Source: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/bills/2019/s70
Timestamp: 2020-08-10 22:19:22
Document Index: 518145055

Matched Legal Cases: ['§  13', '§ 2', '§ 3', '§  4', '§ 16', '§ 5', '§  7', '§ 6', '§  2', '§ 3', '§ 4', '§  5', '§  6', '§ 7', '§  8', '§ 9', '§  10', '§  11', '§ 7']

NY State Senate Bill S70
senate Bill S70
Get Status Alerts for S70
S70 (ACTIVE) - Details
2009-2010: S6429
2011-2012: S709
2013-2014: S4049
2015-2016: S879
2017-2018: S404
S70 (ACTIVE) - Summary
S70 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo
BILL NUMBER: S70
This proposal would amend the New York State constitution to reserve for
the People of the State the powers of initiative and referendum.
Sections 1 through 5 of the concurrent resolution would amend section 13
of Article 3, Section 14 of Article 3, Section 1 of Article 19, section
16 of Article 3 and Section 7 of Article 4 of the State Constitution,
respectively, to accommodate a new Article 20 to reserve to the People
of the state the powers of initiative and referendum (I&R).
Section 6 of the concurrent resolution would renumber Article 20 of the
Constitution Article 21 and provides for a new Article 20. The new Arti-
cle 20 would reserve to New Yorkers the power to Propose laws and amend-
ments to the Constitution, and to adopt or reject laws independent of
the Legislature. Initiative is the power of the electors to propose
statutes and amendments to the Constitution and referendum is the power
to approve or reject statutes or part of statutes. For an initiative or
referendum measure to appear on a ballot, a petition setting forth the
proposal must be filed with the State Board of Elections and be signed
by electors at least equal in number to 5 percent of the votes cast for
all candidates for governor at the last gubernatorial election. Such
signatures must include at least 5,000 signatures from each of at least
three-fifths of the State's congressional districts. The process for
gathering signatures for a petition in support of an I&R proposal and
for presenting the petition to the Board of Elections shall be conducted
in substantial conformity with Election Law provisions governing inde-
pendent petitions.
Prior to circulation of a petition for signatures, a copy of the initi-
ative or referendum shall be submitted to the Attorney General who shall
prepare a title and summary of the measure which shall not give any
indication of support or opposition to such measure. The measure shall
also be submitted to the Legislative Bill Drafting Commission for tech-
nical comments on the form of the measure. Any action or proceeding in
which a question arises as to the validity of a measure or which chal-
lenges the title and summary of such measure shall be granted a prefer-
ence in all courts.
To be enacted, an initiative or referendum measure must be approved by a
majority of the electors voting on the measure statewide. A measure
proposing or rejecting a statute that has been approved shall be effec-
tive on the first day of January of the year next succeeding its passage
unless the measure expressly provides otherwise. A measure amending the
constitution must be approved by a majority of the electors voting on
the measure statewide in two successive elections in which there are
candidates for the state senate and Assembly.
I&R shall be permitted for any measure except the following: (i) calling
for elections; (ii) appropriating funds, except for a single object or
purpose, (iii) naming any individuals to hold office, or (iv) granting
any power or duty to any private entity or directing such entity to
perform a function. An initiative measure embracing more than one
subject is not permitted and a maximum of four discrete measures may be
submitted at anyone general election.
The Legislature shall be prohibited from repealing or amending a measure
adopted or rejected through I&R for a period of two years.  After two
years, any legislative proposal to amend or repeal an I&R measure shall
be put to the voters at the next general election for approval or
cities, towns and counties the power of I&R. signatures of electors of a
municipality equal in number to at least 5 percent of the votes cast in
such municipality for all candidates for governor at the last gubernato-
rial election will be required to propose any measure by I&R and an
affirmative vote of the majority of electors voting on the measure will
be required to be enacted. Petitions shall be submitted to the county
board of elections which will resolve challenges to such petitions.
Section 7 would provide for submission of this constitutional amendment
to the first regular session of the Legislature after the next succeed-
ing general election of the member's of the Assembly.
The People of the state do not currently have the constitutional right
to enact laws, amend the constitution or repeal laws by initiative or
referendum. Section 13 of Article 3 of the constitution provides that no
law shall be enacted except by bill. Section 14 of Article 3 of the
constitution provides that no bill shall become law except by the assent
of a majority of the members elected to each branch of the Legislature.
Section 1 of Article 19 of the Constitution provides that proposed
amendments to the Constitution shall be effective if they are agreed to
by a majority of. the members of both branches of two successive Legis-
latures and subsequently approved by a majority of the electors voting
thereon. Section 7 of Article 4 of the Constitution provides that every
bill that passes the Legislature must be presented to the Governor for
approval. Section 16 of Article 3 provides that no act shall be passed
which provides that an existing law shall be deemed a part of the act,
except by inserting the law into the act.
Amending the State constitution to allow initiative and referendum will
provide the citizens of New York the ability to enact laws which are
specifically addressed to their concerns. This procedure is a reflection
of the basic tenet of democracy which embodies government by the people,
of the People and for the People. I&R is an integral mechanism for
voters to exercise a direct and active role. in enacting and defeating
laws. The People of New York deserve a greater voice in government and
will citizenry. I&R will provide voters stronger representation and
allow them to act when their elected representatives fail to do so.
2011 Passed Senate
2012 Committed to Rules,
2013-2014 Referred to Judiciary
2015-2016 Referred to Judiciary
2017-2018 Referred to Judiciary
S70 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf
§  13.  The  enacting  clause of all bills shall be "The People of the
§ 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the opening paragraph  of
section  14  of  article  3  of  the  constitution be amended to read as
A. No bill shall be passed or become a law unless it shall  have  been
§ 3. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 1 of  article  19
LBD89053-01-9
S. 70                               2
upon other provisions of the constitution. Upon receiving such  opinion,
to  by a majority of the members elected to each of the two houses, such
lative session  convening  after  the  succeeding  general  election  of
members  of the assembly, and shall be published for three months previ-
ous to the time of making  such  choice;  and  if  in  such  legislative
session,  such  proposed amendment or amendments shall be agreed to by a
majority of all the members elected to each house, then it shall be  the
duty  of the legislature to submit each proposed amendment or amendments
to the people for approval in such manner  and  at  such  times  as  the
legislature  shall prescribe; and if the people shall approve and ratify
ure of the attorney-general to  render  an  opinion  concerning  such  a
proposed  amendment  nor his or her failure to do so timely shall affect
B. THIS SECTION SHALL NOT APPLY TO AN AMENDMENT BY INITIATIVE  SUBJECT
§  4.  Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 16 of article 3
§ 16. A. No act shall be passed which shall provide that any  existing
which  shall  enact  that  any  existing  law, or part thereof, shall be
B. THIS SECTION SHALL  NOT  APPLY  TO  ANY  INITIATIVE  OR  REFERENDUM
§ 5. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That section 7 of article 4 of
§  7.  A.  Every  bill which shall have passed the senate and assembly
shall, before it becomes a law, be presented to  the  governor;  if  the
governor  approve,  he or she shall sign it; but if not, he or she shall
originated, which shall enter the objections at large  on  the  journal,
and  proceed to reconsider it. If after such reconsideration, two-thirds
of the members elected to that house shall agree to pass  the  bill,  it
it  shall likewise be reconsidered; and if approved by two-thirds of the
objections of the governor. In all such cases the votes in  both  houses
shall  be  determined  by  yeas  and  nays, and the names of the members
voting shall be entered on the journal of each  house  respectively.  If
any  bill shall not be returned by the governor within ten days (Sundays
excepted) after it shall have been presented to him  or  her,  the  same
shall  be a law in like manner as if he or she had signed it, unless the
legislature shall, by their adjournment, prevent its  return,  in  which
case  it shall not become a law without the approval of the governor. No
bill shall become a law after the final adjournment of the  legislature,
S. 70                               3
unless  approved  by the governor within thirty days after such adjourn-
ment. If any bill presented to the governor  contain  several  items  of
appropriation  of  money, the governor may object to one or more of such
ment of the items to which he or she objects; and the  appropriation  so
objected  to shall not take effect. If the legislature be in session, he
or she shall transmit to the house in which the bill originated  a  copy
of  such statement, and the items objected to shall be separately recon-
sidered. If on reconsideration one or more of such items be approved  by
two-thirds  of the members elected to each house, the same shall be part
of the law, notwithstanding the objections  of  the  governor.  All  the
provisions  of  this  section,  in relation to bills not approved by the
governor, shall apply in  cases  in  which  he  or  she  shall  withhold
§ 6. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That article 20 of the consti-
SECTION 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY OTHER PROVISION OF  THIS  CONSTITUTION,
THE  PEOPLE  RESERVE  TO  THEMSELVES  THE  POWER  TO PROPOSE LAWS AND TO
AT THE POLLS, INDEPENDENT OF  THE  LEGISLATURE,  AND  ALSO  RESERVE  THE
§  2. AS USED IN THIS ARTICLE: A. INITIATIVE IS THE POWER OF THE ELEC-
TORS TO PROPOSE AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION AND TO PROPOSE  STATUTES;
B.  REFERENDUM IS THE POWER OF THE ELECTORS TO APPROVE OR REJECT STAT-
§ 3. INITIATIVE MAY BE USED FOR ANY MEASURE EMBRACING A SINGLE  OBJECT
OR  PURPOSE,  EXCEPT  THE  FOLLOWING:   CALLING ELECTIONS; APPROPRIATING
FUNDS, EXCEPT FOR AN INITIATIVE PROPOSING AN APPROPRIATION FOR A  SINGLE
OBJECT  OR PURPOSE; NAMING ANY INDIVIDUALS TO HOLD ANY OFFICE; OR NAMING
OR IDENTIFYING ANY  PRIVATE  CORPORATION  OR  OTHER  PRIVATE  ENTITY  TO
BE  SUBMITTED TO THE ELECTORS AND SHALL NOT HAVE THE FORCE AND EFFECT OF
§ 4. AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE MAY BE PROPOSED BY PRESENTING
TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS A PETITION THAT SETS FORTH THE  TEXT  OF
THE  PROPOSED  STATUTE,  CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OR REFERENDUM AND THAT
HAS BEEN SIGNED BY ELECTORS EQUAL IN NUMBER TO AT LEAST FIVE PERCENT  OF
§  5. A. PETITIONS FOR AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE SHALL BE IN
SUBSTANTIALLY THE SAME FORM AS PRESCRIBED BY THE ELECTION LAW FOR  INDE-
PENDENT  NOMINATING  PETITIONS, AND SHALL BE CIRCULATED AND PRESENTED IN
THE MANNER PRESCRIBED BY SUCH LAW, EXCEPT THAT THE PETITION SHALL  STATE
THAT  THE  REGISTERED  VOTER  DESIRES TO HAVE THE SPECIFIC INITIATIVE OR
S. 70                               4
REFERENDUM QUESTION NOTED ON THE PETITION PLACED ON THE  BALLOT  INSTEAD
B.  PETITIONS  SHALL  BE  SUBMITTED TO THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. A
SIGNATURE MADE EARLIER THAN ONE YEAR PRIOR TO THE NEXT GENERAL  ELECTION
SHALL  NOT BE COUNTED. CHALLENGES TO SUCH PETITIONS SHALL BE RESOLVED BY
BY LAW. NO CHALLENGE TO AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MAY  BE  FILED  MORE
THAN  TEN  DAYS  AFTER  SUBMISSION  OF  PETITIONS  TO THE STATE BOARD OF
C. MEASURES PROPOSING OR REJECTING STATUTES SHALL  BE  PLACED  ON  THE
AT  LEAST NINETY DAYS AFTER SUCH MEASURE IS SUBMITTED.  MEASURES PROPOS-
ING AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION SHALL BE PLACED ON THE BALLOT BY  THE
CANDIDATES  FOR  THE  OFFICE OF MEMBER OF THE SENATE OR ASSEMBLY HELD AT
LEAST NINETY DAYS AFTER THE MEASURE IS SUBMITTED TO THE STATE  BOARD  OF
§  6. A. PRIOR TO THE CIRCULATION OF AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM PETI-
TION FOR SIGNATURES, A COPY SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL
OF  THE  STATE OF NEW YORK WHO SHALL PREPARE A TITLE AND SUMMARY, NOT TO
EXCEED ONE HUNDRED WORDS, WHICH SHALL APPEAR ON THE PETITION AND ON  THE
BALLOT  FOR  EACH INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM AND WHICH SHALL GIVE NO INDI-
CATION OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION TO  SUCH  MEASURE,  WITHIN  TWENTY  DAYS
B.  A  COPY  OF  SUCH  INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM PETITION SHALL ALSO BE
SUBMITTED TO THE NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATIVE BILL DRAFTING COMMISSION  OR
RENDER  TECHNICAL  COMMENTS ON THE FORM OF THE PROPOSED MEASURE, WITH NO
INDICATION OF SUPPORT OR OPPOSITION, TO THE PROPONENTS OF  SUCH  MEASURE
COMMENTS WITH RESPECT TO AN INITIATIVE OR  REFERENDUM  PETITION,  OR  TO
D.  ANY  ACTION  OR  PROCEEDING IN WHICH ANY QUESTION ARISES AS TO THE
VALIDITY OF AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE, WHETHER  AN  INITIATIVE
OR  REFERENDUM  MEASURE  SHOULD APPEAR ON THE BALLOT OR WHICH CHALLENGES
THE TITLE AND SUMMARY OF SUCH MEASURE PREPARED BY THE  ATTORNEY  GENERAL
AS  FAILING  TO  ACCURATELY DESCRIBE SUCH MEASURE, SHALL BE HEARD IN THE
ALL COURTS OF THE STATE AND SHALL BE HEARD AND DETERMINED IN  PREFERENCE
TO  ALL  OTHER  CIVIL BUSINESS PENDING THEREIN.  NO ACTION OR PROCEEDING
CHALLENGING WHETHER AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM MEASURE  MAY  APPEAR  ON
THE  BALLOT  OR  WHICH CHALLENGES ANY ACTION OR INACTION BY THE ATTORNEY
GENERAL RESPECTING THE TITLE OR SUMMARY OF SUCH MEASURE MAY  BE  BROUGHT
SUBDIVISION  A OF THIS SECTION OR, IF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL FAILS TO ACT,
THEN NO LATER THAN FOURTEEN DAYS AFTER  THE  DEADLINE  FOR  SUCH  ACTION
§ 7. EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT REQUIRED BY SECTION EIGHT OF THIS ARTICLE, A
MAXIMUM  OF FOUR DISCRETE INITIATIVE MEASURES, OR FOUR DISCRETE REFEREN-
DUM MEASURES, OR ANY COMBINATION  OF  DISCRETE  INITIATIVE  MEASURES  OR
REFERENDUM  MEASURES  NOT  TO EXCEED A TOTAL OF FOUR MAY BE SUBMITTED TO
THE ELECTORS AT ANY ONE GENERAL ELECTION. IF  MORE  THAN  FOUR  MEASURES
S. 70                               5
QUALIFY,  THOSE  INITIATIVE MEASURES AND REFERENDA MEASURES SUBMITTED TO
THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS EARLIEST IN TIME SHALL  BE  PLACED  ON  THE
§  8.  ANY  INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM NOT PLACED ON A BALLOT BECAUSE OF
§ 9. A. TO BE ENACTED, AN INITIATIVE OR REFERENDUM  MEASURE  PROPOSING
§  10.  INITIATIVE AND REFERENDUM IN CITIES, TOWNS, VILLAGES AND COUN-
S. 70                               6
§  11. THIS ARTICLE OF THE CONSTITUTION SHALL BE IN ALL RESPECTS SELF-
§ 7. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the foregoing  amendments