Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/s8833/
Timestamp: 2020-08-10 22:27:14
Document Index: 506777608

Matched Legal Cases: ['Art 3', '§2', 'Art 3', '§3', '§ 2', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§  4', '§ 5', '§ 5', '§  5', '§ 5', '§ 6']

NY State Senate Bill S8833
senate Bill S8833
Relates to the functioning of the independent redistricting commission; repealer
Get Status Alerts for S8833
Jul 24, 2020 delivered to secretary of state
ordered to third reading rules cal.351
substituted for a10839
Jul 21, 2020 to attorney-general for opinion
Jul 20, 2020 referred to judiciary
S8833 (ACTIVE) - Details
Amd Art 3 §§2, 4, 5, 5-a & 5-b, rpld Art 3 §3, Constn
S8833 (ACTIVE) - Summary
Relates to the number of state senators and inclusion of incarcerated persons in the federal census for population determination for redistricting purposes and to the functioning of the independent redistricting commission in the determination of district lines for congressional and state legislative offices.
S8833 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S8833
to sections 2, 4, 5, 5-a and 5-b of article 3 of the constitution, in
relation to the number of state senators and inclusion of incarcerated
persons in the federal census for population determination for redis-
tricting purposes and to the functioning of the independent redistrict-
ing commission in the determination of district lines for congressional
and state legislative offices; and to repeal section 3 of article 3 of
the constitution relating thereto
To make necessary changes to the constitutional redistricting process.
Section 1 fixes the number of senators at sixty-three.
Section 2 repeals section 3 of article 3 of the constitution, which has
previously been declared void.
Section 3 amends section 4 of article 3 of the constitution to adjust
the deadlines for the independent redistricting commission to submit
plans to the legislature, remove unconstitutional provisions, and make
Section 4 repeals section 5-a of article 3 of the constitution, which
defined the term "inhabitants, excluding aliens," as that term will be
removed from the constitution under this proposal, and makes necessary
changes to section 5-b of article 3 of the constitution.
Section 5 amends section 5 of article 3 of the constitution to remove
the term "excluding aliens".
Section 6 refers the amendments to the first regular legislative session
tution, be published for 3 months previous to the time of such election.
Under the current constitutional timeline, the Independent Redistricting
Commission is not required to submit its first redistricting plan to the
Legislature until January 15 of the year ending in two and, in the event
the Legislature or Governor reject the first plan, is not required to
submit its second redistricting plan until February 28. These dates make
it difficult to enact district lines in time for the June state and
congressional primaries. This proposed constitutional amendment would
remedy the issue by requiring the Commission to submit its first plans
by November 15 and its second plans by January 1, except in 2022 when
the first plans would be required by January 1 and the second plans
would be required by January 15.
This proposal also removes unconstitutional and inoperative language
from the redistricting sections of the state constitution.
Finally, the proposal makes a number of necessary changes to ensure the
commission and Legislature can conduct the redistricting process fairly
To be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after
the next succeeding general election of members of the assembly, and, in
S8833 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
proposing an amendment to sections 2, 4, 5, 5-a and 5-b of article 3  of
the  constitution,  in  relation  to  the number of state senators and
inclusion of incarcerated persons in the federal census for population
determination for redistricting purposes and to the functioning of the
independent redistricting commission in the determination of  district
lines  for  congressional and state legislative offices; and to repeal
section 3 of article 3 of the constitution relating thereto
Section 1.  Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 2 of arti-
§ 2. The senate shall consist of [fifty] SIXTY-THREE members[,  except
as  hereinafter provided]. The senators elected in the year one thousand
eight hundred and ninety-five shall hold their offices for three  years,
and  their  successors shall be chosen for two years. The assembly shall
consist of one hundred and fifty members. The assembly  members  elected
in  the  year  one  thousand  nine  hundred  and thirty-eight, and their
successors, shall be chosen for two years.
§ 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 3 of article 3 of
the constitution be REPEALED.
§ 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 4 of article 3 of
§ 4. (a) Except as herein otherwise provided, the federal census taken
LBD89167-06-0
S. 8833                             2
TOTAL NUMBER OF INHABITANTS OF THE ENTIRE STATE, INCLUDING THE number of
aliens [or] AND Indians not taxed. If a federal  census,  though  giving
the  requisite  information  as to the state at large, fails to give the
information  as  to any civil or territorial divisions which is required
to be known for such purposes, the legislature, by  law,  shall  provide
for  such  an  enumeration of the inhabitants of such parts of the state
only as may be necessary, which shall  supersede  in  part  the  federal
census  and  be  used  in  connection therewith for such purposes.  IF A
FEDERAL CENSUS FAILS TO PROVIDE ENUMERATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF INCAR-
CERATED PERSONS, THE APPROPRIATE STATE ENTITIES SHALL  PROVIDE  INFORMA-
TION  SUFFICIENT  TO RE-ENUMERATE INCARCERATED PERSONS TO THEIR PLACE OF
LAST RESIDENCE FOR THE PURPOSES OF DRAWING DISTRICT LINES, NO LATER THAN
SEPTEMBER FIRST OF ANY YEAR ENDING IN ONE.  The legislature, by law, may
inhabitants of the state, to be used for such purposes, in  place  of  a
so  that  it is not available at the beginning of the regular session of
the legislature in the second year after the year nineteen hundred thir-
ty or after any tenth year therefrom, or if an apportionment of  members
of  assembly  and  readjustment or alteration of senate districts is not
made at or before such a session. At the regular  session  in  the  year
nineteen  hundred thirty-two, and at the first regular session after the
year nineteen hundred forty and after  each  tenth  year  therefrom  the
senate  districts shall be readjusted or altered, but if, in any decade,
counting from and including that which begins  with  the  year  nineteen
hundred thirty-one, such a readjustment or alteration is not made at the
time  above  prescribed, it shall be made at a subsequent session occur-
ring not later than the sixth year of such  decade,  meaning  not  later
than  nineteen  hundred thirty-six, nineteen hundred forty-six, nineteen
hundred fifty-six, and so on; provided, however, that if such  districts
shall  have  been  readjusted  or  altered by law in either of the years
nineteen hundred thirty  or  nineteen  hundred  thirty-one,  they  shall
remain unaltered until the first regular session after the year nineteen
hundred  forty.  No town, except a town having more than a full ratio of
apportionment[, and no block in a city inclosed  by  streets  or  public
ways,]  shall  be  divided in the formation of senate districts. [In the
reapportionment of senate districts, no district shall contain a greater
excess in population over an adjoining district in the same county, than
the population of a town or block therein adjoining such district. Coun-
ties, towns or blocks which, from their location,  may  be  included  in
either  of  two  districts, shall be so placed as to make said districts
most nearly equal in number of inhabitants, excluding aliens.
ratio for each senator.] No county shall have more than one-third of all
[January] NOVEMBER first or as soon as  practicable  thereafter  but  no
later  than  [January]  NOVEMBER  fifteenth  in  the year ending in [two
beginning in two thousand twenty-two] ONE. The redistricting  plans  for
S. 8833                             3
senate  or  the  assembly and if approved by the first house voting upon
to  be  voted  upon without amendment.  If approved by both houses, such
and  the legislature shall fail to override such veto, each house or the
governor if he or she vetoes it, shall notify the commission  that  such
tion  and  in no case later than [February twenty-eighth] JANUARY FIRST,
the redistricting commission shall prepare and submit to the legislature
a second redistricting plan and the necessary  implementing  legislation
for such plan.  Such legislation shall be voted upon, without amendment,
by the senate or the assembly and, if approved by the first house voting
upon  it,  such  legislation shall be delivered to the other house imme-
diately to be voted upon without amendment.  If approved by both houses,
such legislation shall be presented to the governor for action.  IN  THE
YEAR  TWO  THOUSAND  TWENTY-TWO ONLY, THE COMMISSION SHALL SUBMIT TO THE
LEGISLATURE A FIRST REDISTRICTING PLAN NO LATER THAN JANUARY FIRST,  TWO
THOUSAND  TWENTY-TWO.   IF EITHER HOUSE SHALL FAIL TO APPROVE THE LEGIS-
LATION IMPLEMENTING THE FIRST REDISTRICTING PLAN, OR THE GOVERNOR  SHALL
VETO  SUCH  LEGISLATION  AND THE LEGISLATURE SHALL FAIL TO OVERRIDE SUCH
VETO, EACH HOUSE OR THE GOVERNOR IF HE OR SHE VETOES IT, SHALL  PROMPTLY
NOTIFY  THE  COMMISSION  THAT SUCH LEGISLATION HAS BEEN DISAPPROVED.  NO
LATER THAN JANUARY FIFTEEN, TWO THOUSAND TWENTY-TWO,  THE  REDISTRICTING
and the legislature shall fail to override such veto, OR THE REDISTRICT-
ING  COMMISSION  FAILS  TO VOTE ON A REDISTRICTING PLAN AND IMPLEMENTING
LEGISLATION BY THE REQUIRED DEADLINE  AND  MAKES  A  SUBMISSION  TO  THE
LEGISLATURE  PURSUANT  TO  SUBDIVISION  (G-1)  OF SECTION FIVE-B OF THIS
ARTICLE, each house shall introduce such implementing  legislation  with
amendments shall comply  with  the  provisions  of  this  article.    If
approved  by  both  houses,  such  legislation shall be presented to the
governor for action.
All votes by the senate or assembly on any redistricting  plan  legis-
lation  pursuant  to  this article shall be conducted in accordance with
(1) [In the event that the speaker of the assembly and  the  temporary
approval] APPROVAL of legislation submitted by  the  independent  redis-
tricting  commission  pursuant  to  subdivision (f) of section five-b of
this article shall require the vote in support  of  its  passage  by  at
least a majority of the members elected to each house.
S. 8833                             4
(2)  [In  the event that the speaker of the assembly and the temporary
approval]  APPROVAL  of  legislation submitted by the independent redis-
tricting commission pursuant to subdivision (g)  of  section  five-b  of
this  article  shall  require  the  vote in support of its passage by at
[(3) In the event that the speaker of the assembly and  the  temporary
president  of  the  senate  are  members  of  the  same political party,
approval of  legislation  submitted  by  the  independent  redistricting
commission  pursuant to subdivision (f) or (g) of section five-b of this
article shall require the vote in support of its  passage  by  at  least
two-thirds of the members elected to each house.]
(c)  Subject to the requirements of the federal constitution and stat-
utes and in  compliance  with  state  constitutional  requirements,  the
following  principles  shall be used in the creation of state senate and
such lines would result in  the  denial  or  abridgement  of  racial  or
language  minority  voting  rights,  and districts shall not be drawn to
of such rights. Districts shall be drawn so that, based on the  totality
(2)  To  the  extent practicable, districts shall contain as nearly as
(5) Districts shall not be drawn to discourage competition or for  the
(6)  [In  drawing  senate districts, towns or blocks which, from their
in effect] TO THE EXTENT PRACTICABLE, ALL INCARCERATED PERSONS SHALL  BE
RE-NUMERATED  TO THEIR PLACE OF LAST RESIDENCE FOR THE PURPOSES OF DRAW-
ING DISTRICT LINES.
S. 8833                             5
dividing  the  number  of  inhabitants[,  excluding  aliens,] by [fifty]
SIXTY-THREE, and the senate shall always be composed of  [fifty]  SIXTY-
THREE  members[, except that if any county having three or more senators
at the time of any apportionment shall be entitled on such ratio  to  an
additional  senator  or  senators,  such  additional senator or senators
shall be given to such county in addition to the fifty senators, and the
whole number of senators shall be increased to that extent].
The senate districts, including the present ones,  as  existing  imme-
districts,  shall continue to be the senate districts of the state until
the expirations of the terms of the senators then in office, except  for
the  purpose of an election of senators for full terms beginning at such
(e) The process for redistricting congressional and state  legislative
districts  established  by  this section and sections five and five-b of
this article shall govern redistricting in  this  state  except  to  the
A  reapportionment plan and the districts contained in such plan shall
federal decennial census taken in a year ending in zero unless  modified
§  4.  Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That sections 5-a and 5-b of
article 3 of the constitution be amended to read as follows:
[§ 5-a. For the purpose of apportioning senate and assembly  districts
pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this article, the term "inhabit-
ants, excluding aliens" shall mean the whole number of persons.]
§ 5-b. (a) On or before February first of each year ending with a zero
and  at any other time a court orders that congressional or state legis-
lative districts be amended,  an  independent  redistricting  commission
shall  be  established to determine the district lines for congressional
and state legislative offices. The independent redistricting  commission
(1)  two  members shall be appointed by the temporary president of the
(3) two members shall be appointed  by  the  minority  leader  of  the
(4)  two  members  shall  be  appointed  by the minority leader of the
(5) two members shall be appointed  by  the  eight  members  appointed
pursuant  to paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subdivision by a vote of
ity  of  the members appointed pursuant to paragraphs (1) through (5) of
S. 8833                             6
that[,  in  order  to  approve  any  redistricting plan and implementing
legislation, the following rules shall apply:
(1) In the event that the speaker of the assembly  and  the  temporary
approval of a redistricting plan and  implementing  legislation  by  the
commission  for  submission to the legislature shall require the vote in
(2) In the event that the speaker of the assembly  and  the  temporary
president of the senate are members of two different political parties,]
support  of  its  approval by at least seven members [including at least
one member appointed by the speaker  of  the  assembly  and  one  member
appointed by the temporary president of the senate].
to approve a redistricting plan on or before [January] NOVEMBER first in
the year ending in [two] ONE or as soon as practicable  thereafter,  the
commission  shall  submit to the legislature that redistricting plan and
S. 8833                             7
implementing legislation that garnered the highest number  of  votes  in
support  of  its  approval  by the commission with a record of the votes
taken.  In the event that more than one plan received the same number of
votes  for  approval, and such number was higher than that for any other
plan, then the commission shall submit  all  plans  that  obtained  such
number  of  votes.    The  legislature shall consider and vote upon such
implementing legislation in accordance with the voting rules  set  forth
in subdivision (b) of section four of this article.
(G-1)  IF  THE  COMMISSION  DOES NOT VOTE ON ANY REDISTRICTING PLAN OR
PLANS, FOR ANY REASON, BY THE DATE REQUIRED FOR SUBMISSION OF SUCH  PLAN
BY  THIS  ARTICLE,  THE  COMMISSION  SHALL SUBMIT TO THE LEGISLATURE ALL
PLANS IN ITS POSSESSION, BOTH COMPLETED AND IN DRAFT FORM, AND THE  DATA
UPON WHICH SUCH PLANS ARE BASED.
(h)  (1)  The  independent  redistricting commission shall appoint two
co-executive directors by a majority vote of the commission [in  accord-
(i)  In  the  event that the speaker of the assembly and the temporary
the  co-executive  directors  shall  be  approved  by  a majority of the
commission that includes at least one appointee by the  speaker  of  the
assembly  and  at  least one appointee by the temporary president of the
president  of  the  senate  are members of the same political party, the
that includes at least one appointee by each of  the  legislative  lead-
(2)  [One of the co-executive directors shall be enrolled in the poli-
number  of  enrolled  members  in the state.] The co-executive directors
[(3) In the event that the commission is unable to appoint one or both
of  the  co-executive directors within forty-five days of the establish-
ment of a quorum of seven commissioners, the following  procedure  shall
(4)  In the event of a vacancy in the offices of co-executive director
S. 8833                             8
that appointed his or her predecessor.]
(i)  The  state  budget shall include necessary appropriations for the
§  5.   Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 5 of article 3
§ 5. The members of the assembly shall be chosen by  single  districts
and  shall be apportioned pursuant to this section and sections four and
five-b of this article at each  regular  session  at  which  the  senate
districts  are  readjusted  or  altered,  and by the same law, among the
several counties of the state, as nearly as  may  be  according  to  the
number of their respective inhabitants[, excluding aliens]. Every county
heretofore  established  and  separately organized, except the county of
Hamilton, shall always be entitled to one member  of  assembly,  and  no
county shall hereafter be erected unless its population shall entitle it
to  a  member.  The  county  of  Hamilton shall elect with the county of
Fulton, until the population of the county of Hamilton shall,  according
to  the  ratio,  entitle it to a member. But the legislature may abolish
the said county of Hamilton and annex  the  territory  thereof  to  some
other county or counties.
The  quotient  obtained by dividing the whole number of inhabitants of
the state, [excluding aliens,] by the number  of  members  of  assembly,
shall  be  the  ratio for apportionment, which shall be made as follows:
One member of assembly shall be apportioned to every  county,  including
having more than two ratios according to  the  number  of  inhabitants[,
excluding  aliens].  Members  apportioned  on remainders shall be appor-
tioned to the counties having the highest remainders in the order there-
of respectively. No county shall have more members of  assembly  than  a
county having a greater number of inhabitants[, excluding aliens].
The  assembly districts, including the present ones, as existing imme-
of assembly among the  counties,  shall  continue  to  be  the  assembly
in  office, except for the purpose of an election of members of assembly
In any county entitled to more than one member, the board of  supervi-
sors,  and in any city embracing an entire county and having no board of
supervisors, the common council, or if there be none, the body  exercis-
ing  the powers of a common council, shall assemble at such times as the
legislature making an apportionment shall  prescribe,  and  divide  such
counties  into  assembly districts as nearly equal in number of inhabit-
ants, [excluding aliens,] as may be, of convenient and contiguous terri-
tory in as compact form as practicable, each of which  shall  be  wholly
within  a  senate district formed under the same apportionment, equal to
the number of members of assembly to which such county  shall  be  enti-
tled,  and  shall  cause  to  be filed in the office of the secretary of
S. 8833                             9
state and of the clerk of such county, a description of such  districts,
specifying  the  number of each district and of the inhabitants thereof,
[excluding aliens,] according to the census or enumeration used  as  the
population  basis  for  the formation of such districts; and such appor-
of any county containing a town having more than a ratio  of  apportion-
ment  and  one-half  over  may  alter the assembly districts in a senate
district containing such town at any time  on  or  before  March  first,
nineteen  hundred  forty-six.  In  counties  having more than one senate
district, the same number of assembly districts shall  be  put  in  each
senate  district, unless the assembly districts cannot be evenly divided
among the senate districts of any county, in which case one more  assem-
bly  district  shall be put in the senate district in such county having
the largest, or one less assembly district shall be put  in  the  senate
district  in  such  county  having  the  smallest number of inhabitants,
[excluding aliens,] as the case may require.   Nothing in  this  section
shall  prevent  the division, at any time, of counties and towns and the
erection of new towns by the legislature.
§ 6. Resolved (if the Assembly  concur), That the foregoing amendments
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