Requires state agencies to make available all public documents in a digital format on their website in a manner that allows such documents to be printed; provides that no document required by law to remain confidential shall be deemed a public document.
NEW YORK STATE ASSEMBLY MEMORANDUM IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION submitted in accordance with Assembly Rule III, Sec 1(f)
BILL NUMBER: A4591A
SPONSOR: McDonald TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the New York state printing and public documents law, in
relation to requiring state agencies to make available all public docu-
ments in a digital format on their website
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
The purpose of this bill is to require state agencies to make public
documents available online
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of this bill is the title, "online digital paperwork
reduction act."
Section two would amend Section 12 of the Printing and Public Documents
Law to require all state agencies to post public documents, such as
annual reports, on their websites.
Section three would set forth the effective date.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL AND AMENDED VERSIONS:
Technical amendments to effectuate the intent of the bill, by amending
Printing and Public Documents Law rather than the Executive Law.
JUSTIFICATION:
In the past, we have evolved and made changes to avoid printing out so
many documents as the Legislature. For example, in 2014, voters approved
a constitutional amendment that allows for the legislature to go paper-
less by removing the requirement that bills be printed and placed on
lawmakers' desks. Years later, this shift remains a success. By elimi-
nating automatic bill printing and having all legislation and annual
reports available on a digital format, we likely saved taxpayers
millions of dollars while keeping these documents easily accessible for
viewing from a laptop or mobile device. Unarguably, this is the next
logical step we need to take. This legislation requires state agencies
to make public documents available online, in a manner that they may be
printed if desired, but they will not be required to be printed, there-
fore eliminating waste and preserving resources.
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2022: A.6625 (Galef) - Referred to Governmental Operations
2021: A.6625 (Galef) - Referred to Governmental Operations
2020: A.6141 (Galef) - Referred to Governmental Operations
2019: A.6141 (Galef) - Referred to Governmental Operations
2018: A.10261-A (Galef) - Reported to Rules
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
There are no costs to the State or local governments associated with the
passage of this legislation. However, it is projected that if passed,
this legislation could show substantial savings to the State.
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the 90th day.
STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
4591--A
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 17, 2023
___________
Introduced by M. of A. McDONALD -- read once and referred to the Commit-
tee on Governmental Operations -- committee discharged, bill amended,
ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
AN ACT to amend the New York state printing and public documents law, in
relation to requiring state agencies to make available all public
documents in a digital format on their website
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. Section 12 of the New York state printing and public docu-
2 ments law is amended by adding a new subdivision 5 to read as follows:
3 5. Each state agency shall make all public documents, as defined in
4 this article, available in a digital format on its website in a manner
5 that allows such documents to be printed. Under no circumstances shall
6 any document that is required by law to remain confidential be deemed a
7 public document.
8 § 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall
9 have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08861-02-3
