NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A263
SPONSOR: Pirozzolo TITLE OF BILL:
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing an amendment
to section 2 of article 3 of the constitution, in relation to increasing
the length of the term of office and imposing term limits for members of
the legislature
PURPOSE:
Increase the term length of members of the Senate 'and Assembly to six
years and impose term limits to no more than three consecutive six year
terms
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1: Section two of article three of the constitution shall be
amended to state that as of the election of 2024, members of the Senate
and the Assembly shall be elected to serve a term of six years. And as
of the election of 2024, members of the legislature shall not serve for
more than three consecutive six year terms. Any partial term held by a
member of the legislature prior to the election to a consecutive six
year term shall not be used to calculate any term limitation.
Section 2: Resolves that the provisions of the foregoing amendments
shall apply only to terms of offices commencing after such amendments
shall have been adopted pursuant to section 1 of article 19 of the
constitution.
Section 3: Resolves that the forgoing amendments be referred to the
first regular legislative session convening after the next succeeding
general election of members of the Assembly, and, in conformity with
section 1 of article 19 of the constitution, be published three months
previous to the time of such elections.
JUSTIFICATION:
Longer terms will provide legislators with more time to understand
complex issues deeply and to work on longer-term projects that benefit
the public. By reducing the frequency of elections, we can also expect a
decrease in campaign-related distractions and an increase in governance
focus. The term limits are introduced to prevent excessive entrenchment
in office, thereby encouraging new ideas and perspectives in the legis-
lature.
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
05/03/2024 referred to governmental operations
05/06/2024 to attorney-general for opinion
05/20/2024 opinion referred to judiciary
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
None to the State
EFFECTIVE DATE:
The foregoing amendments shall be referred to the first regular legisla-
tive session convening after the next succeeding general election of
members of the Assembly, and, in conformity with section 1 of article 19
of the constitution, be published three months previous to the time of
the election.
