2017 Rules Reform

The Assembly

CJA's February 24, 2017 e-mail to Executive Director of the Assembly's Office of Ethics & Compliance -- "Subject: Question: Has the Assembly Committee on Ethics & Guidance been complying with Assembly Rule IV, §9 -- & is it within your jurisdiction to investigate and publicly report?"

Assembly Committee on Ethics & Guidance
Members      News/Updates

Assembly Speaker Heastie's May 12, 2016 press release: "Assembly Initiates Search for Executive Director of New Office of Ethics and Compliance” 

Assembly Speaker Heastie's September 28, 2015 press release: "Speaker Heastie Announces the Appointment of Jane T. Feldman as Executive Director of New Office of Ethics and Compliance”

                     referred-to/enclosed: CJA's February 23, 2017 FOIL/records request
& misconduct/fraud complaint  "RE:  FIRST TEST of the Senate's Ethics and Internal Governance Committee: Senate Rules for 2017-2018"

CJA's February 27, 2017 FOIL/Records Request -- "RE:  Amendments to Assembly Rules for 2015-2016"

        Assembly's March 6, 2017 response &
              enclosure: Rules for 2015-16 -- adopted 1/7/15 
              enclosure: Resolution 830: introduced 1/2/16; adopted 1/6/16
 Resolution 830
               enclosure: Resolution 1086: introduced 3/8/16; adopted 3/21/16

                transcript: at pp. 49-100  (vote:  128-3    video: at 1 hr-31 mins -2 hrs-27 mins

CJA's February 27, 2017 FOIL/Records Request -- "RE:  What has the Assembly Committee on Ethics and Guidance been doing, other than enabling its chair and ranking member to collect added pay?"

             Assembly's March 6, 2017 response
              & enclosure
               2014 meetings: April 1, May 20, June 2, June 9, Dec. 1, Dec. 17
                                 2015 meetings: Aug 19, Dec. 21
                                 2016 meetings: Feb 9,  May 5, Oct. 24, Dec. 12
                                 2017 meetings: Jan 9, Feb 7, March 21

CJA's February 27, 2017 FOIL/Records Request -- "RE: Monetary allocations to committee chairs and ranking members for 'staff personnel' pursuant to Assembly Rule V,§9"

              Assembly's March 6, 2017 response
                            & link

CJA's February 27, 2017 FOIL/Records Request -- "RE:  Assembly compliance with Assembly Rule IV, §12: "Assembly Committee on Conference Committees"

              Assembly's March 6, 2017 response

CJA's March 2, 2017 FOIL/Records Request -- "RE:  Where are the Assembly’s audio/video webcasts and recordings of committee meetings, pursuant to Assembly Rule IV, §2(g) – & the March 17, 2016 recommendations of Speaker Heastie’s “Workgroup on Legislative Process, Operations, and Public Participation”?

                                  Assembly's March 6, 2017 response 
                                                      & enclosure

Also, click here for
 Assembly Speaker Heastie's "Workgroup on Legislative Process, Operations, & Public Participation"

Assembly Rules 2017-2018
see Assembly video  Jan 4, 2017 (from 52-53 minutes) -- adopted 101-41
transcript: pp. 23-24; p. 29

Resolution #E00006

February 1, 2017 press release:
"Kolb: Assembly Majority Clings To Status Quo; Rejects Common Sense Reforms"

VIDEO:  January 30, 2017 -- Assembly Floor Proceedings
1 hour-18 mins. - 2 hours - 21 mins.
transcript:  pp. 27-65

E.60   Guest Introductions Time Limit - Limits introductions of guests on the Floor to no more than two minutes and prohibits members from advocating for any legislation at that time (offered by Assemblyman McKevitt)  defeated 44-103

       announced floor result: "36 ayes, 76 noes"  (video: at 1 hours/22 minutes)


E.49    Supermajority Vote for Extended Session - Require a two-thirds vote of all members elected to the Assembly for session to extend beyond the eight-hour limit (offered by Assemblyman Walter)    defeated 42-105

    announced floor result: "ayes 36, noes 74"  (video: at 1 hours/31 minutes)

E.50   Resolution Aging Reform - Require resolutions to age three days prior to a vote unless the Speaker and the Minority Leader waive this rule (offered by Assemblyman Palumbo)     defeated 43-104

    announced floor result: "ayes 41, noes 81"  (video: at 1 hours/41 minutes)

E.51     Equal Staff Funding Allocations - Require equal funding for every member's individual office, regardless of party affiliation or seniority (offered by Assemblyman Montesano)    defeated 41-106

     announced floor result: "ayes 37, noes 85"  (video: at 1 hours/46 minutes)

E.52    Committee Hearing Petitions - Allow one-third of the members of a committee to petition for a hearing on a bill or an oversight hearing (offered by Assemblyman Blankenbush)   defeated 42-105

      announced floor result: "ayes 33, noes 78"  (video: at 1 hours/51 minutes)

E.53   2/3 Vote for Messages of Necessity - Require a two-thirds majority vote for Messages of Necessity submitted by the Governor to be accepted (offered by Assemblyman Hawley)    defeated 44-103

      announced floor result: "ayes 41 , noes 77"  (video: at 1 hours/56 minutes)

E.54    Motion to Discharge Reform - Spirit of 76 - Declare a motion to discharge to be in order if the bill or resolution is sponsored by at least 76 members of the Assembly or by a vote of the majority of all members of the Assembly (offered by Assemblyman Stec)    defeated 42-105

      announced floor result: "ayes 39, noes 82"  (video: at 2 hours/2 minutes)

E.55  Committee Chair Term Limits - Impose eight-year term limits on committee chairs (ofered by Assemblyman Graf)   defeated 42-105

       announced floor result: "ayes 39, noes 81"  (video: at 1 hours/5 minutes)

E.56   Committee Membership Ratio - Provide that the number of majority members on a standing committee be in the same ratio as the majority members of the Assembly are to the entire membership of the Assembly (offered by Assemblyman Crouch)   defeated 43-104

       announced floor result: "ayes 39, noes 80"  (video: at 2 hours/8 minutes)

E.57   Speaker Vote Reforms: (1) In the case of a vacancy, allow each candidate for Speaker to be available to answer questions in open session about the candidate's qualifications, background, experience, objectives, plans, & proposals; (2) Allow each member two minutes to explan  his/her vote for Speaker; (3) Impose eight-year term limits on the Speaker of the Assembly  (offered by Assemblyman Goodell)   defeated 42-105

      announced floor result: "ayes 37, noes 82"  (video: at 2 hours/13 minutes)

E.58  Sensible Opportunity for Legislative Equality (SOLE) Act - Allow each member of the Legislature, during each two-year term, to bring one substantive piece of legislation of his or her choosing to the Floor for a vote (offered by Assemblyman Johns)   defeated 44-103

       announced floor result: "ayes 38, noes 80"  (video: at 2 hours/17 minutes)

E.59   Leadership Term Limits - Impose eight-year term limits on the Majority Leader and Minority Leader of the Assembly  (offered by Assemblyman Ra)  defeated 43-104

            announced floor result: "ayes 38 , noes  90"  (video: at 2 hours/21 minutes)

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February 1, 2017 press release: "Kolb: Assembly Majority Clings To Status Quo; Rejects Common Sense Reforms"

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January 7, 2015 opening session:  transcript  (at  pp. 21-22)  video
Resolution E6  Resolution

       January 9, 2013 opening session:   transcript  (at pp. 15-16)
Resolution E6  Resolution

January 5, 2011 opening session:  transcript  (at p. 14)
Resolution E6   Resolution

January 7, 2009 opening session:  transcript  (at pp. 14-15)
 Resolution E6  Resolution

January 3, 2007 transcript  (at pp. 16-17)

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CJA's Prior Rule Reform webpages

Rules Reform Resource Page -- including 2004, 2006, 2008 Brennan Center Reports

Senate Rules Reform Resource Page -- including transcripts, videos, & reports of the 2009 Temporary Senate Committee on Rules & Administration Reform

Assembly Rules Reform Resource Page

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