acted upon by the Senate and any motion to discharge a bill
out of committee by a member who is not the introducer of the bill shall be
out of order.
c. After a multi-sponsored bill has been printed, any multi-sponsor
desiring to withdraw from such multi-sponsorship shall file a written
request on a form provided so that his or her name will be stricken as a
multi-sponsor from the records of the Revision Clerk. The printed bill,
however, shall not be reprinted.
d. Senators and Senators-elect may multi-sponsor bills that have been
pre-filed and bills introduced after the opening of each legislative ses-
sion upon the following conditions:
(1) After a bill has been introduced and printed and before it has been
reported favorably out of the Committee to which it was referred, any Sen-
ator or Senators may file with the Revision Clerk a request on a form pro-
vided to become a multi-sponsor of such bill. Such forms must be signed by
the multi-sponsor.
(2) Such bill shall not be reprinted solely for the purpose of adding or
deleting names of multi-sponsors.
(3) Any Senator, having become a multi-sponsor of a bill, may withdraw
from such by filing a request on a form provided to the Revision Clerk
requesting that his or her name be stricken as a multi-sponsor from the
record.
(4) Any Senator who has become a multi-sponsor of a bill in the manner
set forth herein shall have the right to distribute such bill bearing an
endorsement by rubber stamp or otherwise the words "multi-sponsored by" and
insert his or her own name as multi-sponsor.
ß 3. Printing. Every bill immediately upon its introduction shall be
printed and placed on the bill files on the desks of the Senators, where it
shall remain for at least three calendar legislative days. All bills
reported favorably or for consideration, if reported with amendments, and
all bills amended in the Senate, shall be immediately printed, except that
any bill which is amended by restoring it to an earlier form, shall not be
required to be printed again, and thereafter the printed number of the bill
in the form to which it has been so restored shall constitute the final
form of such bill unless further amended. Whenever a bill is amended and
printed, a letter of the alphabet starting with "A" shall be added to its
number.
ß 4. Title and body of bill. The title of every bill shall briefly state
the subject thereof. The title of every bill amending or repealing any pro-
vision of a consolidated law shall refer to such law. The title of every
bill amending or repealing any unconsolidated law shall refer to such law
by its short title, if it has one; if it has no short title, the title of
such bill shall state the chapter number, year of enactment and the com-
plete title of the original bill or a short summary of the provisions to
which the law relates. If such bill is amending or repealing a proposed
provision of law contained in a bill that has not been enacted into law,
the title shall state the number of the bill containing the proposed pro-
vision of law to be amended or repealed, with suffix, if there be one, and
the subject of the provisions to which the amendatory bill relates. No pri-
vate or local bill may be passed which shall embrace more than one subject
which shall be expressed in the title.
a. In any bill, each section proposing an amendment to or the repeal of:
(i) any consolidated law, or any part thereof; or (ii) the Family Court
Act, the Court of Claims Act, the Uniform District Court Act, the Uniform
Justice Court Act, the Uniform City Court Act, the New York City Charter,
the Administrative Code of the City of New York, the New York City Civil
Court Act, the New York City Criminal Court Act, or the Charter of the City
of Buffalo, or any part thereof shall refer to such law, act, charter or
code. In any bill, each section proposing an amendment to or the repeal of
an unconsolidated law having a short title, or any part thereof, shall
refer to such law by its chapter number and year of enactment and its short
title. If an unconsolidated law shall have no short title, each section
shall state the chapter number and year of enactment of such law, and a
short summary of the provisions to which the law relates or the complete
title of the original bill. If such section amends or repeals a proposed
provision of law contained in a bill that has not been enacted into law,
each section shall state the number of the bill containing such proposed
provisions of law to be amended or repealed, with suffix, if there be one.
If the portion of the law proposed to be amended has been added, renumbered
or amended since the original enactment or last general revision of the law
of which it is a part, such section shall also state the chapter number and
year of the last act adding, renumbering or amending the same, as the case
may be. There shall be appended at the end of every bill which proposes the
repeal or extension of any existing law, or part thereof, merely by refer-
ence thereto, without setting forth the text thereof, an explanatory note
which shall briefly and concisely state the subject matter of the law, or
part thereof, proposed to be repealed or extended, unless such subject mat-
ter is stated in the title of such bill. The Revision Clerk of the Senate
shall return any bill to the Senator introducing the same when it is called
to his or her attention that the provisions of this section, or of section
one of this Rule, have not been complied with, or when any copy of a bill
is illegible or incomplete.
b. Every bill when introduced, and every amendment thereafter made to
such bill amending existing law, must have all new matter underscored, and
all matter eliminated by amendment from existing law must appear in its
proper place enclosed in brackets. In the printed bill such new matter
shall be underscored and all matter eliminated by amendment from existing
law shall be enclosed in black-faced brackets. When any existing law or
part thereof is proposed to be repealed by a bill, the word "repealed" as
it appears in such bill shall be printed in bold-faced type. When a printed
bill is amended by eliminating new matter from such bill, the same shall be
omitted in the reprint of the original. When amendments are offered to a
printed bill, the proposed changes, indicating page and line numbers, shall
be listed on four detail sheets and the same changes shall be incorporated
and marked on two copies of the bill; provided, however, that no amendment
shall be allowed to any bill which is not germane to the original object or
purpose thereof. Furthermore, when a printed bill is amended the accompany-
ing introducer's memorandum, required pursuant to section one of this Rule,
shall also be amended to reflect any changes. It shall be the duty of the
Secretary to direct the Revision Clerk to cause any bill appearing on the
calendar and not complying with this section to be immediately amended and
printed so as to comply with the same.
ß 5. Final date. a. The Temporary President may designate a date in writ-
ing after which no bill or original resolution shall be introduced except
by message from the Assembly, but no date prior to the first Tuesday of
March shall be so designated; provided, however, that all bills recommended
by a State department or agency must be submitted to the office of the Tem-
porary President not later than the first day of March. Bills proposed by
the Governor, the Attorney General, the Comptroller, the Department of Edu-
cation or the Office of Court Administration must be submitted to the
office of the Temporary President no later than the first Tuesday in April.
b. All bills introduced in the Senate after the second Friday in June
shall be introduced to the Committee on Rules.
ß 6. Budget bills. When a bill is submitted or proposed by the Governor
by authority of Article VII of the Constitution, it shall become, for all
legislative purposes, a legislative bill, and upon receipt thereof by the
Senate it shall be endorsed "Budget Bill" and be given a number by the Sec-
retary and shall be referred to the Finance Committee and be printed.
Budget bills may be reported from the Finance Committee direct to the third
reading calendar.
ß 7. Program, departmental and agency bills. Every bill proposed by the
Governor, the Attorney General, the Comptroller or by state departments and
agencies shall be submitted to the office of the Temporary President and
shall be forwarded for introduction purposes to the appropriate standing
committee in accordance with section one of Rule VI. Any such bill which is
not so forwarded within three weeks after receipt by the Temporary Presi-
dent shall be offered by the office of the Temporary President to the
Minority Leader who may in accordance with section one of Rule VI, forward
such bills to any member for introduction purposes.
ß 8. Reintroduction. Any Senate bill introduced in the first year of the
term of the Senate which during that regular Legislative Session was not
reported from a Standing Committee or if reported and later recommitted to
a Standing Committee is deemed to be automatically reintroduced for the
second year of the term of the Senate. All bills which remain on the calen-
dar at the end of the first year of the term of the Senate shall be recom-
mitted to committee.
ß 9. Resolutions. a. All original resolutions shall be in quadruplicate,
and no original resolution may be introduced unless copies thereof first
shall have been furnished forty-eight hours prior to the time for acting on
such resolution to the Temporary President and Minority Leader. All resol-
utions, upon introduction, shall be referred to a standing or select com-
mittee by the Temporary President or an officer designated by the Temporary
President and shall at all times remain within the exclusive control of the
introducer. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing provisions of this sec-
tion, resolutions recalling bills from or returning bills to the Assembly,
or relating to adjournment, may be introduced at any time for immediate
consideration.
b. A resolution supporting or condemning, or proposing or urging a change
in Federal law which is not directly germane to the affairs, business,
rights, benefits and obligations of New York State shall be out of order
and shall not be reported and any resolution recommending, urging, support-
ing, altering or condemning a position or change in foreign policy of the
United States Government or the domestic or foreign affairs of any other
government of the World shall be out of order and shall not be reported.
c. All resolutions which propose any amendment to the State Constitution
shall be referred to the Attorney General as provided in Article XIX of the
Constitution, and shall be treated in the same form of proceedings as that
provided for bills; and resolutions which ratify any proposed amendment to
the Constitution of the United States shall be treated in the same form of
proceedings as provided for bills. After a resolution to amend the State
Constitution shall be advanced to third reading, no motion to amend the
same shall be in order without unanimous consent; and if such resolution to
amend the State Constitution shall be amended after the opinion of the
Attorney General thereon has been received as provided in Article XIX of
the Constitution, it shall again be referred to the Attorney General. Any
such resolution may be committed prior to the final reading thereof.
d. All resolutions calling for the expenditure of moneys must be decided
by a majority vote of all of the members elected to the Senate, upon a call
of the roll.
e. All resolutions other than those mentioned and treated in the preced-
ing subdivisions c and d of this section and reported by the committee of
reference designated by the Temporary President shall be placed upon the
calendar. When in the order of business the resolutions are reached, the
Senate may adopt such resolutions as a group, by one vote upon the question
of the entire calendar of resolution, excepting that any member may request
that any one or more of the resolutions on such calendar shall be voted
upon or debated separately. This subdivision shall not apply to any resol-
ution recalling bills from or returning bills to the Assembly, or relating
to adjournment or to resolutions pertaining to the rules of the Senate or
to those resolutions regarded as privileged.
RULE VII
STANDING COMMITTEES
Section 1. There shall be the following standing committees which shall
serve and shall continue throughout the year:
To consist of thirty-five Senators:
Finance
To consist of twenty-five Senators:
Rules
To consist of twenty-three Senators:
Judiciary
To consist of nineteen Senators:
Banks
Transportation
To consist of eighteen Senators:
Education
Higher Education
Insurance
To consist of seventeen Senators:
Health
To consist of sixteen Senators:
Codes
Labor
To consist of fourteen Senators:
Crime Victims, Crime and Correction
Environmental Conservation
Cultural Affairs, Tourism, Parks and Recreation
Veterans, Homeland Security and Military Affairs
To consist of twelve Senators:
Aging
Civil Service and Pensions
Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business
Energy and Telecommunications
To consist of ten Senators:
Agriculture
Consumer Protection
Mental Health and Developmental Disabilities
Racing, Gaming and Wagering
To consist of eight Senators:
Elections
Housing, Construction and Community Development
Investigations and Government Operations
Local Government
To consist of six Senators:
Children and Families
Cities
Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
Ethics
Social Services
Alcoholism and Drug Abuse
a. The Temporary President, the Vice President Pro Tempore, the Deputy
Majority Leader for Legislative Operations and the Minority Leader and Dep-
uty Minority Leader shall be nonvoting ex-officio members of all standing
committees of the Senate of which they are not actual members. As far as
practicable, Senators shall be appointed to no more than seven standing
committees.
b. Term limits for chairs and ranking members. No chair or ranking member
of a committee shall serve in such capacity longer than eight consecutive
years.
c. Conference membership of committees. The membership of all committees,
unless otherwise provided by the act or resolution creating them, shall be
composed, as nearly as may be, of majority and minority party members in
the same proportion as the number of majority and minority party members in
the Senate bears to the total membership of the Senate. For purposes of
committee composition, in the event that the proportion of majority members
would result in a fractional amount, the number of majority members shall
be rounded up to the next whole number. The membership of the Finance Com-
mittee and the Rules Committee shall be the proportion of majority members
in the Senate plus an additional five percent. Further, in the case of an
excused absence of any committee member on either the Finance or the Rules
Committee, the Temporary President of the Senate or the Minority Leader may
designate an alternate member of the conference for meetings of standing
committees provided written notice is provided and accepted by the counsel
to the majority conference at least one hour prior to the commencement of
such committee meeting.
ß 2. Committee on Rules. The Committee on Rules may sit at any time and
shall report bills out of committee only if they shall have been duly
reported to the Committee on Rules from a standing committee of origin, or
from a committee of secondary reference, or if the chair of such standing
committee consents, or if the bill was referred to the Committee on Rules
upon introduction. Other than a motion to hold, a motion to discharge, or a
motion to report, no other motion shall be in order in the Committee on
Rules without the consent of the Committee Chair. The reception and consid-
eration of its report shall always be in order; debate on its adoption
shall not exceed one hour, one-half hour for and one-half hour against,
such time to be allotted by the Temporary President and Minority Leader;
and no other motion, except a motion by the Temporary President for a call
of the Senate, to adjourn or to recess, shall be in order until the vote of
the Senate is had thereon. If the report be adopted, all inconsistent
rules of the Senate shall automatically be suspended until the subject of
such report has been disposed of, including final action thereon.
ß 3. Open Meetings of Standing Committees. a. (1) Standing committees
shall hold regular meetings at such time and on such day as scheduled by
the Deputy Majority Leader for Legislative Operations in consultation with
the chair and such schedule shall be published one week in advance of the
date of such meeting and shall be posted on the Senate committee board. The
attendance of the members of the committee shall be recorded at each meet-
ing, and a copy of such report shall be filed with the Journal Clerk of the
Senate and made available to the public. Each chair of a standing committee
shall, no later than 3 p.m. the Thursday preceding the regular meeting,
furnish to the Temporary President and Minority Leader, and make available
to each member of such committee, a copy of the agenda of such regular
meeting together with a copy of the introducer's memorandum for each bill
listed on such agenda for such regular meeting. In addition, copies of such
agenda for such regular meeting shall be made available to representatives
of the news media and to the general public. However, in case of necessity,
the chair with consent of the ranking member may add no more than four
items on the agenda or delete items on the agenda up to 24 hours in advance
of the scheduled meeting and members shall be notified of such additions or
deletions. Each standing committee chair shall decide all procedural issues
which arise during meetings of standing committees.
(2) Standing committees may hold special meetings in case of necessity
upon the call of the chair when the announcement is made from the floor
during session, or the ranking minority member of the committee consents
thereto, or upon the call of a majority of all the members thereof, entry
of which fact shall be made on the records of the committee and announced
by the Secretary of the Senate.
(3) All meetings of committees shall be open to authorized represen-
tatives of the news media and the general public as observers.
(4) All meetings of committees shall be recorded by video and to the
extent practicable webcast live. Video of all committee meetings shall be
made available on the Senate website and updated daily.
(5) Upon the personal vote of a majority of all the members of a commit-
tee, taken in an open meeting pursuant to a motion identifying the general
area or areas of the subject or subjects to be considered, a committee may
conduct an executive session of which only members of such committee are
present for the following enunciated purposes provided, however, that no
action by formal vote shall be taken to appropriate public monies:
(a) matters which will imperil the public safety if disclosed;
(b) any matter which may disclose the identity of a law enforcement agent
or informer;
(c) information relating to current or future investigation or prose-
cution of a criminal offense which would imperil effective law enforcement
if disclosed;
(d) discussions regarding proposed, pending or current litigation;
(e) collective negotiations pursuant to article fourteen of the Civil
Service Law;
(f) the medical, financial, credit, character or employment history of
any person or corporation, or matters leading to the appointment, employ-
ment, promotion, demotion, discipline, suspension, dismissal or removal of
any person or corporation;
(g) the preparation, grading or administration of examinations; and
(h) the proposed acquisition, sale or lease of real property, but only
when publicity would substantially affect the value of the property.
(6) Attendance at an executive session shall be permitted to any member
of the committee and any other persons authorized by the committee.
b. (1) Minutes shall be taken at all open meetings of committees which
shall consist of a record or summary of all motions, proposals, resolutions
and any other matter formally voted upon and the vote thereon.
(2) Minutes shall be taken at executive sessions of any action that is
taken by formal vote which shall consist of a record or summary of the
final determination of such action, and the date and vote thereon; pro-
vided, however, that such summary shall not include any matter which is not
required to be made public by "the freedom of information law" as added by
Article six of the Public Officers Law.
(3) Minutes of meetings of all committees shall be available to the pub-
lic in accordance with the provisions of Article six of the Public Officers
Law, "the freedom of information law", and at such time and place as pre-
scribed by the Temporary President, provided, however, that minutes for
executive session meetings shall be available to the public within one week
from the date of such executive session.
c. The provisions of this section except paragraph three of subdivision
a, and subdivision b shall not apply to the Committee on Rules.
d. Committee presentations. The chair of a committee may invite inter-
ested persons to offer a presentation for a given amount of time on a bill
on the meeting agenda with notice provided to the ranking member no less
than 72 hours in advance. Where a committee chair makes such an invitation,
the ranking member shall be afforded an equal number of speakers who may
speak for an equal amount of time. In addition, the ranker, without consent
of the chair, shall be able to schedule 3 committee presentations with
notice provided to the chair at least 72 hours in advance. The chair shall
be afforded an equal number of speakers who may speak for an equal amount
of time.
e. Motion for committee consideration. No motion for committee consider-
ation shall be in order after the first Monday in May. The sponsor of any
bill may file, through the Journal Clerk, a motion for committee consider-
ation forty-five days after the bill has been referred to such committee.
Once a motion for committee consideration is filed, the chair of the com-
mittee shall place the bill on a committee agenda and schedule a vote on
the bill within forty-five days. In the case of a bill that is referred to
a standing committee having secondary reference, the bill shall be consid-
ered within the next two committee meetings.
ß 4. Hearings. a. Committee hearings. Chairs of standing committees may
call public hearings to permit interested persons, groups or organizations
the opportunity to testify orally or in writing on legislation or issues
pending before such standing committee. Chairs are encouraged to hold pub-
lic hearings on legislation of important public interest, where, outside of
the budget, significant public money is allocated, broad conduct is regu-
lated or where the proposal has a broad public impact. Chairs may request
that the Official Stenographer make a stenographic record of a public hear-
ing. Official hearings may be conducted in accordance with procedure estab-
lished by law. No committee may take testimony at a hearing unless at least
two of its members are present at such hearing. Prior notice of all public
hearings shall be filed by the chair or his or her designee with The Legis-
lative Bill Drafting Commission and the Temporary President and such notice
shall contain information as to subject matter, date and place.
b. Public forums. Notwithstanding the public hearings conducted by stand-
ing committees, any Senator may convene a public forum on proposed or pend-
ing legislation within the jurisdiction of a committee upon which he or she
is a member, provided that any charge incurred attendant to such forum be
borne by said Senator or his or her party conference. Prior notice of such
forum shall be filed with the chair of the committee.
c. Committee oversight function. Each standing committee is required to
conduct oversight of the administration of laws and programs by agencies
within its jurisdiction.
d. Each standing committee is required to file with the secretary of the
senate an annual report, detailing its legislative and oversight activ-
ities. Such report shall be posted to the Senate web site.
e. Petition for a public hearing on a bill. By a petition of one-third of
the members assigned to a committee rounded up to the nearest whole number,
a public hearing shall be scheduled on a specific bill or number of bills
within the jurisdiction of a committee, unless the majority of members of
the committee reject such petition. Such petitions shall be submitted to
the clerk of the committee for presentation at the next committee meeting.
Public hearings scheduled by petition will be held at least 14 days follow-
ing the committee meeting at which it was considered.
f. Hearings of standing committees shall be video recorded and to the
extent practicable webcast live. Video of such hearing shall be posted to
the Senate web site within 24 hours.
ß 5. Reports. a. No committee shall vote to report a bill or other matter
unless a majority of all the members thereof vote in favor of such report.
Each report of a committee upon a bill shall have the vote of each Senator
attached thereto and such report and vote shall be available for public
inspection. A member's vote on any matter before the committee shall be
entered by the member on a signed official voting sheet delivered to the
Committee Chair.
Any standing committee having secondary subject matter jurisdiction over
a bill may request the chair of the committee having primary subject matter
jurisdiction over said bill (which is the committee to which the said bill
has been referred by the Temporary President pursuant to Rule VI) to commit
the bill to the committee with secondary subject matter jurisdiction either
when the bill is still in the primary committee or after it has been
reported to the calendar. If the chair of the primary committee refuses
said request, then the committee having secondary jurisdiction, through its
chair, may request the Temporary President to consider such secondary ref-
erencing. If a secondary reference is so made, the secondary committee
shall consider the bill forthwith and return said bill to the primary com-
mittee or the calendar, as the case may be, along with the secondary com-
mittee's recommendations.
Any bill which is referred to a standing committee other than the Commit-
tee on Commerce, Economic Development and Small Business and which imposes
or changes any reporting requirements or mandates on businesses or relates
to the procedure by which such reporting requirements or mandates are
imposed or changed, shall, if favorably reported by the committee having
original jurisdiction, be referred to the Committee on Commerce, Economic
Development and Small Business for the purpose of reviewing and considering
the economic impact of the provisions of such bill. In the event that such
a bill is not referred to the Committee on Commerce, Economic Development
and Small Business the chairperson of such Committee may require such
referral, subject to the approval of the Temporary President or his desig-
nees.
All committee reports, after the second Friday in June, shall be made
directly to the Committee on Rules. Notwithstanding any provision of Rule
VI, the Committee on Rules shall have the authority to introduce and refer
bills to itself and shall also have the authority to refer to itself any
bill from any standing committee.
Every report of a committee upon a bill which shall not be considered at
the time of making the same, or laid on the table by a vote of the Senate,
shall stand upon the calendar in the order of first report with the bill
and be entered upon the journal.
b. Each bill reported by a standing committee shall be accompanied by a
report, and the minority shall file a minority committee report within
seven days of the bill being reported out of committee and said reports
shall be filed with the journal clerk. The report of a committee upon any
matter referred to it shall upon request include a brief statement of the
opinion of any member or members of the committee voting in either the
majority or minority.
c. Where a "home rule" request is required as provided in any section of
Article IX of the Constitution, such request, certificate or message must
be filed with the Journal Clerk of the Senate before final passage of such
bill.
d. Where a message of necessity is received from the Governor, such mes-
sage shall be filed with the Journal Clerk of the Senate upon final passage
of the bill.
ß 6. Nominations. Unless the Senate orders otherwise, all nominations
sent by the Governor for the appointment of any officer shall be submitted
to the Temporary President who shall then refer such nominations simultane-
ously to the Finance Committee, and the appropriate standing committee, for
consideration and recommendation and such standing committees, other than
the Committee on Judiciary shall thereafter refer such nominations to the
Finance Committee of the Senate who shall take whatever further actions it
deems necessary and thereafter make its report on the nominations to the
full Senate. Any Senator may submit a request to the Chair of a Standing
Committee considering a nomination, to speak before the committee for not
more than five minutes on the nomination. The granting of any such request
shall be at the sole discretion of the Committee Chair. A nomination shall
not be confirmed without reference on the day on which it is received
except by unanimous consent. The names of those who voted for or against
the nomination may be entered alphabetically on the journal, if any five
Senators request it.
ß 7. Finance Committee. A bill or resolution providing for an appropri-
ation or creating or increasing a charge upon the State Treasury shall,
when reported by any committee other than the Finance Committee, be
referred to the Finance Committee, and the committee reporting such bill or
resolution shall, at the time of making such report, recommend the further
reference thereof to the Finance Committee. At the request of the Temporary
President or the Chair of the Finance Committee, any such bill or resol-
ution shall, at any time before final reading or adoption, be referred to
the Finance Committee, which may consider and report upon any features in
the bill or resolution creating or increasing such charge.
The sponsor of a bill providing for an increase or decrease in state
revenues or in the appropriation or expenditure of state moneys, without
stating the amount thereof, must, before such bill is reported from the
Finance Committee or other committee to which referred, file with the
Finance Committee and such other committee a fiscal note which shall state,
so far as possible, the amount in dollars whereby such state moneys, reven-
ues or appropriations would be affected by such bill, together with a simi-
lar estimate, if the same is possible, for future fiscal years. Such an
estimate must be secured by the sponsor from the Division of the Budget or
the department or agency of state government charged with the fiscal
duties, functions or powers provided in such bill and the name of such
department or agency must be stated in such note.
The Finance Committee shall keep and maintain a file containing all bills
requiring fiscal notes and the notes appertaining thereto, which shall be
available to Senators and officers of the Senate, accredited represen-
tatives of the press, and other responsible persons having a legitimate
interest therein.
RULE VIII
PASSAGE OF BILLS
Section 1. Bills on desks. No bill shall be passed unless it shall have
been printed and upon the desk of each Senator in its final form at least
three calendar legislative days prior to its final passage, unless the Gov-
ernor or acting Governor shall have certified, under his or her hand and
the seal of the State, the facts which in his or her opinion necessitate an
immediate vote thereon, in which case it must nevertheless be upon the
desks of all Senators in final form, not necessarily printed, before its
final passage. No bill shall be passed pursuant to a message of necessity
unless a majority of the Senators vote to approve the use of such message.
ß 2. Reading of bills. a. Every bill shall receive three readings previ-
ous to its being passed.
b. Upon the third reading of a bill, the question upon its final passage
shall be taken immediately thereafter; provided, however, that any bill may
be committed prior to the final reading thereof.
ß 3. Third reading calendar. a. The Calendar of bills on the order of
third reading shall consist of all bills which have been advanced to a
third reading from the order of second report or the order of special
report.
b. All Senate bills, when advanced to a third reading shall be referred
automatically to the Jacketing Clerk, who shall cause each such bill to be
readied for final passage in the same form as the last printed copy there-
of. All such bills shall be jacketed with the proper jurat for certif-
ication of final passage attached.
ß 4. Amendments. a. A non-sponsor may move to amend a bill at any time
prior to the completion of its third reading provided that at least two
hours before the time for the Senate to convene, a copy of the proposed
amendment or amendments to any bill on the list of bills compiled under
subdivision a of section six of this Rule has been served upon the sponsor
of the bill, and filed with the Journal Clerk. If a sponsor does not accept
such amendment, the question shall be put to the house whether a majority
of members elected vote in favor of the non-sponsor motion to amend, and
such motion shall pass only if a majority of members elected vote aye. If
the sponsor accepts the amendment, such amended bill shall be ordered
printed without a vote, debate or explanation, and such bill shall retain
its place on the Third Reading Calendar.
b. If a majority of members elected vote in favor of the non-sponsor
motion to amend, the sponsor of the bill may make a motion to withdraw
their name from sponsorship to be substituted by a co-sponsor or the Sen-
ator who moved to amend the bill.
c. The introducer of any calendar bill may offer an amendment or amend-
ments to such bill and such amendment or amendments shall be accepted and
the bill ordered printed without a vote, debate or explanation, provided,
however, that in such case such bill may be recommitted by the chair of the
standing committee that reported such bill and such recommittal shall also
be without a vote, debate or explanation.
ß 5. Substitution. When a bill is received as a message from the Assem-
bly, or at any time thereafter, and a Senate bill, identical therewith, is
on the order of third reading, or in the order of first or second report,
the Assembly bill may be substituted for the Senate bill upon a vote of a
majority of the Senate. A motion for such substitution shall be in order
under the order of business of messages from the Assembly, motions and
resolutions, or the order of business in which the Senate bill is.
ß 6. Final passage. a. Prior to the reading of the third reading calendar
of any given day, the Temporary President may file with the Journal Clerk
an active list of bills on the third reading calendar which may be acted
upon on that date and he or she may lay aside any bill upon which no final
action may be taken, provided however, that no bill shall be so laid aside
for a period exceeding five calendar legislative days. Such active list
shall be published by 8 p.m. the previous evening or within two hours fol-
lowing the end of the previous days' session, whichever is later.
b. The question on the final passage of every bill shall be taken imme-
diately after the third reading and without debate. On the final passage of
every bill and concurrent resolution a fast roll call shall be taken by the
Secretary calling the names of five Senators, two of whom shall be the Tem-
porary President and the Minority Leader provided, however, that each Sen-
ator's name shall be called on a slow roll call if requested by five Sen-
ators. Each roll call, including the names of the Senators who were absent
shall be entered on the journal. Upon each roll call vote, the Secretary
shall announce the names of the Senators voting in the negative and the
names of the Senators who were absent. Such roll calls shall be available
for public inspection upon request in the office of the Journal Clerk. When
a bill or concurrent resolution does not receive the number of votes
required by the Constitution to pass it, it shall be declared lost, except
in cases provided for by subdivision d of section two of Rule IX hereof.
ß 7. Starred bills. a. A bill appearing on the calendar may be "starred"
only by or on behalf of the introducer, whereupon all further action on
such bill shall be suspended, although it retains its place on the Calen-
dar.
b. Other than for the purpose of amendment or recommittal, no action may
be taken on a bill from which a star has been removed until one day after
such removal.
ß 8. Recall and concurrence. All Senate bills amended by the Assembly,
and returned to the Senate, for its concurrence, and all bills amended by
the report of a conference committee, shall be subject to the provisions of
section one of this Rule.
ß 9. Transmittal of bills to the Governor. All Senate bills passed by the
Senate and sent to the Assembly for action shall, upon passage and return
by the Assembly to the Senate, be transmitted by the Secretary to the Gov-
ernor within forty-five days after receipt from the Assembly; except that
upon the filing of a request to hold such bill with the Secretary by the
sponsor of the bill, the bill shall be held until such time as the sponsor
rescinds the request to hold the bill and upon such rescission the Secre-
tary shall transmit the bill to the Governor within seven days.
RULE IX
SENATORS
Section 1. Attendance and vote. a. Every Senator shall be present within
the Senate Chamber during the sessions of the Senate, unless duly excused
or necessarily prevented, and shall vote on each question for which a vote
is required stated from the Chair unless excused by the Senate, or unless
he or she has a direct personal or pecuniary interest in the event of such
question. If any Senator refuses to vote, unless he or she be excused by
the Senate, or unless he or she be interested, such refusal shall be deemed
a contempt. In order to vote on a bill on the controversial calendar, a
Senator, other than the Temporary President or Minority Leader, must be
present in the Senate chamber and vote from his or her regularly assigned
seat, except that a Senator acting as the Presiding Officer, Temporary Pre-
sident or Minority Leader may vote from the place assigned to such officer.
No Senator absent from a roll call vote shall be allowed to vote thereon;
however, within the same day, a Senator required to attend a public hearing
or other meeting of a standing or conference committee, which the Temporary
President has designated as appropriate, may cast his or her vote at any
time prior to 5:00 P.M. or the adjournment of the Senate, whichever shall
be later.
b. A Senator desiring to be excused from voting for a direct personal or
pecuniary interest in the issue then before the Senate may, when his or her
name is called, state such desire and if there be an objection make a brief
statement, not occupying over two minutes, of the reasons for making such
request, and the question on excusing him or her shall then be taken with-
out debate and shall be granted by the consent of two-thirds of the Sen-
ators present; and any Senator desiring to explain his or her vote upon a
bill, may, when his or her name is called, be allowed a like opportunity.
ß 2. Quorum. a. A majority of all the Senators elected shall constitute a
quorum to do business. In case a less number than a quorum of the Senate
shall convene, those present are authorized to send the Sergeant at Arms,
or any other person, for the absent Senators.
b. The assent of two-thirds of the Senators elected shall be requisite to
every bill appropriating the public moneys or property for local or private
purposes, and to the passage of bills returned by the Governor without his
or her approval.
c. On the final passage of any bill which imposes, continues or revives a
tax, or creates a debt or charge, or makes, continues or revives any appro-
priation of public or trust money or property, or releases, discharges or
commutes any claim or demand of the State, three-fifths of all the members
elected to the Senate shall be necessary to constitute a quorum therein.
d. If, on taking the final question on a bill, it shall appear that a
constitutional quorum is not present, or if the bill requires a vote of
two-thirds of all the Senators elected to pass it, and it appears that such
number is not present, the bill shall retain its place on the Calendar and
be again taken up in its regular order.
e. When any bill requiring the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senators,
or a quorum of three-fifths thereof, is under consideration, such concur-
rence or quorum, as the case may be, shall not be requisite except on the
question of its final passage.
f. If at any time during the session of the Senate a question shall be
raised by any Senator as to the presence of a quorum, the Presiding Officer
shall forthwith direct the Secretary to call the roll, and shall announce
the result, and such proceeding shall be without debate; but no Senator
while speaking shall be interrupted by any other Senator raising the ques-
tion of a lack of a quorum, and the question as to the presence of a quorum
shall not be raised more often than once in every hour unless the lack of a
quorum shall be disclosed upon a roll call of the ayes and nays.
g. Whenever upon a roll call any Senator who is upon the floor of the
Senate Chamber refuses to make response when his or her name is called, it
shall be the duty of the Presiding Officer, either upon his or her own
motion or upon the suggestion of any Senator, to request the Senator so
remaining silent to respond to his or her name, and if such Senator fails
to do so, the fact of such request and refusal shall be entered in the
journal, and such Senator shall be counted as present for the purpose of
constituting a quorum.
ß 3. Debate. a. Debate shall only be in order when it is germane to the
question under discussion.
b. If the question in debate contains several points, a Senator may have
the same divided, provided the division called for embodies a distinct
principle or statement of fact.
c. When any bill, resolution or motion is under consideration and it
appears that no Senator desires to be heard further, the Presiding Officer
shall put the question: "Does any Senator desire to be heard further?" If
no Senator shall rise to debate, the Presiding Officer shall declare the
debate closed; except that thereafter the Minority Leader may speak once,
or may yield the floor to any Senator who may speak once, and may be fol-
lowed by the Temporary President who may also speak once, or may yield the
floor to any Senator who may speak once. The main question shall then be
put immediately.
d. Debate on motions or resolutions other than concurrent resolutions
shall be limited to one hour with one-half hour allocated to each confer-
ence. Debate upon any bill or concurrent resolution shall be limited to
four hours, which shall include sufficient time for all Senators to explain
their votes. No single Senator shall debate any bill or concurrent resol-
ution for more than thirty minutes. When any bill or concurrent resolution
shall have been under consideration for two hours, including all amendments
thereto, it shall be in order for any Senator to move to close debate, and
the Presiding Officer shall recognize the Senator who wishes to make such
motion. Such motion to close debate shall not be amendable or debatable and
shall be immediately put, and if it shall receive the affirmative vote of a
majority of the Senators present, the pending measure shall take precedence
over all other business.
e. The vote shall thereupon be taken upon such bill, resolution or motion
with such amendments as may be pending at the time of such motion, accord-
ing to the Rules of the Senate, but without further debate, except that
upon the roll call any Senator may speak not to exceed two minutes in
explanation of his or her vote. After such motion to close debate has been
made by any Senator, no other motion shall be in order until such motion
has been voted upon by the Senate.
f. After the Senate shall have adopted the motion to close debate, as
hereinbefore provided, no motion shall be in order but one motion to
adjourn or for a call of the Senate by the Temporary President, and a
motion to commit. Should said motion to adjourn be carried, the measure
under consideration shall be the pending question when the Senate shall
again convene, and shall be taken up at the point where it was at the time
of such adjournment. The motion to close debate may be ordered upon a sin-
gle motion, a series of motions allowable under the rules, or an amendment
or amendments, or may be made to embrace all authorized motions or amend-
ments, and include the bill, resolution or motion to its passage or
rejection. All incidental questions of order, or motions pending at the
time such motion is made to close debate, whether the same be on appeal or
otherwise, shall be decided without debate.
ß 4. Order and decorum. a. Prior to the order of business, the presiding
officer shall ask those in the chamber to rise and pledge allegiance to the
flag. Those in attendance shall remain standing during the daily invocation
and until asked to take their seats by the presiding officer. Senators
shall not interrupt the business of the Senate, or read any newspaper while
the journals or public papers are being read; or walk out of or across the
Chamber when the Presiding Officer is putting a question; or when a Senator
is speaking, pass between him or her and the Chair. Cellular telephones and
audible pagers shall not be used in the Chamber or in the Senate Galleries.
No sign, placard or prop shall be displayed, posted or carried in the Cham-
ber. Cellular telephones shall not be used in the lobby by members of the
general public. No person shall be introduced by a Senator during the regu-
lar business of the Senate, except that it shall be permissible to intro-
duce a person who has served as a member of the New York State Legislature
or a person who is present in the Chamber for the purpose of nomination to
an office to be confirmed by the Senate. On the nomination of any person to
an office which is subject to the confirmation of the Senate, nominating
and seconding speeches shall be limited to fifteen minutes per conference.
b. Members are expected to uphold the highest standards of civility in
dealing with other members. Debate should be dignified and lacking in per-
sonal invective. A Senator rising to debate or present a paper, to give a
notice, to make a motion or report, shall address the Presiding Officer and
shall not proceed further until recognized by the Chair; he or she shall
speak on the same subject but twice the same day without leave of the Sen-
ate; and when two or more Senators address the Chair, the Presiding Officer
shall name the Senator who is first to speak. A Senator, while speaking
after recognition by the Chair, may, upon request of a Senator, yield to
him or her temporarily without thereby relinquishing his or her prior right
to the floor and, thereafter, may terminate such interruption and resume
speaking at any time; provided, however, that it shall not be in order for
a Senator to rise and request that a Senator, other than the one with the
right to the floor, yield to a question. Furthermore, it shall not be in
order for a Senator, with the right to the floor, to ask another Senator to
yield to a question, unless such Senator has previously spoken during the
debate on the matter. All questions and responses shall be directed through
the chair, and the presiding officer shall not be interrupted when speak-
ing. After completion of the order of business for the day, and with the
unanimous consent of the Senate, a Senator may make a statement, not
exceeding fifteen minutes in length, concerning a subject or matter not
pending before the Senate for consideration.
c. When a Senator shall be called to order, he or she shall take his or
her seat until the Presiding Officer shall have determined whether he or
she is in order or not; and if decided to be out of order, he or she shall
not proceed without the permission of the Senate; and every question of
order shall be decided by the Presiding Officer, subject to an appeal to
the Senate by any Senator. It shall require an affirmative vote of a major-
ity of all members elected to overrule a ruling of the Chair. No second
appeal shall be determined until the original appeal shall be decided; and
if a Senator shall be called to order for words spoken, the words excepted
to shall be immediately taken down in writing.
ß 5. Presentation of papers. a. A Senator presenting a paper shall
endorse the same with his or her name and a brief written statement of the
subject of its contents.
b. When the reading of a paper is called for, except petitions, and the
same is objected to by any Senator, it shall be determined by a vote of the
Senate, without debate.
ß 6. Call of the Senate. For the purpose of securing the attendance of
Senators, a call of the Senate may be ordered at any time, but such call
shall not be in order after the voting on any question has begun, nor after
the third reading of a bill has been completed, nor after the motion to
close debate has been ordered pursuant to section three of this Rule,
unless it shall appear upon an actual count by the Presiding Officer that a
quorum is not present.
ß 7. Absences. In all cases of absence of Senators during the sessions of
the Senate, the Temporary President or a majority of the Senators elected
may take such measures as they deem necessary to secure the presence of the
absentees, and in addition to suspension for a given period, may inflict
such censure or penalty as they may deem just on those who shall not render
sufficient excuse for their absence.
ß 8. Staffing. All Senators shall receive the same base allocation of
funds for staffing their offices. Additional funding for responsibilities
associated with committees and leadership positions shall be allocated
within amounts available for committee and leadership staff; such amounts
shall include, at a minimum, a budget sufficient to appoint a staff member
with expertise in the committee's subject matter. The funding for the
minority conference central staff shall not be less than thirty-three per-
cent of the funds allocated for all central staff.
ß 9. Resources. All Senators shall have equitable access to the resources
of the Senate, including, but not limited to, office supplies, communi-
cations and audio visual resources, mail privileges subject to published
guidelines, technology, including both hardware and software, and equal
access to the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission's Legislative Retrieval
System.
ß 10. District Offices. All Senators will receive funds to maintain a
district office. Rents of district offices shall be based on a cost formula
of office rental costs of an equal class of commercial office space based
on the prevailing rent in the community where the Senator chooses to have
his or her district office. A Senator whose district has geographic dispar-
ities such that traversing the district is a hardship for his or her con-
stituents, as determined by the Temporary President, shall receive supple-
mental funding to maintain a satellite office.
ß 11. Allocation for Community Projects. Each conference shall receive an
allocation from any amounts to be awarded by the Senate for community pro-
jects, capital spending, local assistance or other similar allocations for
member driven initiatives. The Majority shall receive two-thirds of such
funds and the Minority shall receive one-third of the such funds; provided
however that such proportions shall increase or decrease to reflect any
changes in the membership of each conference.
RULE X
SENATE CHAMBERS
Section 1. Open doors. The doors of the Senate shall be kept open, except
when the public welfare shall require secrecy.
ß 2. Admission to floor. Persons not members of the Senate, or officers
or employees thereof, shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate only as
follows:
a. The Governor, his or her secretary and messenger.
b. The members and Clerk of the Assembly, and clerks and messengers of
the Assembly in the exercise of an official duty directly connected with
the business of the Senate.
c. The elected State officers, heads of departments and their deputies.
d. Reporters of the Senate and of the Assembly designated under the
rules, unless a designation theretofore given them has been revoked.
e. Members of a Senator's family, or of the family of the President of
the Senate.
f. Former members of the Senate.
g. Any person not hereinbefore named may be admitted to the floor of the
Senate, with the permission of the Temporary President.
h. Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions a through g of this
section, no person shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate who is
interested in pending or contemplated legislation, or who is employed by or
receives compensation from any public or private source for influencing
legislation.
i. During the sessions of the Senate, no person other than a Senator
shall occupy the chair of a Senator, or stand in or otherwise occupy any
part of the area between the last row of Senators' chairs on the east and
west sides of the Chamber, and the east and west walls thereof, respective-
ly. All persons in the Senate Chamber shall observe proper rules of order
and decorum.
j. It shall be the duty of the Sergeant at Arms strictly to enforce the
provisions of this section, and it shall be in order for any Senator to
call a breach thereof to the attention of the Presiding Officer.
RULE XI
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES
Section 1. Resolution to amend the Senate Rules. No amendment to the Sen-
ate Rules shall be considered by the Senate unless a resolution for such
amendment, together with a memorandum specifying the purpose of the pro-
posed amendment, suspension, or rescission, shall be introduced to the Com-
mittee on Rules and reported therefrom to the Senate floor. Passing of
such rules change shall require an affirmative vote of the majority of all
Senators elected.
ß 2. Motion for Chamber Consideration. a. It shall be in order for any
Senator, who is the sponsor of a bill that is on the Senate's Third Reading
Calendar, to move for chamber consideration of such bill. Such motion shall
require an affirmative vote of a majority of members elected. Where a
motion for chamber consideration is approved, such bill shall be considered
by the full Senate on the first calendar legislative day after four days
shall have passed. Provided however, where such motion is approved within
the last five scheduled days of the regular legislative session, such bill
shall be considered by the Senate no later than the next calendar legisla-
tive day.
b. On any calendar legislative day, no more than two motions for chamber
consideration shall be in order before the Senate. The sponsor of such
motion shall serve written notice of intent to bring such motion at least
one calendar legislative day before such motion shall be made, specifying
the date the motion is to be made.
ß 3. Petition for Consideration. a. The sponsor of any bill may file with
the Journal Clerk, no less than forty-five days after a bill has been
referred to a committee, a petition requesting that such bill be moved to
the calendar for consideration. Such petition shall be filed with the Jour-
nal Clerk. Once the petition is signed by at least three-fifths of the mem-
bers elected, the petition shall be read during the order of presentation
of petitions and the bill reported to the third reading calendar. Such bill
shall be considered by the full Senate on the first calendar legislative
day after four days shall have passed.
b. No petition for consideration shall be in order on or after the first
Monday in June.
RULE XII
ADJOURNMENT
Section 1. The Senate shall not adjourn for more than two days without
the consent of the Assembly.
RULE XIII
GUIDELINES FOR A SYSTEM OF INTERNAL CONTROLS
Section 1. Pursuant to Article 6 of the Legislative Law as enacted by the
New York state governmental accountability, audit and internal control act
of 1987, the following guidelines for a System of Internal Control are
hereby established:
a. all financial transactions shall be executed in accordance with the
general or specific authorization of the Temporary President or his or her
designated representative;
b. all financial transactions shall be recorded in conformity with gener-
ally accepted accounting principles or other applicable criteria and to
maintain accountability for assets;
c. access to assets shall be permitted only in accordance with the
authorization of the Temporary President or his or her designated represen-
tative;
d. the recorded accountability for assets shall be compared with the
existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action shall be
taken with respect to any differences; and
e. the system of internal controls shall provide reasonable assurance
that the foregoing are accomplished.
ß 2. Expenditure reporting. The Temporary President shall establish a
system of expenditure reporting whereby expenditures of the Senate shall be
reported by such categories as he or she shall determine. Reports of
expenditures by such system shall be published in a form to be prescribed
by the Temporary President.
RULE XIV
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION
Section 1. a. Publication of records relating to Senate legislative and
administrative records. Recognizing that legislative records available by
request under the "freedom of information law" are of important public
interest, the Senate shall make available through a searchable and sortable
database on the Senate website: records of committees, agendas, votes, min-
utes, reports, attendance, fiscal notes, and records of the chamber includ-
ing, active lists, votes, transcripts, calendars, the Senate payroll report
and expenditure reports.
b. Furthermore all such records listed in subdivision a shall be avail-
able for public inspection and copying in accordance with the provisions of
Article 6 of the Public Officers Law, "the freedom of information law."
c. It shall be the duty of the Temporary President to publish rules and
regulations regarding public inspection and copying of Senate records. Such
rules and regulations shall pertain to the times and places such records
are available, the persons from whom such records may be obtained, the fees
for copies of such records and the procedures to be followed.
d. Nothing in this section shall be construed to increase the legislative
requirements set forth in subdivision 2 or 3 of section 88 of the public
officers law.
RULE XV
TELEVISING SENATE SESSION
Section 1. Any televised proceedings of sessions of the Senate shall be
made available for statewide television broadcast, pursuant to the follow-
ing:
a. All televised proceedings of the Senate session shall be unedited,
except that only accredited news organizations, educational institutions,
and public affairs documentary programs may utilize any portion of the Sen-
ate television feed.
b. No portion of the televised proceedings (either live or taped) author-
ized pursuant to this section may be utilized for:
(1) campaign or political purposes or to promote or oppose a ballot issue
or the candidacy of any person for any elective office; or
(2) any paid commercial advertisements.
ß 2. The televised proceedings of sessions of the Senate as provided for
in section one of this Rule, in any form, shall be deemed the property of
the New York State Senate.
PERMANENT JOINT RULES OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY
JOINT RULE I
Section 1. Requirement of Fiscal Impact Notes. Fiscal impact notes shall
be required for all bills and amendments, other than those excepted as pro-
vided in section four hereof, which would substantially affect the revenues
or expenses, or both, of any county, city, town, village, school district
or special district (hereinafter referred to as "political subdivisions").
For purposes of this Joint Rule and section 51 of the Legislative Law, the
term "special district" shall mean a district possessing the power to con-
tract indebtedness and levy or require the levy of taxes or benefit assess-
ments upon real property.
ß 2. Sufficiency and Contents of Fiscal Impact Notes. Fiscal impact notes
shall be deemed sufficient for purposes of this Joint Rule if prepared in
conformity with this section.
A. Scope of fiscal estimates. Fiscal impact upon political subdivisions
shall be estimated on the basis of any one or more of the following:
(i) Individual political subdivisions; or
(ii) Aggregates of political subdivisions (a) statewide or by lesser
geographic area, or (b) by classification or subclassification of relevant
characteristics; or
(iii) Representative political subdivisions with relevant characteristics
thereof quantitatively set forth, e.g., population, area, weighted average
daily attendance of pupils; or
(iv) Any other appropriate, convenient or accessible grouping of poli-
tical subdivisions.
B. Units of measurement. Fiscal impact measurements shall be made in
units of money, personal services, equipment, or any other appropriate,
convenient or accessible units of measurement.
C. Negligible Impact. A fiscal impact note filed by the sponsor of a bill
which states that the fiscal impact of the bill is negligible shall be
deemed to be in compliance with this Joint Rule.
ß 3. Procedure. A. (i) The Temporary President of the Senate and the
Speaker of the Assembly shall each designate a person in such officer's
respective house to examine each bill in such house, without regard to its
house of origin, for the purpose of ascertaining whether a fiscal impact
note is required pursuant to this Joint Rule, and if such note is required,
such person shall so notify the sponsor of such bill.
(ii) The sponsor of such bill shall provide such fiscal impact note on a
separate form prescribed therefor by the Temporary President of the Senate
and the Speaker of the Assembly jointly.
(iii) Such fiscal impact note shall state the source thereof, which may
be the sponsor; provided, however, that in the case of a bill proposed by a
state department or agency, such note shall be prepared and furnished by
such department or agency.
(iv) Such designated person in each house shall thereupon review each
fiscal impact note for compliance with the provisions of this Joint Rule.
B. No bill requiring a fiscal impact note shall be reported to the floor
of the house unless accompanied by the appropriate note for the version of
such bill so reported, except as provided in section four hereof.
C. If an amendment to a bill has a fiscal impact, the member offering
such amendment shall provide the fiscal impact note required by such amend-
ment. If such amendment prevails, the sponsor shall provide a fiscal impact
note for the amended bill before final passage, unless excepted pursuant to
subdivision F of section four hereof.
ß 4. Exceptions. A fiscal impact note shall not be required for a bill:
A. subject to the provisions of section 50 of the Legislative Law;
B. requested by a county, city, town or village in accordance with the
provisions of paragraph two of subdivision (b) of section two of Article IX
of the Constitution;
C. which provides discretionary authority to a political subdivision;
D. submitted pursuant to section 24 of the State Finance Law;
E. reported to the floor of the House by the Rules Committee, if such
committee, in its discretion, determines that such action is in the public
interest;
F. which has been amended on the floor of either house, where a fiscal
impact note would otherwise have been required for such amended bill by
this Joint Rule and section 51 of the Legislative Law, if the Temporary
President of the Senate or the Speaker of the Assembly, respectively, in
such officer's discretion, determines that the amended bill may be acted on
in such officer's house without such note; or
G. which inadvertently passes the Legislature where a fiscal impact note
would otherwise have been required by this Joint Rule and section 51 of the
Legislative Law.
ß 5. Effect of Inaccuracy. If the estimate or estimates contained in a
fiscal impact note are inaccurate, such inaccuracy shall not affect, impair
or invalidate such bill.
ß 6. Application. The provisions of this Joint Rule shall apply to bills
and amendments proposed for introduction at the nineteen hundred eighty-
five regular legislative session and permanently thereafter.
JOINT RULE II
Section 1. Committee on Conference. The Temporary President of the Senate
and the Speaker of the Assembly may jointly convene a Joint Committee on
Conference to consider and report upon substantially similar but not iden-
tical legislation that has passed each House of the Legislature. Such com-
mittee shall be constituted by the filing of a joint certificate by the
Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly with the
Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the Assembly, and shall consist of
the same number of members from each House. Unless otherwise provided in
the certificate, there shall be five members on such committee from each
House to be appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate who shall
appoint the members from the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly who
shall appoint the members from the Assembly; provided, however, that of
each House's delegation at least one member shall represent the minority in
each House. The Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
Assembly shall each appoint a co-chairperson of the committee and such co-
chairpersons shall convene and recess meetings of the committee. Meetings
jointly convened by the co-chairpersons shall be subject to the provisions
of Article 7 of the Public Officers Law. The committee shall file a written
report setting forth the joint recommendations of a majority of each
House's delegation with the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the
Assembly or such other committees or officers as may be set forth in the
certificate and such report may include specific bill language that would
implement the joint committee's recommendations. No report shall be filed
except upon the affirmative vote of a majority of the members of each
House's delegation on the committee.
JOINT RULE III
Section 1. Budget Consideration Schedule. In accordance with section 54-a
of the Legislative Law, within ten days of the submission of the budget by
the Governor pursuant to article VII of the Constitution, the Temporary
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly shall promulgate a
schedule of dates for considering and acting upon such submission. Such
schedule shall include the dates for those actions required to be taken by
the legislature pursuant to section 53 of the Legislative Law, dates for
the convening of a joint budget conference committee or committees as pro-
vided herein, and a date by which such committee or committees shall issue
a final report or reports.
ß 2. Joint Budget Conference Committee. In accordance with section 54-a
of the Legislative Law, within ten days of the submission of the budget by
the Governor pursuant to article VII of the Constitution, the Temporary
President of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly shall jointly
establish a Joint Budget Conference Committee and, as they deem necessary,
any number of subcommittees subordinate to such Joint Budget Conference
Committee, to consider and reconcile such budget resolutions or bills
passed by, or as may be passed by, the Senate and Assembly. Such Joint
Budget Conference Committee shall be constituted and conducted as pre-
scribed in Joint Rule II and shall file its written report in accord with
the schedule established pursuant to section 1 of this rule.
JOINT RULE IV
Section 1. Joint Advisory Board on Broadcast of State Government Pro-
ceedings. The Temporary President of the Senate and the Speaker of the
Assembly shall convene a bi-partisan, bi-cameral joint advisory board to
oversee current and future broadcast of New York State Government pro-
ceedings. This board shall consist of eight members of whom three shall be
appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate, three members shall be
appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly and one member shall be appointed
by each of the minority leaders of each house. The appointments shall be
of members of the respective houses of the Legislature. The Temporary Pres-
ident of the Senate and the Speaker of the Assembly shall each appoint a
co-chair of the board.
ß 2. Duties of the Joint Advisory Board. The joint advisory board shall
engage in such activities as it deems necessary for the preparation and
formulation of a report to review the efficacy of current programming and
explore future expansion of such to include additional legislative and
other governmental proceedings, as well as other related public policy and
educational material. The report shall include specific recommendations
concerning the broadcast or webcast on the Internet of all legislative com-
mittee meetings. On or before November 1, 2009, the report shall be submit-
ted to the Temporary President of the Senate, the Speaker of the Assembly,
the Minority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the Assembly.
INDEX TO RULES OF THE SENATE
A
ABSENTEES----- .................................................... Rule
Censure or penalty for unexcused ........................... IX Sec. 7
Excuse of .................................................. IX Sec. 1
Suspension of unexcused ................................... IX Sec. 7
Securing presence of ....................................... IX Sec. 7
Sergeant at arms may be sent for ..................... IX Sec. 2, sb a
ADJOURNMENT-----
Limitation upon ........................................... XII Sec. 1
Measure under consideration at ....................... IX Sec. 3, sb f
Motion for, always in order, exceptions ............... V Sec. 8, sb b
Debate not allowed on ................................. V Sec. 8, sb b
One, only, in order after close of debate ............ IX Sec. 3, sb f
Precedence of, when question pending .................. V Sec. 8, sb a
Previous question .................................. V Sec. 8, sb a, d
Reconsideration of, not in order ...................... V Sec. 9, sb a
ADMISSION TO FLOOR-----
Persons entitled to ......................................... X Sec. 2
Reporters entitled to ...................................... II Sec. 5
X Sec. 2, sb d
Sergeant at arms to enforce rules respecting ............... IV Sec. 6
X Sec. 2, sb j
ALTER OR AMEND SENATE RULES (See "RULES OF SENATE")
AMENDMENTS-----
Bills reported favorably, if amended to be reprinted ....... VI Sec. 3
Constitutional, how treated .......................... VI Sec. 9, sb c
Filing of .......................................... VIII Sec. 4, sb a
Germane, requirement respecting ...................... VI Sec. 4, sb b
Matter added and eliminated by, how treated .......... VI Sec. 4, sb b
Motion to amend by non-sponsor ........................... VIII Sec. 4
Order of precedence of motion offering ................ V Sec. 8, sb a
Pending, after debate, how vote taken ................ IX Sec. 3, sb e
Preparation of ............................................. VI Sec. 4
Proposed, to be filed with committee chairman ...... VIII Sec. 4, sb a
Restoring bill to earlier form ............................. VI Sec. 3
Third reading, allowed prior to completion of ...... VIII Sec. 4, sb a
Two copies for introduction of ....................... VI Sec. 4, sb b
AMENDMENTS TO FEDERAL CONSTITUTION
(See "CONSTITUTION OF UNITED STATES")
AMENDMENTS TO STATE CONSTITUTION
(See "CONSTITUTION OF NEW YORK STATE")
APPEAL-----
Decision of presiding officer subject to .................. III Sec. 1
IX Sec. 4, sb c
Motions or questions on, when not debatable ....... IX Sec. 3, sb e, f
Second, not to be determined until original is decided IX Sec. 4, sb c
APPROPRIATIONS-----
Employees provided for by, appointment of .................. IV Sec. 4
Quorum required for certain bills making ............. IX Sec. 2, sb c
Reconsideration of vote on bills making ............... V Sec. 9, sb b
Reference of bills or resolutions providing for ........... VII Sec. 7
Resolutions making, vote required .................... VI Sec. 9, sb d
Vote required for certain bills making ............... IX Sec. 2, sb b
ASSEMBLY-----
Bills, amended and returned by ........................... VIII Sec. 8
Introduced by message from ............................... VI Sec. 1
Recalled from, reconsideration of ................... V Sec. 9, sb a
Substitution of, for Senate bills ...................... VIII Sec. 5
Consent of, necessary for adjournment longer than two days XII Sec. 1
Messages from, shall be received at any time ................ V Sec. 4
Resolution recalled from, reconsideration of .......... V Sec. 9, sb a
Resolution recalling bill or resolution from ......... VI Sec. 9, sb a
AYES AND NAYS-----
Final passage,to be taken on, and entered on journal.VIII Sec. 6, sb b
Five Senators may require "slow" roll call of ............. VII Sec. 6
VIII Sec. 6, sb b
Quorum, presence of, when determined by call of ...... IX Sec. 2, sb f
B
BILLS-----
Action on, Secretary's duty respecting ..................... IV Sec. 5
Amended by restoring to earlier printed form ............... VI Sec. 3
Amending Constitution, amendment and committal ....... VI Sec. 9, sb c
Amending existing laws, matter eliminated in brackets VI Sec. 4, sb b
Amending existing laws, new matter underscored ....... VI Sec. 4, sb b
Amendments, how prepared ............................. VI Sec. 4, sb b
Must be germane to original object of .............. VI Sec. 4, sb b
Allowed any time prior to third reading .......... VIII Sec. 4, sb a
Appropriating money, etc. ......................... IX Sec. 2, sb b, c
Fiscal notes required ................................... VII Sec. 7
Bill sections, requirements respecting ............... VI Sec. 4, sb a
Budget bills, submission of, by Governor ................... VI Sec. 6
Constitutional quorum on vote for certain ............ IX Sec. 2, sb c
If absent retains place on calendar ................ IX Sec. 2, sb d
Needed only for final passage ...................... IX Sec. 2, sb e
Copies of, number required for introduction ................ VI Sec. 1
Correction of, by revision clerk ........................... VI Sec. 1
Daily calendar of .......................................... IV Sec. 5
Debate on, generally ....................................... IX Sec. 3
Desks of Senators, to be placed on ......................... VI Sec. 3
Explanatory note to be appended to certain ........... VI Sec. 4, sb a
Final date for introduction ................................ VI Sec. 5
Final passage of, generally .............................. VIII Sec. 6
Appropriating money, requirements for certain ... IX Sec. 2, sb b, c
Appropriating money, when may be reconsidered ....... V Sec. 9, sb b
Preparation for .................................. VIII Sec. 3, sb b
Presiding officer to certify ............................ III Sec. 2
Question on, not debatable after third reading ... VIII Sec. 6, sb b
Question on, taken immediately after third reading VIII Sec. 6, sb b
Quorum required for, certain bills ....................... IX Sec. 2
Vote on, how taken ............................... VIII Sec. 6, sb b
Vote required for, certain bills ......................... IX Sec. 2
When declared lost ............................... VIII Sec. 6, sb b
"Home rule" requests necessary before bill passage .. VII Sec. 5, sb c
Fiscal notes required, in certain cases ................... VII Sec. 7
Illegible bills to be returned ....................... VI Sec. 4, sb a
Introduction of ............................................ VI Sec. 1
By Senator, committee, message, etc. ..................... VI Sec. 1
Memos .................................................... VI Sec. 1
Reading, first and second, prior to ...................... VI Sec. 1
Two copies required for .................................. VI Sec. 1
Time limit on ............................................ VI Sec. 5
Jacketing of, by Jacketing Clerk ................... VIII Sec. 3, sb b
Laid aside, retain place, order of business ........... V Sec. 6, sb b
Time restriction ................................. VIII Sec. 6, sb a
Motions respecting (See "Motions")
Multi-sponsorship .......................................... VI Sec. 2
New matter, how shown ................................ VI Sec. 4, sb b
Notice of public hearing on ............................... VII Sec. 4
Official copy ...................................... VIII Sec. 3, sb b
Passage of, certification by presiding officer ............ III Sec. 2
Passage of, certain requirements for final ............... VIII Sec. 1
Petition out of committee, notice .......................... XI Sec. 3
Printed immediately on introduction ........................ VI Sec. 3
Program, departmental and agency,
submitted to Temporary President ......................... VI Sec. 7
Offered to Minority Leader ............................... VI Sec. 7
Placed on bill files on desks of Senators .................. VI Sec. 3
Private or local, one subject only, expressed in title ..... VI Sec. 4
Public hearing on ......................................... VII Sec. 4
Quorum, three-fifths, required for passage
of certain ...................................... IX Sec. 2, sb c, e
Reading, first and second ................................ VI Sec. 1
Recalled from Assembly, etc., subject to certain rules . VIII Sec. 8
For amendment, or amended by Assembly .................. VIII Sec. 8
For reconsideration ................................. V Sec. 9, sb a
Reconsideration of .......................................... V Sec. 9
When not in order ................................... V Sec. 9, sb a
Referred to Revision Clerk ................................. VI Sec. 1
Referred to Jacketing Clerk ........................ VIII Sec. 3, sb b
Reintroduction for second year of term ..................... VI Sec. 8
Repealing existing laws .................................... VI Sec. 4
Report of committee to which bill referred ........ VII Sec. 5 sb a, b
Reported favorably, with amendments, to be reprinted ....... VI Sec. 3
Reprinting, when not complying with rules ............ VI Sec. 4, sb b
Restored to earlier form, not to be reprinted .............. VI Sec. 3
Revision Clerk shall return, if illegible ............ VI Sec. 4, sb a
Special order, if incompleted, bill retains place ........... V Sec. 5
Starred bills ............................................ VIII Sec. 7
State department bills, last day for submission ............ VI Sec. 5
Subject matter jurisdiction, primary, secondary ..... VII Sec. 5, sb a
Substitution of Assembly bills ........................... VIII Sec. 5
Third reading calendar, what constitutes ........... VIII Sec. 3, sb a
Provisions regarding ............................. VIII Sec. 6, sb a
Third reading, no amendments allowed on completion ofVIII Sec. 4, sb a
Order of precedence ................................. V Sec. 6, sb a
Three day rule, before passage ........................... VIII Sec. 1
Three-fifths quorum required for passage of certain IX Sec. 2, sb c, e
Three readings required before passage ............. VIII Sec. 2, sb a
Time limit on introduction of .............................. VI Sec. 5
Titles of, amending certain laws, what to contain .......... VI Sec. 4
To amend Constitution, limitation on amendment ....... VI Sec. 9, sb c
Two-thirds vote required for passage of certain ... IX Sec. 2, sb b, e
Two year "carry over" ...................................... VI Sec. 8
Vetoed by Governor, vote for passage ................. IX Sec. 2, sb b
BUDGET BILLS (See also "APPROPRIATIONS")-----
Consideration of ........................................... VI Sec. 6
Reference of ............................................... VI Sec. 6
BUFFALO-----
Amendments to charter of ............................. VI Sec. 4, sb a
BUSINESS-----
Interruption of, prohibited .......................... IX Sec. 4, sb a
Invocation, daily .................................... IX Sec. 4, sb a
Journal to be read and approved, first business ....... V Sec. 3, sb a
Order of .................................................... V Sec. 3
Pledge of allegiance to the flag ...................... V Sec. 3, sb a
IX Sec. 4, sb a
Quorum necessary to do ................................ V Sec. 3, sb b
IX Sec. 2, sb a
C
CALENDAR-----
Bills, acted upon in their order on ................... V Sec. 6, sb a
Certain, to retain place on ........................ IX Sec. 2, sb d
Daily .................................................... IV Sec. 5
General, how constituted .................................... V Sec. 6
Resolutions, acted upon in their order on ............. V Sec. 3, sb b
VI Sec. 9, sb e
Secretary's duty respecting bills on ....................... IV Sec. 5
Special orders, when unfinished ............................. V Sec. 5
Third reading, what bills to constitute ............ VIII Sec. 3, sb a
CALL OF SENATE-----
Motion for, and order of precedence ................... V Sec. 8, sb b
When may be ordered ........................................ IX Sec. 6
When not in order .......................................... IX Sec. 6
CLOSE DEBATE, MOTION TO-----
May be ordered on single motion, etc. .......... IX Sec. 3, sb d, e, f
May embrace all pending motions or amendments ..... IX Sec. 3, sb e, f
Motions in order after adoption of ................ IX Sec. 3, sb e, f
Not amendable or debatable ........................... IX Sec. 3, sb d
To be immediately put ................................ IX Sec. 3, sb d
COMMIT, MOTION TO-----
Allowable after adoption of motion to close debate ... IX Sec. 3, sb f
Order of precedence of certain ........................ V Sec. 8, sb a
Until decided, precludes debate on main question ...... V Sec. 8, sb d
COMMITTEE-----
Bills introduced on report of, to be referred to ........... VI Sec. 1
Jurisdiction over, secondary, primary ............. VII Sec. 5, sb a
Official hearings, testimony .............................. VII Sec. 4
Petition, motion to ........................................ XI Sec. 2
Notice required; exceptions .............................. XI Sec. 2
Public hearing by, prior notice required .................. VII Sec. 4
Report from, involving seat of Senator, always in order ..... V Sec. 4
Report, disposition of .............................. VII Sec. 5, sb a
Shall be entered upon journal ..................... VII Sec. 5, sb a
Shall be made by majority of ...................... VII Sec. 5, sb a
Shall be made directly to Committee on Rules, when VII Sec. 5, sb a
Committee presentations ........................... VII Sec. 3, sb d
Motion for committee consideration ................ VII Sec. 3, sb e
Committee oversight function ...................... VII Sec. 4, sb c
Petition for a public hearing on a bill ........... VII Sec. 4, sb e
COMMITTEE ON CONFERENCE-----
Joint Committee created .................................. PJR* Sec. 1
* PJR = Permanent Joint Rule of Senate and Assembly
COMMITTEES-----
Chairs of, appointment by Temporary President .............. II Sec. 2
Deputy Majority Leader for Legislative Operations,
ex officio member of all ................................ VII Sec. 1
Deputy Minority Leader, ex officio member of all .......... VII Sec. 1
Executive sessions, conduct ............ VII Sec. 3, sb a Par (5), (6)
Minutes required; exception .......... VII Sec. 3, sb b Par (2), (3)
Meeting of scheduled, open .......................... VII Sec. 3, sb a
Minutes required; available to public VII Sec. 3, sb b Par (1), (3)
Members of, appointment by Temporary President ............. II Sec. 2
Minority Leader, ex officio member of all ................. VII Sec. 1
Select, reports of .................................... V Sec. 3, sb a
Standing, list of, and number of members
composing, continuing ................................... VII Sec. 1
Special meetings, when may be held ........ VII Sec. 3, sb a Par (2)
Temporary President, ex officio member of all ........... VII Sec. 1
Vice President Pro Tempore, ex officio member of all .... VII Sec. 1
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION (See "RESOLUTIONS")
CONSTITUTION OF NEW YORK STATE-----
Resolution to amend, amendment of, further reference to
Attorney General ................................... VI Sec. 9, sb c
Amendment of, limitation on, after
ordered to third reading ........................... VI Sec. 9, sb c
After final passage, duty of Presiding Officer ............ III Sec. 2
Final reading of, may be committed prior to .......... VI Sec. 9, sb c
Treated same as bill ................................. VI Sec. 9, sb c
CONSTITUTION OF UNITED STATES-----
Resolutions ratifying amendment to ................... VI Sec. 9, sb c
Duty of Presiding Officer upon final passage ............ III Sec. 2
Must be germane to affairs of the state ............ VI Sec. 9, sb b
CONTEMPT-----
Refusal of Senator to vote, may be deemed; exception . IX Sec. 1, sb a
D
DEBATE-----
Closing ........................................... IX Sec. 3, sb d, e
Germane to the question .............................. IX Sec. 3, sb a
Limitation upon speaking in ....................... IX Sec. 3, sb d, e
IX Sec. 4, sb b
Minority Leader may speak once after close of ........ IX Sec. 3, sb c
Motion to close, when in order .............. IX Sec. 3, sb c, d, e, f
What motions in order after adoption of ........... IX Sec. 3, sb e, f
Question in, when may be divided ..................... IX Sec. 3, sb b
Question not debatable, call of Senate ................ V Sec. 8, sb b
Main question, until certain motions are decided ...... V Sec. 8, sb d
Objections to reading paper other than petitions ..... IX Sec. 5, sb b
Of presence of quorum ................................ IX Sec. 2, sb f
On final passage ................................... VIII Sec. 6, sb b
Priority of business .......................... V Sec. 3, sb a par (3)
To adjourn ............................................ V Sec. 8, sb b
To close debate ................................... IX Sec. 3, sb d, e
To commit, when motion to close debate is pending .... IX Sec. 3, sb f
To lay on table .................................... V Sec. 8, sb a, b
Of order, after motion to close debate ............... IX Sec. 3, sb f
Temporary President to close ......................... IX Sec. 3, sb f
Vote taken after, with amendments pending ......... IX Sec. 3, sb e, f
DOORS OF SENATE-----
Matters discussed when closed, to be kept secret ............ V Sec. 7
Motion to close ............................................. V Sec. 7
During discussion of, doors to remain shut ................ V Sec. 7
Open except when public welfare requires secrecy ............ X Sec. 1
E
EMPLOYEES-----
Appointment of, generally .................................. IV Sec. 4
Certain, to be appointed by Temporary President ............ II Sec. 4
Duties of, generally ....................................... IV Sec. 4
EXECUTIVE SESSION-----
Committee may call, certain cases ........... VII Sec. 3, sb a Par (5)
When Senate shall go into ................................... V Sec. 7
All to withdraw, except Senators, etc ..................... V Sec. 7
F
FINANCE, STANDING COMMITTEE ON-----
Certain bills and resolutions to be referred to ........... VII Sec. 7
Fiscal notes, to keep file of bills requiring ............. VII Sec. 7
Certain bills not to be reported without .................. VII Sec. 7
Nominations by Governor, to be submitted to; exception .... VII Sec. 6
FISCAL NOTES-----
Certain bills require ..................................... VII Sec. 7
Contents of ............................................... VII Sec. 7
Filing prior to report by committee ....................... VII Sec. 7
Finance committee to maintain file of ..................... VII Sec. 7
FISCAL IMPACT NOTES-----
Applicable for ......................................... PJR* I Sec. 6
Exceptions to .......................................... PJR* I Sec. 4
Inaccuracy, effect thereof ............................. PJR* I Sec. 5
Procedure for .......................................... PJR* I Sec. 3
Requirements for on bills and amendments ............... PJR* I Sec. 1
Sufficiency and contents of ............................ PJR* I Sec. 2
*PJR= Permanent Joint Rule of Senate and Assembly
FLOOR-----
Admission to, persons entitled to ........................... X Sec. 2
Reporters entitled to admission ............................ II Sec. 5
X Sec. 2, sb d
Sergeant at arms to enforce rules respecting ............... IV Sec. 6
X Sec. 2, sb i
Assistant Sergeant at arms, doorkeepers .................... IV Sec. 6
Yielding, temporarily ................................ IX Sec. 4, sb b
FREEDOM OF INFORMATION-----
Freedom of Information Law ................................ XIV Sec. 1
G
GALLERIES-----
Disturbance in, presiding officer may clear ............... III Sec. 1
GOVERNOR-----
Admission to floor .................................... X Sec. 2, sb a
Bills returned from, without approval, vote to repass IX Sec. 2, sb b
Budget bills submitted by .................................. VI Sec. 6
Messages from, for passage of certain bills ......... VII Sec. 5, sb c
VIII Sec. 1
Order of business of .......................... V Sec. 3, sb a Par (3)
Shall be received at any time ............................. V Sec. 4
Nominations sent by, reference and confirmation of ........ VII Sec. 6
H
"HOME RULE" REQUESTS-----
Requirement respecting, bill ........................ VII Sec. 5, sb c
J
JACKETING CLERK-----
Shall cause bills to be jacketed ................... VIII Sec. 3, sb b
Shall cause official copies readied ................ VIII Sec. 3, sb b
JOINT RULES-----
Motion to amend, suspend, etc., requires
written notice or unanimous consent ...................... XI Sec. 2
Order of business in which received ...................... XI Sec. 2
When to be made .......................................... XI Sec. 2
Permanent joint rules of the Senate and Assembly
(see *COMMITTEE ON CONFERENCE and/or FISCAL IMPACT NOTES)
Vote required to amend, suspend, etc. ...................... XI Sec. 1
JOURNAL-----
Correction of ......................................... V Sec. 3, sb a
Executive and legislative proceedings to be in separate ..... V Sec. 1
Question on final passage of bills to be entered on VIII Sec. 6, sb b
Reading and approval of, first business ............... V Sec. 3, sb a
Report of committee on bill, when entered upon ...... VII Sec. 5, sb a
Roll Call .......................................... VIII Sec. 6, sb b
Senate shall keep and publish ............................... V Sec. 1
Senator's refusal to respond, to be entered on ....... IX Sec. 2, sb g
To be printed, distributed, etc. ........................... IV Sec. 5
JUDICIARY, STANDING COMMITTEE ON-----
Nominations referred to ................................... VII Sec. 6
L
LEGISLATIVE LIBRARIAN ........................................ II Sec. 7
LEGISLATIVE LIBRARY .......................................... II Sec. 7
Function of ................................................ II Sec. 7
LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR (See also "PRESIDENT")-----
Shall be President of Senate ................................ I Sec. 1
Shall have only casting vote in Senate ...................... I Sec. 1
LIMITATION UPON SPEAKING (See "SPEAKING")-----
M
MAJORITY-----
Quorum is majority of senators elected ............... IX Sec. 2, sb a
Reconsideration of certain bills requires ............. V Sec. 9, sb b
Resolutions for expenditure of money, require ........ VI Sec. 9, sb d
Suspension of rules requires ............................... XI Sec. 1
MESSAGES-----
From Assembly, shall be received at any time ................ V Sec. 4
From Governor, shall be received at any time ................ V Sec. 4
For passage of certain bills ........................ VII Sec. 5, sb c
VIII Sec. 1
Order of business of, from Governor, and Assembly ..... V Sec. 3, sb a
MINORITY LEADER-----
Closing debate, may speak when ....................... IX Sec. 3, sb c
Ex Officio member of all committees ....................... VII Sec. 1
Resolutions, copies to be furnished to ............... VI Sec. 9, sb a
Room, assignment of ........................................ II Sec. 6
Seat in Senate chamber ..................................... II Sec. 6
MOTIONS-----
For call of the Senate, after close of debate,
one in order .................................... IX Sec. 3, sb e, f
Always in order; exceptions ......................... V Sec. 8, sb b
Not debatable ....................................... V Sec. 8, sb b
Precedence of ......................................... V Sec. 8, sb a
Previous question, of ................................. V Sec. 8, sb a
Question pending, when, what motions in order ............... V Sec. 8
To adjourn, after close of debate, one
in order ........................................... IX Sec. 3, sb f
Always in order; exceptions ......................... V Sec. 8, sb b
Not debatable ....................................... V Sec. 8, sb b
Not to be reconsidered .............................. V Sec. 9, sb a
To adopt report of Committee on Rules, no other motion
in order, until decided; exceptions ..................... VII Sec. 2
To amend rule of Senate or joint rule, when in order ....... XI Sec. 1
To certain day, precludes debate on main question ..... V Sec. 8, sb d
To close debate, in order after bill, etc., considered
two hours ........................................ IX Sec. 3, sb d
May be ordered on single motion, series of
motions, etc. ................................. IX Sec. 3, sb e, f
May embrace all authorized motions,
amendments, etc. .............................. IX Sec. 3, sb e, f
No other motion in order until voted
on; exceptions ................................ IX Sec. 3, sb e, f
Not amendable or debatable ......................... IX Sec. 3, sb d
Presiding Officer shall recognize Senator
wishing to make .................................. IX Sec. 3, sb d
To be immediately put ................................ IX Sec. 3, sb d
To close doors, doors shall remain closed during
discussion of ............................................. V Sec. 7
To commit, after close of debate, one in order ....... IX Sec. 3, sb f
Precludes debate on main question ................... V Sec. 8, sb d
To select committee, order of precedence .... V Sec. 8, sb a Par (7)
To standing committee, order of precedence .. V Sec. 8, sb a Par (6)
To excuse from voting, to be decided by consent ....two-thirds present
IX Sec. 1, sb b
To lay on table, always in order; exceptions .......... V Sec. 8, sb b
Not debatable ....................................... V Sec. 8, sb b
Not to be reconsidered .............................. V Sec. 9, sb a
To postpone to certain day, order of
precedence ................................ V Sec. 8, sb a Par (5)
To petition a bill, when out of order ................ VI Sec. 2, sb b
To petition a bill or resolution out of committee .......... XI Sec. 2
Agreement required ....................................... XI Sec. 2
Notice required .......................................... XI Sec. 2
When not in order ........................................ XI Sec. 2
To reconsider, bill recalled from Assembly ............ V Sec. 9, sb a
Not in order, when bill not in possession of Senate . V Sec. 9, sb a
Vote necessary in certain cases ..................... V Sec. 9, sb b
Vote to adjourn or lay on table, not in order ....... V Sec. 9, sb a
When in order ....................................... V Sec. 9, sb a
When required to be made ............................ V Sec. 9, sb a
To refer, until decided, precludes debate on main question
V Sec. 8, sb d
To rescind rule or Senate or joint rule, when in order ..... XI Sec. 1
To substitute Assembly for Senate bill, when in order .... VIII Sec. 5
To suspend rule of Senate or joint rule,
Notice required .......................................... XI Sec. 2
Vote required ............................................ XI Sec. 1
Withdrawal of, before decision or amendment ........... V Sec. 8, sb c
Written, may be required .............................. V Sec. 8, sb c
N
NEW YORK, CITY OF-----
Amendments to charter and administrative code of ..... VI Sec. 4, sb a
NOMINATIONS, CONFIRMATION BY SENATE .................... IX Sec. 4, sb a
NOMINATIONS BY GOVERNOR-----
Reference and confirmation of ............................. VII Sec. 6
NOTICE; REQUIREMENTS RESPECTING-----
Of motion to amend, suspend or rescind rules ............... XI Sec. 1
Of motion to petition committee ............................ XI Sec. 2
Of public hearings by committees .......................... VII Sec. 4
O
OFFICERS-----
Appointment of certain, by Temporary President ............. II Sec. 5
Certain, to be present during executive sessions ............ V Sec. 7
To keep secret proceedings of executive sessions .......... V Sec. 7
Duties of, generally ....................................... IV Sec. 4
Election of certain, by Senate ............................. IV Sec. 4
Nominations of, sent by Governor, proceedings upon ........ VII Sec. 6
State, communications and reports from, always in order ..... V Sec. 4
Order of business of .................................. V Sec. 3, sb a
V Sec. 4
ORDER-----
Of business ................................................. V Sec. 3
Cellular phones, audible pagers; use prohibited ...... IX Sec. 4, sb a
Questions of, after motion to close debate,
not debatable ...................................... IX Sec. 3, sb f
Decision by presiding officer on, subject to appeal ....... III Sec. 1
IX Sec. 4, sb c
Senator called to, must take his seat ................ IX Sec. 4, sb c
Senator out of, must not proceed without permission .. IX Sec. 4, sb c
Words on which called to, must be taken in writing ... IX Sec. 4, sb c
P
PAPERS, PETITIONS, MEMORIALS, ETC.-----
Objection to reading of, how decided ................. IX Sec. 5, sb b
Presented by Senator, shall be endorsed .............. IX Sec. 5, sb a
PASSAGE OF BILLS (See "BILLS")
PETITION BILL OR RESOLUTION OUT OF COMMITTEE-----
Agreement required to ...................................... XI Sec. 2
Motion to .................................................. XI Sec. 2
Limitation on ............................................ XI Sec. 2
Notice required .......................................... XI Sec. 2
When not in order ........................................ XI Sec. 2
PETITIONS-----
Endorsement of, required ............................. IX Sec. 5, sb a
Presentation of, first order of business ...... V Sec. 3, sb a Par (1)
Subject of, to be endorsed thereon ................... IX Sec. 5, sb a
POSTPONE-----
To certain day, motion to, order of precedence ........ V Sec. 8, sb d
Until decided, precludes debate on main question .... V Sec. 8, sb d
PRECEDENCE-----
Of motions .................................................. V Sec. 8
Of special order under consideration ........................ V Sec. 5
Pending measure to have, after close of debate ....... IX Sec. 3, sb d
PRESIDENT-----
Lieutenant Governor shall be ................................ I Sec. 1
Vote, shall have only casting ............................... I Sec. 1
PRESIDING OFFICER-----
Bills and certain resolutions, shall certify vote by
which passed ............................................ III Sec. 2
Debate, when shall declare closed .................... IX Sec. 3, sb c
Debate, shall recognize Senator desiring to close .... IX Sec. 3, sb d
Decisions, may assign reasons for, if appealed from ....... III Sec. 1
Executive session, shall direct withdrawal of all except
members, during ........................................... V Sec. 7
Lobbies and galleries, may clear ........................ III Sec. 1
Motions, may require to be reduced to writing ....... V Sec. 8, sb c
Order, shall decide all questions of subject to appeal .. III Sec. 1
IX Sec. 4, sb c
Order and decorum, shall preserve ......................... III Sec. 1
Passage of bills and certain resolutions, shall certify ... III Sec. 2
Quorum, on questions of, shall direct calling of
roll ............................................... IX Sec. 2, sb f
Roll call, shall request Senator to respond at ....... IX Sec. 2, sb g
Senate, shall take the chair at hour to which
adjourned ........................................... V Sec. 3, sb a
Senator to speak, when two or more address chair, to
be named by ........................................ IX Sec. 4, sb b
When other than President ................................. III Sec. 3
PRINTING OF BILLS-----
General provisions relative to ............................. VI Sec. 3
PRIORITY OF BUSINESS-----
Questions relating to, not debatable .......... V Sec. 3, sb b, par(3)
PRIVATE OR LOCAL BILLS-----
"Home rule" message required before committee report VII Sec. 5, sb c
One subject, only, to be expressed in title ... VI Sec. 4, opening Par
PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR-----
Persons entitled to ......................................... X Sec. 2
Reporters entitled to ...................................... II Sec. 6
X Sec. 2, sb d
PUBLIC MONEYS-----
Bills appropriating, limitation upon reconsideration .. V Sec. 9, sb b
Referred to finance committee ........................... VII Sec. 7
Three-fifths quorum necessary, passage of certain IX Sec. 2, sb c, e
Vote necessary for passage of certain .............. IX Sec. 2, sb b
Resolutions calling for expenditure of, how decided .. VI Sec. 9, sb d
Reference to finance committee ............................ VII Sec. 7
Vote necessary for passage ........................... VI Sec. 9, sb d
Q
QUESTION-----
Division of, in debate ............................... IX Sec. 3, sb b
Germane to, under discussion ......................... IX Sec. 3, sb a
Main, when debate precluded ........................... V Sec. 8, sb d
Motion to reconsider, when in order ................... V Sec. 9, sb a
Of priority of business, decided without debate V Sec. 3, sb b, par(3)
Reconsideration of, allowed only once, limitations .......... V Sec. 9
When before Senate, only certain motions in order ........... V Sec. 8
When put and decided .................................. V Sec. 9, sb a
QUORUM-----
Lack of, Senator not to be interrupted by question of IX Sec. 2, sb f
Majority of Senators elected constitute .............. IX Sec. 2, sb a
Order of business, when necessary to proceed .......... V Sec. 3, sb b
Presence of, how determined, not debatable ......... IX Sec. 2, sb f
How secured ........................................ IX Sec. 2, sb a
Question of, how often may be raised ............... IX Sec. 2, sb f
Senator refusing to respond, counted present for ..... IX Sec. 2, sb g
Three-fifths, required for passage of certain bills IX Sec. 2, sb c, e
Bill retains place in absence of ................... IX Sec. 2, sb d
When less than, convenes, absentees may be sent for .. IX Sec. 2, sb a
R
RECOMMIT, MOTION TO-----
Until decided, preclude debate on main question ....... V Sec. 8, sb d
RECONSIDERATION-----
Motions for, bills recalled from Assembly ............. V Sec. 9, sb a
Limitations upon .................................... V Sec. 9, sb a
Time within which to be made ........................ V Sec. 9, sb a
Vote necessary for certain .......................... V Sec. 9, sb b
When in order ....................................... V Sec. 9, sb a
When not in order ................................... V Sec. 9, sb a
Question subject to, only once ........................ V Sec. 9, sb a
Vote to adjourn or lay on table, not subject to ....... V Sec. 9, sb a
REFERENCE-----
Bills, providing for appropriation ........................ VII Sec. 7
To appropriate committee, upon introduction .............. VI Sec. 1
To revision and jacketing clerks ................. VIII Sec. 3, sb b
Nominations ............................................... VII Sec. 6
Resolutions providing for appropriations .................. VII Sec. 7
REPORTS-----
Committee, certain, to be received at any time .............. V Sec. 4
Majority of members necessary for ................. VII Sec. 5, sb a
Order of business of ................................ V Sec. 3, sb a
Expenditure .............................................. XIII Sec. 2
From state officers ......................................... V Sec. 4
REPORTERS FOR NEWS MEDIA-----
Admission to floor of Senate ............................... II Sec. 5
X Sec. 2, sb d
RESCIND RULES (See "RULES OF SENATE")-----
RESOLUTIONS-----
Action on, Secretary's duty respecting ..................... IV Sec. 5
Appropriating money, reference to finance committee ....... VII Sec. 7
Federal law, must be germane to state ................ VI Sec. 9, sb b
When out of order .................................. VI Sec. 9, sb b
Introduction of, limitation upon ..................... VI Sec. 9, sb a
Order of business of .................................. V Sec. 3, sb b
Original, limitation upon introduction of ............ VI Sec. 9, sb a
Copies to be supplied Temporary President and Minority
Leader ........................................... VI Sec. 9, sb a
To be in quadruplicate ............................. VI Sec. 9, sb a
Petition from committee, notice ...................... XI Sec. 2, sb b
Privileged, certain, always in order ................. VI Sec. 9, sb a
Certain, regarded as privileged ..................... V Sec. 9, sb a
Proposing amendment to Constitution, how treated ..... VI Sec. 9, sb c
Passage certified by Presiding Officer .................. III Sec. 2
Reference to Attorney General ...................... VI Sec. 9, sb c
Reconsideration of, after out of possession of Senate . V Sec. 9, sb a
Limitation upon ..................................... V Sec. 9, sb a
Reference to committee; exceptions ................... VI Sec. 9, sb a
Senator presenting, must endorse ..................... IX Sec. 5, sb a
Vote necessary for certain, calling for
expenditure of money ............................... VI Sec. 9, sb d
REVISION CLERK-----
Multi-sponsorship .......................................... VI Sec. 2
Shall receive, examine and correct bills ................... VI Sec. 1
Shall return bills incorrectly prepared to introducer ................
VI Sec. 4, sb a
ROOMS OF SENATORS-----
Assignment of .............................................. II Sec. 6
RULES-----
Standing committee on .............................. VII Secs. 1, 2, 3
Authority to introduce and refer bills ............ VII Sec. 5, sb a
Consideration of report of, always in order ............. VII Sec. 2
May sit at any time ..................................... VII Sec. 2
Meeting of .............................................. VII Sec. 3
Exclusion from certain provisions ................. VII Sec. 3, sb c
News media, open to ....................... VII Sec. 3, sb a Par (3)
Report from may be received at any time ................. VII Sec. 2
Debate on adoption of ................................... VII Sec. 2
Suspension, upon adoption of report of .................... VII Sec. 2
RULES OF SENATE (See also "MOTIONS")-----
Bills and amendments not complying with ........... VI Sec. 4, sb a, b
Breach of certain, any Senator may point out .......... X Sec. 2, sb i
Motion to amend, suspend, etc. ............................. XI Sec. 2
Notice required .......................................... XI Sec. 2
Order of business in which received ......... V Sec. 3, sb b Par (3)
XI Sec. 2
When to be made .......................................... XI Sec. 2
Suspension, upon adoption of report of
Rules Committee ......................................... VII Sec. 2
Vote required to amend, suspend, etc. ...................... XI Sec. 1
S
SEATS IN SENATE-----
Assignment of .............................................. II Sec. 6
SECRETARY OF SENATE-----
Assembly, shall deliver certain bills to ................... IV Sec. 5
Bills, duties respecting action on certain ................. IV Sec. 5
Direct Revision Clerk to cause certain to be amended VI Sec. 4, sb b
General orders calendar of, shall prepare ................ IV Sec. 5
Governor, shall present certain bills to ................. IV Sec. 5
Journals, shall make entries respecting certain in ....... IV Sec. 5
Presiding Officer shall deliver certain, to ............. III Sec. 2
Budget bills to be given introductory number by ............ VI Sec. 6
Committee hearings, notice to be announced by ............. VII Sec. 3
Duties of, generally ....................................... IV Sec. 5
Election of, by Senate ..................................... IV Sec. 4
Executive business of Senate, to remain during .............. V Sec. 7
General orders calendar, to print and distribute ........... IV Sec. 5
Governor, shall present certain bills to ................... IV Sec. 5
Journal, shall have printed, distributed, etc. ............. IV Sec. 5
Motions, when written and delivered to ................ V Sec. 8, sb c
Quorum, shall call roll on question of ............... IX Sec. 2, sb f
Senate may choose .......................................... IV Sec. 4
Stenographer, under direction of, copies of records from ... IV Sec. 7
Term of .................................................... IV Sec. 4
Third reading calendar, to print and distribute ............ IV Sec. 5
SENATE (See also "SENATORS")-----
Admission to floor of ....................................... X Sec. 2
Call of .................................................... IX Sec. 6
Always in order; exceptions .............................. IX Sec. 6
Not debatable ....................................... V Sec. 8, sb b
Order of precedence ......................... V Sec. 8, sb a Par (2)
Committees of ............................................. VII Sec. 1
Doors of, to be kept open; exception ........................ X Sec. 1
Executive session of ........................................ V Sec. 7
Hours in session ............................................ V Sec. 2
Journal, shall keep and publish ............................. V Sec. 1
Motions received by, precedence of .......................... V Sec. 8
Presiding Officer to call to order .......................... V Sec. 3
Rules (see "RULES OF SENATE")
Secretary, may be chosen by ................................ IV Sec. 4
Sergeant at arms, may be chosen by ......................... IV Sec. 4
Stenographer, may be chosen by ............................. IV Sec. 4
Temporary President, shall be chosen by .................... II Sec. 1
SENATE CHAMBER-----
Standing prohibited in certain areas .................. X Sec. 2, sb h
Temporary President shall have general control over ........ II Sec. 6
SENATORS-----
Absence of, may be punished ................................ IX Sec. 7
Appeals of, from decision of Presiding Officer ............ III Sec. 1
IX Sec. 4, sb c
Presiding Officer may assign reasons ...................... III Sec. 1
Attendance of, call of Senate to secure .................... IX Sec. 6
Other measures to secure, Temporary President or
majority of elected ...................................... IX Sec. 7
Bills must be placed on bill files on desks of ............. VI Sec. 3
Business of Senate, not to interrupt ................. IX Sec. 4, sb a
Called to order ...................................... IX Sec. 4, sb c
Chairs of, not to be occupied by others ............... X Sec. 2, sb h
Excused from voting, may state reasons ............... IX Sec. 1, sb b
Executive session, shall keep secret proceedings of ......... V Sec. 7
Explaining vote upon roll calls ...................... IX Sec. 3, sb e
Floors, may yield temporarily ........................ IX Sec. 4, sb b
Hours in session ............................................ V Sec. 2
Limitation upon speaking during same day ............. IX Sec. 4, sb b
List of bills etc., to be supplied with .................... IV Sec. 5
Majority of elected, constitute quorum ............... IX Sec. 2, sb a
Motions, may require in writing ....................... V Sec. 8, sb c
Order of, during reading of journal .................. IX Sec. 4, sb a
When Presiding Officer is putting question ........... IX Sec. 4, sb a
While another Senator is speaking .................... IX Sec. 4, sb a
Out of order, shall not proceed ...................... IX Sec. 4, sb c
Personal or pecuniary interest of, in outcome of vote ...... IX Sec. 1
Papers presented by, must be endorsed ................ IX Sec. 5, sb a
Presence of, during sessions required; exceptions .... IX Sec. 1, sb a
Presiding, vested with powers of President ................ III Sec. 3
Question, shall vote on each ......................... IX Sec. 1, sb a
Quorum, raising question of .......................... IX Sec. 2, sb f
Refusing to respond at roll call ..................... IX Sec. 2, sb g
Refusing to vote deemed a contempt ................... IX Sec. 1, sb a
Rising to debate, etc. ............................... IX Sec. 4, sb b
Rooms of, assignment ....................................... II Sec. 6
Seats of, assignment ....................................... II Sec. 6
Speaking, limitation upon (See "SPEAKING")
Statements, may make, in certain cases ............... IX Sec. 4, sb b
Vote, may explain .................................... IX Sec. 3, sb e
Vote, regularly assigned seat ...................... IX Sec. 1, sb a
Not to, if financially interested ............... IX Sec. 1, sb a, b
Refusal to, may be contempt ........................ IX Sec. 1, sb a
Required to, unless excused ..................... IX Sec. 1, sb a, b
Voting, motion to excuse from, granted by consent .... IX Sec. 1, sb b
Funds for staffing ......................................... IX Sec. 8
Resources .................................................. IX Sec. 9
District offices .......................................... IX Sec. 10
Allocation for community projects ......................... IX Sec. 11
SERGEANT AT ARMS-----
Absentees, may be sent for ........................... IX Sec. 2, sb a
Assistant Sergeant at Arms, doorkeepers, shall assign ...... IV Sec. 6
Attendance of, upon sessions of Senate ..................... IV Sec. 6
Hearings of Senate, maintain order ......................... IV Sec. 6
Jurisdiction, under ........................................ IV Sec. 6
Order, shall enforce, under direction of Presiding Officer . IV Sec. 6
Privileges of floor, shall enforce rule respecting ......... IV Sec. 6
Senate floor, to enforce rules respecting admission to X Sec. 2, sb i
Senate may choose .......................................... IV Sec. 4
SPEAKING-----
Limitation upon ...................................... IX Sec. 4, sb a
Statements allowed in certain cases .................. IX Sec. 4, sb b
Vote, explanation of or to be excused ................ IX Sec. 1, sb b
IX Sec. 3, sb e
SPECIAL ORDERS----
When not completed, to retain place ......................... V Sec. 5
When under consideration, shall take precedence ............. V Sec. 5
STATE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES-----
Bills recommended by, last day for introduction ............ VI Sec. 5
Procedure for introduction purposes ........................ VI Sec. 7
STENOGRAPHER-----
Attendance of, required at sessions of Senate .............. IV Sec. 7
Debates of Senate .......................................... IV Sec. 7
Public hearings, duties respecting ......................... IV Sec. 7
Secretary of Senate, under direction of .................... IV Sec. 7
Senate may choose .......................................... IV Sec. 4
SUBSTITUTION OF ASSEMBLY BILLS-----
When in order ............................................ VIII Sec. 5
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES (See also "RULES OF SENATE")-----
Motion for ................................................. XI Sec. 2
To petition committee .................................... XI Sec. 3
When in order ............................................ XI Sec. 3
Notice required .................................... XI Sec. 2, sb b
T
TELEVISING SESSION-----
Statewide public broadcast ................................. XV Sec. 1
Proprietary rights ......................................... XV Sec. 2
TEMPORARY PRESIDENT-----
Attendance of Senators at sessions, secure ................. IX Sec. 7
Bills, may designate last day for introduction ............. VI Sec. 5
Final passage, duties regarding ........................ VIII Sec. 6
Laid aside, duties respecting ....................... V Sec. 6, sb b
May require further reference of certain ................ VII Sec. 7
Program, departmental and agency bills, duties respecting VI Sec. 7
Secondary, referencing, requests for consideration VII Sec. 5, sb a
Chosen by Senate ........................................... II Sec. 1
Committee reports, establish date for referral of all to Rules
VII Sec. 5, sb a
Committees, member, ex officio, of all .............. VII Sec. 1, sb a
Shall appoint chairs and members of all .................. II Sec. 2
Shall establish set of guidelines for referral ........... VI Sec. 1
Debate, may speak once ............................... IX Sec. 3, sb c
Employees, may appoint certain ............................. II Sec. 4
Expenditure reporting .................................... XIII Sec. 2
Legal actions or proceedings ............................... II Sec. 8
Legislative librarian, assistant ........................... II Sec. 7
Majority leader, shall be .................................. II Sec. 1
Motions, certain, may be made only by ..................... VII Sec. 2
IX Sec. 3, sb f
Preside, when he shall ..................................... II Sec. 1
Designation of other member to ........................... II Sec. 1
Records of Senate, duties regarding ....................... XIV Sec. 1
Reporters, shall designate those entitled
to admission to floor .................................... II Sec. 5
Resolutions, copies to be furnished to ............. VI Sec. 9, sb a
May fix final day for introduction ....................... VI Sec. 5
Rooms, assignment by ....................................... II Sec. 6
Rules committee, shall be chairman of ...................... II Sec. 3
Seat of, in Senate chamber ................................. II Sec. 6
Senate chamber, etc., shall have general control over ...... II Sec. 6
Senators to preside, designation by ........................ II Sec. 1
THIRD READING-----
Amendment of bill allowed prior to completion of ... VIII Sec. 4, sb a
Bills advanced to, to be jacketed .................. VIII Sec. 3, sb b
Bills to have three readings ....................... VIII Sec. 2, sb a
Calendar of bills on ............................... VIII Sec. 3, sb a
List of, when to be laid aside ..................... VIII Sec. 6, sb a
Question to be taken immediately after ............. VIII Sec. 2, sb b
THREE-FIFTHS QUORUM-----
Bills requiring, for final passage ................ IX Sec. 2, sb c, e
Not required except for final passage .............. IX Sec. 2, sb e
To retain place on calendar, if absent ............. IX Sec. 2, sb d
TITLES OF BILLS-----
Amending certain laws, what to contain ..................... VI Sec. 4
TWO-THIRDS VOTE (See "VOTE")-----
V
VETO-----
Two-thirds vote necessary to pass after .............. IX Sec. 2, sb b
VOTE-----
Bills lost unless receiving required ............... VIII Sec. 6, sb b
Committee reports required majority, of committee ... VII Sec. 5, sb a
Explanation of (See "VOTING")
Majority, of all Senators elected, necessary to pass certain resolutions
VI Sec. 9, sb d
To reconsider vote on certain bills ................. V Sec. 9, sb b
To suspend rules ......................................... XI Sec. 1
Majority, of Senators present, necessary to close debatIX Sec. 3, sb d
To consider executive business ............................ V Sec. 7
To reconsider, on certain bills ..................... V Sec. 9, sb b
Reconsideration of .......................................... V Sec. 9
Senators shall, unless excused ....................... IX Sec. 1, sb a
Two-thirds, of all Senators elected necessary to pass bills after veto
IX Sec. 2, sb b
Two-thirds, of all Senators elected necessary to pass certain bills
IX Sec. 2, sb b
Bills to retain place on calendar if absent .......... IX Sec. 2, sb d
VOTING-----
Excused from ......................................... IX Sec. 1, sb b
Explanation of ....................................... IX Sec. 3, sb e
W
WITHDRAWAL OF MOTION-----
When in order ......................................... V Sec. 8, sb b
Be notified of updates to this page:
Use BillBuzz to read what's
being said about legislation
being said about legislation
2011-2012 Senate Rules
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license are available at http://www.nysenate.gov/copyright-policy.