Bill Text: NY S04896 | 2021-2022 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Creates the fundamental right of the people to have access to public information and to be provided notice of and to attend public meetings.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-01 - OPINION REFERRED TO JUDICIARY [S04896 Detail]

Download: New_York-2021-S04896-Introduced.html

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                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          4896

                               2021-2022 Regular Sessions

                    IN SENATE

                                    February 18, 2021
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  Sen.  MAY  --  read  twice and ordered printed, and when
          printed to be committed to the Committee on Judiciary

                    CONCURRENT RESOLUTION OF THE SENATE AND ASSEMBLY

        proposing the addition of a new section 19 to article 1 of the constitu-
          tion in relation to the fundamental right of the people to have access
          to public information

     1    Section 1. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That article  1  of  the
     2  constitution be amended by adding a new section 19 to read as follows:
     3    §  19.  The  right  to public information, being a necessary and vital
     4  part of democracy and public deliberation, shall be a fundamental  right
     5  of the people. The right of the people to inspect and/or copy records of
     6  government,  and  to be provided notice of and attend public meetings of
     7  government, shall not be unreasonably restricted.
     8    § 2. Resolved (if the Assembly concur), That the  foregoing  amendment
     9  be referred to the first regular legislative session convening after the
    10  next  succeeding  general  election  of members of the assembly, and, in
    11  conformity with  section  1  of  article  19  of  the  constitution,  be
    12  published for three months previous to the time of such election.





         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD89116-01-1