Relates to allocating two hundred fifty thousand dollars to each member of the assembly for the purpose of compensating employees and staff of such member.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4708
SPONSOR: McGowan TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to funds allocated to
each member of the assembly for the purpose of compensating employees of
such member
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
Relates to funds allocated to each member of the assembly for the
purpose of compensating employees of such member
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section I: Amends section 7 of the legislative law to establish a base
staffing budget of $250,000 for all members of the NYS Assembly.
Section II: Provides that this act shall take effect on the sixtieth day
after it shall have become law.
JUSTIFICATION:
The New York State Assembly depends on tireless public servants, most of
whom have chosen to forgo higher pay as a consequence of this career
choice. Unfortunately, shrinking staff budgets and growing workloads
leave legislators little choice but to rely more heavily on lobbyists
and activists to provide expertise, rather than public servants who are
accountable to New Yorkers.
Those who give their time and talents to the betterment of New York and
her people deserve just compensation that allows them to live with
dignity. Sadly, rising living costs and stagnant funding have robbed too
many hardworking staffers of the opportunity to participate in fundamen-
tal experiences of the Aterican Dream, such as owning a home or starting
a family. This complicates employee retention and drives talented work-
ers towards the private sector, accelerating the downward spiral of our
institution.
Raising staff budgets is a necessary step to reverse the decline of the
NYS Legislature. It will result in legislators who are better equipped
to serve their constituents and will allow staffers to pursue a life of
public service without sacrificing their dignity, their financial
wellbeing, and their families' futures.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2021-2022: A.9536
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have
become a law
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4708
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 22, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. MCGOWAN -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to funds allocated to
each member of the assembly for the purpose of compensating employees
of such member
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The opening paragraph of section 7 of the legislative law,
2 as amended by chapter 506 of the laws of 1960, is amended to read as
3 follows:
4 The assembly may choose a clerk, a sergeant-at-arms and a stenogra-
5 pher. When an appropriation has been made for the services, temporary or
6 otherwise, of officers and employees of the assembly and their appoint-
7 ment is not otherwise authorized by law, the speaker of the assembly may
8 appoint such officers and employees and fix their compensation, respec-
9 tively, within the amount provided by appropriation. Each member of the
10 assembly, regardless of majority or minority status, shall, on an annu-
11 al basis, be allocated two hundred fifty thousand dollars for the
12 purpose of compensating employees and staff of such member. The majority
13 leader of the assembly may appoint a counsel to majority leader, an
14 assistant counsel to majority leader, a secretary to majority leader,
15 and a clerk to majority leader. The minority leader of the assembly may
16 appoint a counsel to minority leader, a clerk to minority, an assistant
17 clerk to minority, a secretary to minority leader, a clerk to minority
18 leader, an assistant clerk to minority leader, a ways and means minority
19 clerk, two stenographers, a clerk-chauffeur and a messenger to minority.
20 In case of the death or resignation of the clerk of the assembly, or his
21 inability to exercise the powers and/or discharge the duties of said
22 office, notwithstanding any other provisions of law the speaker of the
23 assembly shall appoint an acting clerk or designate the assistant clerk
24 as acting clerk to serve until a clerk is chosen by the assembly to fill
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09432-01-3
A. 4708 2
1 the vacancy or until the disability shall cease. The acting clerk so
2 appointed or designated as such shall have and exercise all of the
3 powers of the clerk of the assembly until a clerk has been chosen and
4 has qualified or until the disability shall cease.
5 § 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
6 have become a law.
