BILL NO A05274A
SAME AS SAME AS S00357-A
SPONSOR Galef (MS)
COSPNSR Colton, Kavanagh, Spano, Barron, Jaffee, Magnarelli, Lancman, Rivera
P, DenDekker, Gabryszak, Corwin, Tobacco, Perry, Zebrowski, Weprin,
Maisel, Roberts, Reilly, Camara, Dinowitz, Wright, Gottfried
MLTSPNSR Amedore, Arroyo, Barclay, Blankenbush, Burling, Butler, Cahill,
Calhoun, Castelli, Ceretto, Conte, Crouch, Duprey, Finch, Friend,
Giglio, Goodell, Gunther, Hawley, Hayes, Jordan, Katz, Kolb,
Losquadro, Lupardo, Magee, Malliotakis, McDonough, McEneny, McKevitt,
Meng, Miller D, Miller J, Molinaro, Montesano, Ortiz, Palmesano,
Peoples-Stokes, Raia, Reilich, Robinson, Sayward, Schimel, Smardz,
Sweeney, Tedisco, Thiele, Weisenberg
Amd Art 3 S14, Constn
Allows satisfaction of constitutional requirement that bills be on members
desks prior to passage/voting by distribution of bills in electronically
written form: provides that a bill shall be deemed to be printed and upon the
desks of the members if: it is set forth in a legible electronic format by
electronic means, and it is available for review in such format at the desks of
the members; provides that "electronic means" means any method of transmission
of information between computers or other machines designed for the purpose of
sending and receiving such transmissions and which: allows the recipient to
reproduce the information transmitted in a tangible medium of expression; and
does not permit additions, deletions or other changes to be made without
leaving an adequate record thereof.
BILL NO A05274A
02/15/2011 referred to judiciary
02/17/2011 to attorney-general for opinion
04/27/2011 opinion referred to judiciary
06/03/2011 amend and recommit to judiciary
06/03/2011 print number 5274a
06/06/2011 to attorney-general for opinion
06/15/2011 reported referred to ways and means
06/20/2011 reported referred to rules
06/20/2011 reported
06/20/2011 rules report cal.520
06/20/2011 substituted by s357a
S00357 AMEND=A ROBACH
01/05/2011 REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
01/14/2011 TO ATTORNEY-GENERAL FOR OPINION
04/27/2011 OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY
06/03/2011 AMEND AND RECOMMIT TO JUDICIARY
06/03/2011 PRINT NUMBER 357A
06/16/2011 COMMITTEE DISCHARGED AND COMMITTED TO RULES
06/16/2011 ORDERED TO THIRD READING CAL.1324
06/17/2011 PASSED SENATE
06/17/2011 DELIVERED TO ASSEMBLY
06/17/2011 referred to ways and means
06/20/2011 substituted for a5274a
06/20/2011 ordered to third reading rules cal.520
06/20/2011 passed assembly
06/20/2011 returned to senate
09/13/2011 DELIVERED TO SECRETARY OF STATE
BILL NUMBER:A5274A
TITLE OF BILL: CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY propos-
ing an amendment to section 14 of article 3 of the constitution, in
relation to the manner of passing bills
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: Allows satisfaction of constitutional
requirement that bills be on Members' desks by distribution of bills in
electronically written form.
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Amends Section 14 of Article 3 of the
constitution relating to the requirement that no bill shall be passed or
become law unless it shall have been printed and placed upon the desks
of Members. This bill adds language that specifies that a bill shall be
deemed printed and on Members' desks if:
* it is set forth in a legible electronic format by electronic means,
and;
* It is available for review at the desks of Members. Also, "electronic
means" is specifically defined to mean any method of transmission
between computers that:
* i. Allows the recipient to reproduce the information transmitted in a
tangible medium, so that if any member prefers to review the information
printed on paper, he or she can do so, and
ii. Does not allow additions, deletions or other changes to be made
without leaving an adequate record thereof.
JUSTIFICATION: In today's technologically advanced age, a significant
amount of time, money, and paper can be saved by providing legislation
on the desks of Members, prior to their voting, in electronic rather
than paper format. The benefits would be especially pronounced when
voting on budget bills since they are voluminous by nature. The Legisla-
tive Session, currently lengthy, is additionally protracted since
members must wait for each piece of legislation to be reprinted as last
minute changes are incorporated. Inputting bills into a software program
on a computer, transmitting them through electronic means to individual
computers located on each member's desk, would speed up the process.
Through the reduction of paperwork and time expended in the current
process results in a more efficient and cost effective one. This legis-
lation would make an electronic option available to all Members.
Members who prefer to receive and review a paper version of any bill
will have access to one. This legislation clearly specifies that every
member who so desires, must have access to a paper version of any legis-
lation on his or her desk.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
A.6340-A and S.8234 of 2009/2010
A.2108 and S.2981 of 2007/2008
A.2057 and S.4659 of 2005/2006
A.6497 and S.4128 of 2003/2004
A.5770 of 2001/2002
A.4879 of 1999/2000
A.8542 of 1997/1998
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: There is an initial cast for installing a computer
system in the Assembly and Senate chambers, but thereafter a savings in
printing costs.
EFFECTIVE DATE: Resolved (if the Senate concurs) that the foregoing
amendment be referred to the first regular legislative session convening
after the next succeeding general election.
