A JOINT EFFORT TO BRING REAL REFORM TO NEW YORK FOR RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12, 2013 CONTACT:

JOHNS - RICH TURNER (585) 223-9130 - (585) 721-6930 SAVINO - ROBERT CATALDO (718) 727-9406 Follow Assemblyman Mark Johns for updates on the SOLE Act on Twitter and Facebook!

LEGISLATORS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE SUPPORT JOHNS AND SAVINOS SOLE ACT
SENSIBLE OPPORTUNITY FOR LEGISLATIVE EQUALITY WOULD ALLOW LEGISLATORS TO BRING AT LEASE ONE BILL OF STATEWIDE SIGNIFICANCE TO THE FLOOR FOR A VOTE EACH SESSION
Assemblyman Mark Johns was joined today by a bipartisan group of State Legislators to promote the Sensible Opportunity for Legislative Equality (SOLE) Act. Assembly Bill A.2747/Senate Bill S.2519 allows each member of the State Legislature to bring one piece of legislation of statewide significance to the floor for an up-or-down vote each term. Included is the sponsors memo for the SOLE Act:

NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A2747 SPONSOR: Johns (MS)

TITLE OF BILL: An act to amend the legislative law, in relation to entitling each member of the legislature to bring one substantive piece of legislation of his or her choosing to the floor for a vote without a home rule message and committee review during each two-year term

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL: To 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.

SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS: Section 1 allows each member of the Legislature, during each two-year term, to choose to have one bill discharged from committee and brought to the floor for a vote by filing a notice with the clerk of that member's respective House, Excludes any bill accompanied by a home rule message. Section 2 contains the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION: This legislation would require that during each two-year Legislative Term, each member would be entitled to have at least one substantive piece of legislation of his or her choosing discharged from committee and brought to the floor for a vote. All home rule legislation would be excluded. While this legislation seeks to bypass all other rules

regarding the processing of a bill from committee to the floor, it represents real reform that will benefit all the people of this State. A change such as this has been advocated by Legislators, the media and good government groups for years. Each year, many pieces of good legislation remain in committee without any consideration. Many of these bills contain good ideas that could pass into law if they only received a chance. If every member of the Legislature delivers just one bill to the floor and has an opportunity to convince his or her colleagues of the merits of his or her legislation, then democracy would be truly served. This legislation will let every Legislator's voice be heard. If enacted, this would allow the citizens of every district in this state to hear their representative presenting a piece of legislation that is important to them.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2011-12: A9548/S6947

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This act shall take effect immediately.

Assemblyman Mark Johns says the SOLE Act will reform Albany and make legislators more accountable to their constituencies. Johns and his colleagues urge Albany leaders to bring bills A.2747 and S.2518 to the State Assembly and State Senate floors for a vote before the end of session.

- 30 NOTE: Assemblyman Johns represents Webster, Penfield, Fairport/Perinton and East Rochester.