Senate Resolution No. 540 BY: Senator STEWART-COUSINS CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY proposing to implement, pursuant to and in compliance with the provisions of article 7 of the Public Officers Law, a system of videoconferencing to conduct meetings WHEREAS, Section 103-a of the Public Officers Law, as created by Chapter 56 of the Laws of 2022, currently permits the Senate and Assembly, acting through a joint resolution, to provide for the use of videoconferencing to conduct meetings, as defined by section 102 of the Public Officers Law, provided that a minimum number of members are present to fulfill the public body's quorum requirement in the same physical location or locations where the public can attend; and WHEREAS, The Senate and Assembly conducted the requisite public hearing under article 7 of the Public Officers Law in Albany, New York, on March 1, 2023, to receive public comment on the use of videoconferencing in legislative proceedings; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED (if the &HOUSE concur), That the Senate and Assembly are authorized and empowered to implement, pursuant to and in compliance with the provisions of article 7 of the Public Officers Law, a system of videoconferencing to conduct meetings, provided that the requisite quorum for such body shall be in the same physical location or locations where the public may attend and observe; and, be it further RESOLVED (if the &HOUSE concur), That legislators shall be permitted, on a case by case basis, if unable to be physically present at any such meeting due to extraordinary circumstances or any other significant or unexpected factor or event which precludes the member's physical attendance at such meeting, and with the approval of the appropriate leader pursuant to the procedures established by each house, to participate in meetings through the use of videoconferencing; and, be it further RESOLVED (if the &HOUSE concur), That if no quorum is physically present at any hearing conducted by either house, or any hearing conducted jointly by the houses, videoconferencing may not be used; and, be it further RESOLVED (if the &HOUSE concur), That this joint resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption by both the Senate and Assembly and shall remain in effect until July 1, 2024, unless otherwise rescinded.