The Senate began session in trademark fashion by passing a number of election reform bills. There are a number of election bills still remaining to pass as session was cut short on Tuesday in order to attend the Governor’s State of the State address. Among the bills passed so far include the following:

S.136 Krueger – Increases compensation of election inspectors

The bill would increase compensation of election inspectors operating outside of New York City to no less than $300 per day. Previously, compensation for elections inspectors operating outside of New York City was set by the county legislative body at no less than $130 per-day. The bill also sets the per-day rate for coordinators within New York City at $350 per-day, an increase of $150 per-day. The bill also increases reimbursement for required trainings at $50, up from $25.

S.242 May – Establishes portable polling locations for early voting

The bill would allow counties the option to establish two or more locations for portable polling places for early voting, which must be operative for no fewer than three consecutive days and that will not replace or otherwise decrease the mandated number of regular early voting polling places.

S.263 Stewart-Cousins – Prohibits deceptive practices and the suppression of voters

The bill creates the crime of deceptive practices in relation to elections. Under the bill, knowingly spreading deceptive information aimed at interfering with others’ right to vote would become a misdemeanor offense. The bill also makes it a crime to suppress the voting rights of others, or to force them to vote for or against a particular candidate. Any individual convicted of the misdemeanor of deceptive practices a second time is guilty of a class E felony, and for any subsequent convictions of the same crime the individual is guilty of a class D felony.

S.350 Jackson – Relates to legal challenges to the constitutionality of provisions of the election law

The bill requires constitutional challenges to the election law, and any related statutory claims to be brought in the following courts depending on the judicial department in which at least one plaintiff is located:

• First judicial department: New York county;
• Second judicial department: Westchester county;
• Third judicial department: Albany county; or
• Fourth judicial department: Erie county.

S.585 May – Relates to the removal of an election commissioner

The bill will provide the State Board of Elections with the ability to remove commissioners in an instance where a county commissioner violates or neglects their duties or the state’s election laws. Currently, only the Governor is authorized to remove a county commissioner in such scenarios.

S.587 Comrie – Mandatory training curriculum for poll workers

Requires the state board of elections to develop and provide to each county materials for a model poll worker training program which the counties may use to train individuals to serve as poll workers in state and county elections.

S.609 Hoylman-Sigal – Split shifts for election inspectors or poll clerks

Authorizes boards of election to offer split-shifts to poll clerks, allowing poll clerks to work half of an election day.

S.610 Hoylman-Sigal – Authorizes absentee ballot drop-off locations

Authorizes local Boards of Elections to establish absentee ballot drop-off locations and provides that

absentee ballot envelopes may be deposited in an absentee ballot drop box established by the Board of Elections of the county or city of the voter’s residence. The bill also deems an absentee ballot received by a local Board of Elections if it is deposited in an absentee ballot drop box before the close of polls on election day.

S.611 Mayer – Makes commissioners full time employees of the board

This bill would require boards of elections commissioners be full time employees.

S.612 Mayer – Prohibits conflicts of interest among board of elections employees

This bill would ban board of elections engaging in a trade or business activity which creates or may tend to create an actual or potential conflict of interest and requires board of elections employees to take a leave of absence when running for an office supervised by the board at which they are employed during their candidacy.

S.613-A Myrie – Relates to income earned by election inspectors, poll clerks, or election coordinators

Subtracts from the federal adjusted gross income any income earned by election inspectors, poll clerks, or election coordinators earned while working in relation to a general, primary, run-off primary, or special election and exempts such income from being included in the calculation of the amount of benefits under public assistance programs.

S.614 Myrie – Relates to election commissioners and deputy commissioners holding a publicly elected office

Prohibits election commissioners and deputy election commissioners from holding a publicly elected office or from being the respective chair of the county democratic or republican committees.

S.616 Myrie – Relates to furnishing money or entertainment to induce attendance at polls

Authorizes the furnishment of items of nominal value to voters waiting in line to vote, including but not limited to snacks, water, soft drinks, or other refreshments.

S.617 Myrie – Relates to mandatory training curriculum

Requires election commissioners, and other staff as determined by NYSBOE, to complete a course of instruction within 6 months of their appointment. It also requires election commissioners, and other designated staff, to complete continuing education on an annual basis.

S.619 Krueger – Relates to the exercise of powers and duties of the board of elections of the city of New York and its executive management

This bill would delineate the various responsibilities of the New York City commissioners of the board of elections, and provide clear powers, responsibilities, and duties for the executive director. The bill reduces the number of elections commissioners and creates a process for their appointment and bestows additional responsibility to the executive director in running operations of the board.

S.657 Myrie – Regulates public data maintained by county and city boards of elections

This bill would create a New York State Voting and Elections Database and Institute which would compile New York’s election data and administer it for research and to provide assistance to political subdivisions as well as the public.

Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins said:

Downstate Nurse Strike Ends

The New York State Nurses Association union reached an agreement with Mount Sinai Health System and Montefiore Health System this week ending a three-day strike. The nurses pointed to staffing shortages leading to burnout, hindering their ability to properly care for their patients.

The union said the deal will provide enforceable “safe staffing ratios” for all inpatient units at Mount Sinai and Montefiore. Montefiore said the agreement also includes 170 new nursing positions, a 19% increase in pay over the three-year life of the contract, lifetime health coverage for eligible retirees and adding “significantly more nurses” in the ER.

The hospitals had stayed open during the three-day strike, using temporary nursing services to provide care, and transferring other employees to take care of non-medical nursing duties. They had also diverted and transferred some patients to other hospitals and postponed some elective procedures.

Hearing on Court of Appeals Nominee Scheduled for Next Week

The State Senate has set a hearing date for Governor Hochul’s Court of Appeals nominee Hector LaSalle. On Wednesday January 18, the Senate Judiciary Committee will meet to interview the nominee and make a recommendation. There is some controversy concerning whether or not the potential chief judge is required to be considered by the entire body, or whether the Judiciary Committee can vote him down in committee without the full body taking a vote. The Governor, as well as former chief judge Jonathan Lippman, have weighed in saying the constitution and past precedent require a vote by the full body.

New Chair of Senate Republican Campaign Committee Announced

State Senator George Borrello has been named Chair of the Senate Republican Campaign Committee after a disappointing election cycle for Senate Republicans. Borrello will take over for Senator Pam Helming who previously occupied the position. Borrello was first elected in a special election to replace outgoing Senator Cathy Young.

Senate Republican Leader Rob Ortt said: