BILL NUMBER: S5096
SPONSOR: GRIFFO
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to disclosure
related to appointments by the governor and senate
 
PURPOSE:
This bill would amend the public officers law by requiring the Governor,
Temporary President of the Senate and the Senate Minority Leader to
develop a questionnaire to be filled out and completed by any applicant
for appointment to office by the governor.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1. The public officers law is amended by adding a new section
7-a to read as follows:
§ 7-a. Disclosure related to appointments by the governor and senate.
1. The governor, and temporary president of the senate, and senate
minority leader shall jointly develop a questionnaire to be filled out
and completed by any applicant for appointment to an office by the
governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate. The question-
naire shall be developed by September thirtieth, two thousand twenty-
one, and may be amended thereafter jointly by the governor, and tempo-
rary president of the senate, and senate minority leader. After the
questionnaire is developed, the questionnaire shall be publicly posted
on the public facing website of the governor and senate.
2. The questionnaire jointly developed by the governor, and temporary
president of the senate, and senate minority leader shall include, but
not be limited to, questions about the following subject matters:
(a) Name, address, social security number, home telephone number, busi-
ness telephone number, cellular number, email address;
(b) Biographical information including: date of birth, place of birth,
whether name has changed since birth, citizenship status;
(c) Marital status including: information regarding any current or
former spouse; status of any child support or maintenance obligations;
(d) Prior residences for the prior five years;
(e) Information about employment history for at least the prior ten
years, including information about any involuntary terminations;
(f) Information about educational history;
(g) Information about professional certifications;
(h) Information about military service;
(i) Information about affiliations with organizations;
(j) Information about published works, speeches and awards;
 
JUSTIFICATION:
This bill would require the Governor, Temporary President of the Senate
and the Senate Minority Leader to develop a questionnaire to be filled
out and completed by any applicant for appointment to office by the
governor. These appointments are in consideration to hold leadership
positions in the state of New York. This process will involve the
interests of the governor, the temporary president and the senate minor-
ity leader to be taken into account when creating the questionnaire.
Once completed, it will be publicly posted on the public facing website,
for all other legislative members to review.
In order to ensure all New Yorkers have their interests heard when
creating a questionnaire in relation to appointments who will hold
reputable positions in the state of New York, it is imperative to have
all parties involved and necessary information to be provided and avail-
able during the process. By including leaders on each side of the aisle
during the questionnaire process and have a streamlined questionnaire,
the interests of all New Yorkers can be represented.
 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24-S.3277 - Investigations and Government Operations Committee
2021-22 - S. 7239 - Investigations and Government Operations Committee.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately