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A bill is a proposed change in the law. The legislative process begins with a senator coming up with an idea for a new policy. The idea may come from a constituent or from an organization that has asked the senator for a new law. The proposal is then put in bill form and submitted to the Senate. The bill is then voted on and, if approved, becomes a law.
The people have a right to know the process by which governmental decisions are made and to review the documents and statistics that are used in making those determinations. Governing is the people’s business, and it should not be obscured by the shroud of secrecy or confidentiality.
New York State Law
Section 290 of the New York State Constitution is often known as the “open government law.” It provides for transparency in how governments function by requiring that agencies make certain information available to the public, unless the agency can show that disclosure would cause an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy. This includes providing individuals with a notice of the availability of federal and state student loan forgiveness programs.
The law also requires that the committee on open government promulgate guidelines regarding deletion of identifying details and withholding of records otherwise available under this article to prevent such unwarranted invasions of privacy. The committee is required to report to the legislature annually on its activities and findings regarding articles six and seven of this chapter.
A number of new bills have been introduced in the current session. Some are expected to move through the legislative process quickly, while others could be delayed for a long time. Regardless of whether the legislation moves forward, this article provides an overview of the process by which laws are enacted and changed in New York State.
In addition to laws passed by the State Legislature and periodically codified in the New York Consolidated Laws, there are laws that are created by courts through case decisions and ancillary proceedings. An ancillary proceeding is a case that grows out of another case and helps to clarify or change something in the original case. An amicus curiae is someone that gives advice to the court about what the law means in a particular case.
Whether it’s about the law of open government or a lawsuit, these cases provide valuable insights for lawyers and laypeople alike. This week’s law new covers a wide range of topics, including litigation strategies for criminal cases, the legal issues that arise when a lawyer dies or is incapacitated, and the legal challenges posed by third-party food delivery services.