Brodsky Social & Governmental Reform Package

Government Reforms:

A.4299A: Sweeping State Budget Reform: Creates a non-partisan budget review office in New York State and mandates statuary reporting deadlines for the passage of the state budget, and budget hearings. The state budget is changed from an appropriation budget to a cash budget. If the legislature fails to adopt a budget by April 15th, a contingency budget shall automatically be adopted. This amendment also establishes the “fiscal stabilization reserve fund” as part of the State Treasury, ends backdoor borrowing, and mandates the state create a long-term capital plan. Finally, this amendment restores to the legislature the power to amend the executive budget, overturning the Supreme Court’s ruling in Silver v. Pataki (2004).

A.4252: Statewide code of ethics: Upon passage, each branch of state government will adopt a uniform code of ethics to which all elected officials must adhere. This bill creates separate ethics commissions to enforce this at each level of state government. This ethics code includes full financial disclosures, special interest interactions and other potential conflicts of interest.

S.7682 (Assembly Introduction Pending): Executive Line of Succession: Eliminates outdated law that strips the Governor or Lieutenant Governor of their powers when they leave the state. Also streamlines the succession process to mirror the 25th Amendment of the Federal Constitution by mandating that a sitting governor act expediently when there is a vacancy in the office of the Lieutenant Governor. This amendment also streamlines the impeachment process for both the Governor and Lieutenant Governor.

A.4253: Non-partisan drawing of state legislative districts: Requires the legislature to appoint a non-partisan commission to draw new district lines every ten years. The legislature is then required to either accept or reject these recommendations.

A:4270: Electoral and Campaign Reform: Removes outdated limitations on the right to vote by eliminating property ownership restrictions, and allowing absentee ballot voting without reason. This bill also mandates campaign finance limits, and merit-based appointments to Boards of Elections.

A.9875: Unicameral legislature: Creates a 100 seat unicameral legislature, lead by the “Speaker of the Legislature” who serves as the chambers presiding officer.

Social Reforms:

(Introduction Pending) Property Tax Protections: Requires the legislature to order state finances so that property taxes do not cause economic hardship and dislocation.

A.9883: The New York State Children’s Bill of Rights: Creates six constitutional articles to ensure that children are protected against discrimination, have their basic rights viewed as a priority, and are protected from all forms of abuse. Additionally, the state must adopt uniform procedures that ensure safe and responsible child care while taking into account the rights of all parents and guardians.

A.4933: Protecting the rights of working men and women: Strengthens the law ensuring sanitary workplaces for all by adding local government facilities and public corporations into constitutional jurisdiction. This bill also states that the right a sanitary and safe workplace shall not be infringed by law.

A.4982A: Privacy Rights: Adds a provision stating that the independent rights of all natural persons to privacy shall not be infringed to the constitution. This would be the first mention of privacy rights in the state constitution.

A.9874: Expanding First Amendment Rights: Restores the traditional right of free speech to the state constitution by stating that free speech shall not be impeded by law in any area used for by tradition or designation. Also requires the state take all appropriate action to ensure the protection of these rights.