Bill Text: NY A00662 | 2023-2024 | General Assembly | Amended


Bill Title: Relates to the exercise of powers and duties of the board of elections of the city of New York and its executive management; provides for equal representation among certain employees of the board of elections; relates to qualification and removal of certain employees of the board of elections.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 12-0)

Status: (Introduced) 2024-01-11 - print number 662a [A00662 Detail]

Download: New_York-2023-A00662-Amended.html



                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                         662--A

                               2023-2024 Regular Sessions

                   IN ASSEMBLY

                                    January 11, 2023
                                       ___________

        Introduced  by  M.  of  A.  ROZIC,  BICHOTTE HERMELYN, SIMON, GALLAGHER,
          ANDERSON, BURGOS, CARROLL, SEAWRIGHT, HEVESI,  L. ROSENTHAL,  MAMDANI,
          REYES  --  read  once and referred to the Committee on Election Law --
          recommitted to the Committee on Election Law in accordance with Assem-
          bly Rule 3, sec. 2 --  committee  discharged,  bill  amended,  ordered
          reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee

        AN  ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the exercise of powers
          and duties of the board of elections of the city of New York  and  its
          executive management

          The  People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-
        bly, do enact as follows:

     1    Section 1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of  law  to  the
     2  contrary, on the effective date of this act the term of each commission-
     3  er  of  the  New  York  City Board of Elections, or any vacant position,
     4  shall be deemed expired, and each such commissioner or  vacant  position
     5  shall be replaced with new appointments made pursuant to this section.
     6    In  the city of New York, the county committee of each major political
     7  party shall, within sixty days after the effective  date  of  this  act,
     8  file  a  certificate  of party recommendation with the clerk of the city
     9  council of the city of New York recommending  one  qualified  individual
    10  for  consideration  to  serve  as  a commissioner of elections. The city
    11  council shall immediately, or as soon as practicable but  no  more  than
    12  thirty  days  thereafter, hold a public hearing on such recommendations,
    13  and provided further, no more than thirty days  thereafter  confirm  two
    14  qualified  individuals for such positions, who shall succeed those indi-
    15  viduals whose terms shall have expired pursuant to this section.
    16    § 2. The section heading and subdivision 3 of  section  3-200  of  the
    17  election  law, the section heading as amended by chapter 373 of the laws
    18  of 1978, are amended to read as follows:
    19    Boards  of  elections;  creation,  qualifications  of   commissioners,
    20  removal; additional qualifications and training in the city of New York.

         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD02544-03-4

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     1    3.  In  the  city  of  New  York  the board shall consist of [ten] two
     2  commissioners of election who [shall be registered voters in the  county
     3  for  which  they  are appointed and they] shall be appointed by the city
     4  council of the city of New York. [Not more than two commissioners  shall
     5  be  registered  voters  of  the same county] No two commissioners may be
     6  residents of the same county or registered voters of the same party.
     7    § 3. Subdivisions 2 and 4 of section 3-204 of the election law, subdi-
     8  vision 2 as amended by chapter 453 of the laws of 1997, and  subdivision
     9  4  as amended by chapter 116 of the laws of 2010, are amended to read as
    10  follows:
    11    2. (a) Party recommendations for election commissioner shall  be  made
    12  by  the  county committee or by such other committee as the rules of the
    13  party may provide, by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting  of  the
    14  members of such committee at which a quorum is present. If at any time a
    15  vacancy  occurs in the office of any election commissioner other than by
    16  expiration of term of office, party recommendations to fill such vacancy
    17  shall be made by the county committee or by such other committee as  the
    18  rules  of  the  party  may provide, by a majority of the votes cast at a
    19  meeting of the members of such committee at which a quorum is present.
    20    (b) Party recommendations for election commissioner in the city of New
    21  York or to fill a vacancy in such office shall be  made  by  the  county
    22  committee  or  by  such  other  committee  as the rules of the party may
    23  provide, by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of the members  of
    24  such  committee  at which a quorum is present.  Each party shall, within
    25  sixty days of a vacancy, file a certificate of party recommendation with
    26  the clerk of the city council of the city of New York  recommending  one
    27  individual  for  consideration  to serve as a commissioner of elections.
    28  The city council shall immediately, or as soon  as  practicable  but  no
    29  more  than  thirty days thereafter, hold a public hearing on such recom-
    30  mendations and provided further, no more  than  thirty  days  thereafter
    31  confirm an individual for such position.
    32    4. Commissioners of election shall be appointed by the county legisla-
    33  tive  body,  or in the city of New York, by the city council following a
    34  public hearing.  Provided, however, that if  a  legislative  body  shall
    35  fail  to  appoint any person recommended by a party for appointment as a
    36  commissioner pursuant to this section,  within  thirty  days  after  the
    37  filing  of  a  certificate of recommendation with such legislative body,
    38  then the members of such legislative body who are members of  the  poli-
    39  tical  party  which  filed such certificate may appoint such person. And
    40  further provided, if there are no members of the  legislative  body  who
    41  are  members  of  the  political party which filed such certificate, the
    42  appointment shall take effect upon the expiration of  thirty  days  from
    43  the date that the certificate was filed. If none of the persons named in
    44  any  of  the certificates filed by a party are so appointed within sixty
    45  days after the filing of any such certificate, then such party may  file
    46  another  certificate within thirty days after the expiration of any such
    47  sixty day period recommending a different person for  such  appointment.
    48  If  a  party  fails  to file a certificate within the time prescribed by
    49  this section, the members of the legislative body  who  are  members  of
    50  such party may appoint any eligible person to such office.
    51    §  4.  The  section  heading  of  section 3-212 of the election law is
    52  amended and a new subdivision 6 is added to read as follows:
    53    Boards of elections; organization, proceedings, reports  and  records;
    54  budget reporting in the city of New York.
    55    6.  If,  at  any  time  during the city fiscal year of the city of New
    56  York, the director of management and budget of such city determines that

        A. 662--A                           3

     1  the expenditures of the board of elections of the city of New  York  are
     2  reasonably  likely  to exceed appropriations to such board for personnel
     3  services or other than personnel services for a quarter  of  the  fiscal
     4  year,  based upon a reasonable allotment by such director of such appro-
     5  priations to such quarter, or for the entire fiscal year, such  director
     6  shall  provide  written  notice  of  such determination to the executive
     7  director of such board, the mayor of such city, the speaker of the  city
     8  council  of  such  city,  and the public advocate of such city, together
     9  with any relevant requests for additional data or information  that  the
    10  director  determines  to  be  material to such board's level of expendi-
    11  tures. Within twenty days  of  receiving  such  notice,  such  executive
    12  director  shall  submit  to  such  director,  mayor, public advocate and
    13  speaker a projection of whether and by what amount it  will  exceed  its
    14  appropriations  for personnel services and other than personnel services
    15  for each quarter and the entire fiscal year, together  with  a  detailed
    16  explanation  of  the needs justifying any such projected excess expendi-
    17  tures.  Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed  to  prevent  the
    18  director  from  requiring  the  furnishing  of data and information, and
    19  answers to pertinent inquiries, at any time in accordance  with  section
    20  two hundred twenty-five of the New York city charter.
    21    § 5. Section 3-300 of the election law is amended to read as follows:
    22    §  3-300.  Board employees; appointment. [Every] 1. Except as provided
    23  in subdivision two of this  section,  every  board  of  elections  shall
    24  appoint, and at its pleasure remove, clerks, voting machine technicians,
    25  custodians  and  other  employees,  fix  their  number,  prescribe their
    26  duties, fix their titles and rank and establish  their  salaries  within
    27  the  amounts  appropriated  therefor  by the local legislative body [and
    28  shall secure in the appointment of employees of the board  of  elections
    29  equal representation of the major political parties]. Every commissioner
    30  in  each  board  of  elections  except for commissioners of the board of
    31  elections of the city of New York, may approve and at pleasure remove  a
    32  deputy, establish his or her title and prescribe his or her duties. [In]
    33    2.  There shall be equal representation of the major political parties
    34  among those employees of the board of elections charged with the duty of
    35  qualifying voters, distributing ballots to voters, or receiving, record-
    36  ing or counting votes at elections.
    37    3. (a) Notwithstanding any provision of general, special or local law,
    38  in the city of New York, [the board of elections shall appoint] an exec-
    39  utive director [and a deputy executive director whose duties it shall be
    40  to supervise the operations of the board of elections under  the  super-
    41  vision of such board] shall be appointed and may be removed, in a manner
    42  set  forth  in paragraph (b) of this subdivision. It shall be their duty
    43  to supervise the operations of the board of elections in accordance with
    44  this subdivision. The executive director shall be selected  following  a
    45  nationwide  search  for qualified and experienced candidates. They shall
    46  serve a term of four years.
    47    (b) The board of elections of the city of New York  shall  advise  the
    48  executive  director on matters of policy affecting the administration of
    49  elections in the city of New York. Except as expressly provided in  this
    50  subdivision, such board shall exercise no executive power and perform no
    51  executive  or  administrative functions. Except as expressly provided in
    52  this subdivision, such board  shall  make  no  individualized  decisions
    53  concerning  the  employment  of any specific person or the registration,
    54  pre-registration, enrollment or qualifications of any specific voter  or
    55  applicant.  Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to require or
    56  authorize the day-to-day supervision of the executive  director  by  the

        A. 662--A                           4

     1  board. The board may delegate powers and duties conferred upon the board
     2  to the executive director, to be exercised consistent with paragraph (e)
     3  of  this  subdivision.  In  the case of a vacancy, an executive director
     4  shall  be appointed to serve the remainder of the unexpired term accord-
     5  ing to the original manner of  appointment  of  the  previous  executive
     6  director.
     7    (c)(1)    For  purposes  of  this  paragraph and paragraph (f) of this
     8  subdivision, the term "appointing authorities" shall mean the  mayor  of
     9  the  city of New York, the speaker of the city council of such city, and
    10  the public advocate of such city, who shall act pursuant to this  subdi-
    11  vision  by concurring action of at least two of such officials, provided
    12  that the mayor shall be one of the concurring officials.
    13    (2) No earlier than the first day of January and  no  later  than  the
    14  first  day of February in two thousand twenty-five and in every calendar
    15  year thereafter during which the four-year term of the executive  direc-
    16  tor is to expire, the commissioners of election for each political party
    17  shall  file  one  or  more certificates of party recommendation with the
    18  appointing authorities, as described in this paragraph.
    19    (3) Party recommendations for executive director shall be made by  the
    20  commissioner  of  election  for  each political party. Such commissioner
    21  shall recommend no fewer than three candidates for the position of exec-
    22  utive director.  If at any time a vacancy occurs in the office of execu-
    23  tive director other than by expiration  of  term  of  office,  or  if  a
    24  request  for additional candidates is made by the appointing authorities
    25  pursuant to subparagraph four of this paragraph,  party  recommendations
    26  to  fill  such  vacancy  shall be made within thirty days. If fewer than
    27  three candidates are recommended in a timely manner by the  commissioner
    28  of  election  for the applicable political party then the members of the
    29  city council who are members of the applicable political party  may,  by
    30  majority vote of such members, file certificates of party recommendation
    31  with the appointing authorities within fifteen days after the expiration
    32  of  the  time  for  filing  by  the  commissioners of election, so as to
    33  increase the total number of candidates to three. If the members of  the
    34  city  council  from one political party do not recommend any candidates,
    35  the appointing authorities will  choose  from  the  list  of  candidates
    36  submitted.
    37    (4)  Candidates  considered  for  executive  director must satisfy all
    38  qualifications required for local officers pursuant to the public  offi-
    39  cers  law.  Further,  no  later than December thirty-first, two thousand
    40  twenty-four, the state board of  elections  shall  prescribe  additional
    41  qualifications for the position of executive director, which shall apply
    42  to recommendations and appointments made thereafter. Such qualifications
    43  shall thereafter be reviewed by such  board at    least every  two years
    44  and  updated as    necessary, and shall be prescribed only after consid-
    45  eration of the skills and knowledge necessary or useful for the exercise
    46  of the duties  and   responsibilities of the executive director, as well
    47  as the ability to recruit a sufficient number of candidates to be execu-
    48  tive director.
    49    (5) The executive director shall   be   appointed   jointly   by   the
    50  appointing  authorities  in accordance with this subdivision, from among
    51  the  candidates recommended pursuant to subparagraph three of this para-
    52  graph.
    53    (6) Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this  paragraph,  no
    54  earlier than the first day of January and no later than the thirty-first
    55  day  of  January in the last year of the term of the executive director,
    56  the appointing authorities and commissioners of election, may  agree  to

        A. 662--A                           5

     1  issue a certificate of party recommendation and appointment to reappoint
     2  such  executive  director to another term of office.  In such event, the
     3  process otherwise specified in subparagraphs two, three and four of this
     4  paragraph shall not apply.
     5    (7)  An  executive director may be removed from office  for  cause  by
     6  the appointing authorities.  In addition, an executive director  may  be
     7  removed  without cause by the appointing authorities acting jointly with
     8  the  commissioners  of  election. Any vacancy   so   resulting  shall be
     9  filled in the manner prescribed by this paragraph for filling vacancies.
    10    (d) The board shall have the power and  duty  to  take  the  following
    11  actions  to the extent otherwise consistent with the jurisdiction of the
    12  board pursuant to this chapter:
    13    (1) make determinations regarding the nomination  and  designation  of
    14  candidates for public office and party positions pursuant to article six
    15  of this chapter or any other relevant provision of this chapter;
    16    (2)  make  determinations  regarding  the form and content of ballots,
    17  including but not limited to the determination of candidates  and  ques-
    18  tions  to appear on the ballot pursuant to section 4-114 of this chapter
    19  and the certification of ballots pursuant to title one of article  seven
    20  of this chapter or any other relevant provision of this chapter;
    21    (3)  adopt  resolutions  eliminating  meetings  for local registration
    22  pursuant to subdivision six of section 5-202 of this chapter;
    23    (4) make determinations concerning challenges  to  voter  registration
    24  and  applications  of  voters  unlawfully  denied the right to register,
    25  pursuant to title two of article five of this chapter;
    26    (5) make determinations concerning the  adoption  and  use  of  voting
    27  machines or systems pursuant to section 7-200 of this chapter;
    28    (6) canvass election results and perform all functions of the board of
    29  canvassers  in  the  city  of New York, including but not limited to the
    30  certification of election results, pursuant to article nine or any other
    31  relevant provision of this chapter;
    32    (7) take any action authorized by section 3-218 of this article;
    33    (8) approve any contract where:
    34    (i) such contract was let by a procurement method other  than  compet-
    35  itive  sealed  bidding  where  the  contract  was  awarded to the lowest
    36  responsible bidder;
    37    (ii) such contract provides  for  technical,  consultant  or  personal
    38  services; and
    39    (iii) the value of the contract exceeds or projects an annual expendi-
    40  ture  exceeding  one  million  dollars  for the fiscal year or where the
    41  value of any contracts awarded to a single entity exceeds or is project-
    42  ed to exceed one million dollars for the fiscal year; and
    43    (9) promulgate regulations, issue orders and make decisions  regarding
    44  general  policies  affecting the administration of elections of the city
    45  of New York.
    46    (e) The executive director shall serve as the chief executive for  the
    47  board  of elections of the city of New York and shall exercise all their
    48  powers and duties in a manner not inconsistent with the  policies  of  a
    49  board. The executive director may delegate powers and duties to a deputy
    50  director  and may delegate powers and duties to employees in furtherance
    51  of the purposes of this chapter, including but not limited to the abili-
    52  ty to exercise the powers and duties of the executive  director  in  the
    53  event  of  a  vacancy.   Such powers and duties shall include but not be
    54  limited to:
    55    (1) appointing, and at their pleasure  removing,  a  deputy  director,
    56  clerks,  voting  machine  technicians,  custodians  and other employees,

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     1  fixing their number, prescribing their duties, fixing their  titles  and
     2  rank  and  establishing  their  salaries within the amounts appropriated
     3  therefor in the expense budget of the city of New  York,  provided  that
     4  this subparagraph shall not affect the fixing of a daily rate of compen-
     5  sation pursuant to subdivision one of section 3-420 of this article.  In
     6  exercising  the  powers  conferred by this paragraph with respect to the
     7  appointment of employees, the executive director shall, in  consultation
     8  with  the  New  York city department of citywide administrative services
     9  establish written policies and procedures on personnel, including execu-
    10  tive staff, other than those paid at a daily rate pursuant  to  subdivi-
    11  sion  one  of  section  3-420 of this article, within ninety days of the
    12  effective date of this paragraph. Such  policies  and  procedures  shall
    13  include:
    14    (i) specifications setting forth the qualifications for and the nature
    15  and  scope  of  the duties and responsibilities of each title, including
    16  executive staff, with appointments to be made consistent with such spec-
    17  ifications. Such specifications  shall  in  addition  to  securing  such
    18  representation,  give  due  weight  to seniority, previous trainings and
    19  experience, previous work for the board of  elections  or  in  elections
    20  administration  or  in voting rights, education and professional creden-
    21  tials, and performance ratings where available. This paragraph shall not
    22  be construed to require the preparation of administration of competitive
    23  examination of eligible list for any title, nor shall it be construed to
    24  require the termination of any  individual  employed  by  the  board  of
    25  elections  of  the  city  of New York prior to the establishment of such
    26  specifications;
    27    (ii) policies protecting employees  from  retaliation  for  disclosing
    28  information  concerning  acts  of wrongdoing, misconduct, malfeasance of
    29  other inappropriate behavior by an employee or board member;
    30    (iii) policies providing for appropriate ongoing training  of  employ-
    31  ees,  including those individuals employed prior to the establishment of
    32  such policies, with the purpose of ensuring that all employees have  the
    33  knowledge and experience to fulfill the duties of the position that they
    34  hold;
    35    (iv)  policies to require the posting of all vacant positions fourteen
    36  days before interviews commence. All postings shall  be  on  a  publicly
    37  accessible website, in the city record, or on an open data portal. Noth-
    38  ing shall prevent the posting of vacancies on all three; and
    39    (v)  policies  establishing an employee performance evaluation program
    40  based upon evidence of work actually performed by employees as  compared
    41  with pre-established performance standards;
    42    (2)  exercising  all  the  powers  and  duties  delegated to boards of
    43  elections, or specifically to the board of elections of the city of  New
    44  York,  except  where  such  powers and duties are expressly reserved for
    45  such board pursuant to this subdivision,  in  all  matters  relating  to
    46  qualification of voters, voter registration and enrollment, cancellation
    47  of  voter  registration, change of voter status and registration records
    48  pursuant to article five of this chapter; in  all  matters  relating  to
    49  creation  and alterations of election districts pursuant to article four
    50  of this chapter, and in all matters relating to  designation  of  places
    51  for  registration and polling places pursuant to articles five and eight
    52  of this chapter; and
    53    (3) exercising the powers and duties delegated to boards of elections,
    54  or specifically to the board of elections of the city of  New  York,  in
    55  all other matters related to the administration of elections in the city
    56  of New York not otherwise specified in this subdivision.

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     1    (f)  Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of law, in lieu of any
     2  otherwise applicable  law  concerning  public  conduct  of  business  or
     3  rendering  of  determinations  by  the  executive  director,  they shall
     4  provide information to the board of elections of the city  of  New  York
     5  and the public in accordance with this paragraph.
     6    (1)  At  regular  meetings  of such board conducted in accordance with
     7  article seven of the public officers law, the executive  director  shall
     8  report to the commissioners of such board on the discharge of any powers
     9  and  duties  exercised  by the executive director under paragraph (e) of
    10  this subdivision as well as any additional relevant information  as  may
    11  be requested by majority vote of such board. At such meetings, a reason-
    12  able opportunity shall be provided to the public to provide oral comment
    13  on the actions and operations of the board and its staff.
    14    (2)  Not  later  than January thirty-first of each year, the executive
    15  director shall provide to the appointing authorities a report  regarding
    16  the actual performance of the board of elections of the city of New York
    17  as  an  agency  for the previous calendar year, relative to programmatic
    18  goals and measures. Such report shall include such  additional  informa-
    19  tion,  and  be presented in such form, as may be specified in writing by
    20  the city council and speaker and communicated to the executive  director
    21  no  later  than  December  first of the previous calendar year, provided
    22  that any specification requiring the collection or maintenance of  addi-
    23  tional  data  not  already collected or maintained shall be specified at
    24  least three  months  prior  to  the  anticipated  commencement  of  such
    25  collection  or  maintenance. Further, at least once annually, the execu-
    26  tive director and elections commissioners shall present on the  findings
    27  of  the  report  at  a  public  hearing in front of the city council and
    28  answer any questions or provide any  additional  follow  up  information
    29  asked for by the council.
    30    (3) For each election, the board shall track and report key voting and
    31  election  administration  data, including: turnout by election district;
    32  average wait times by poll site and election district;  call  volume  by
    33  poll  site  and  types of complaints received; the type and frequency of
    34  use of different voting methods, including absentee, early, and election
    35  day voting, affidavit ballot usage  rates;  rates  of  and  reasons  for
    36  ballot  rejections;  and,  language interpreter staffing by language per
    37  poll site.
    38    § 6. Subdivision 3 of section 4-136 of the election law, as amended by
    39  chapter 155 of the laws of 2010, is amended to read as follows:
    40    3. In the  city  of  New  York  all  leased  or  purchased  equipment,
    41  supplies,  ballots,  printing and publications, except newspaper notices
    42  and advertisements, to be used  or  furnished  by  such  board,  may  be
    43  procured  for  it by the purchasing department or agency of such city as
    44  if such board were an agency of such city. Such board shall comply  with
    45  the  rules and regulations of the New York city procurement policy board
    46  and applicable state law for all purchase contracts, including  but  not
    47  limited to purchase of goods, services or technology.
    48    §  7.  Notwithstanding  any inconsistent provision of law, the current
    49  board of elections commissioners for the city of New York shall  perform
    50  the  functions  assigned  to  the  commissioners until the expiration of
    51  their term.
    52    § 8. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provision of this act, until the
    53  executive director takes office in accordance with section 3-300 of  the
    54  election  law,  as  amended  by  section five of this act, the executive
    55  director or deputy executive director of the board of elections  of  the
    56  city  of  New  York  appointed  by such board and representative of such

        A. 662--A                           8

     1  party shall perform the functions assigned to the  applicable  executive
     2  director by such section of the election law, as amended by this act, or
     3  any  other  law.    Further,  while  remaining in office, such executive
     4  director  and  deputy executive director shall be subject to removal and
     5  replacement by action of such board, consistent with the  provisions  of
     6  section 3-300 of the election law as such section was in existence prior
     7  to  its  amendment  by this act.   If an executive director has not been
     8  appointed by May 1, 2025, the status of the executive director or deputy
     9  executive director appointed by such board  and  representative  of  the
    10  applicable  political  party  shall  terminate,  and the new position of
    11  executive director shall be deemed  in  existence  and  vacant  for  all
    12  purposes after such date.
    13    §  9.  Severability.  If  any provision of this act is held invalid or
    14  ineffective in whole or in part or inapplicable to any person  or  situ-
    15  ation, such invalidity or holding shall not affect, impair or invalidate
    16  other  provisions  or  applications of this act that can be given effect
    17  without the invalid provision or application, and all  other  provisions
    18  thereof  shall  nevertheless  be  separately and fully effective, and to
    19  this end the provisions of this act are declared to be severable.
    20    § 10. This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however,  that
    21  sections  one, three, four, and five of this act shall take effect Janu-
    22  ary 1, 2025; and provided further, however, that sections six, seven and
    23  eight of this act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after  it  shall
    24  have become a law.
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