NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC.
"The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt
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NASSAU COUNTY CIVIC ASSOCIATION, INC. "The government is us, we are the government, you and I." Teddy Roosevelt |
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The Nassau County Civic Association strongly supports reform legislation that brings increased transparency and accountability in governmental operations. In particular, we have advocated for two specific reform measures; the posting of all line item budgets and increased public notice of legislative action.
While there was much debate over the Nassau County Legislature’s effort to enact pay raises for the leadership, the legislature’s failure to provide any public notice cannot be ignored.
Even though this action involved a rule change rather then actual legislation, the public has a right to know. Open and honest government requires transparency, for without transparency, there is no accountability.
While the legislation proposed by the minority attempts to address this issue, a more comprehensive approach is warranted. Our proposed reform legislation, the Disclosure and Accountability Reform Law would make the following changes; require a minimum of thirty days notice of any legislation prior to its passage and the establishment of a public registry where all proposed legislation would be published on county website and made available at all public libraries thirty days prior to any public hearing.
We call on the Nassau County Legislature and the leadership to enact the Disclosure and Accountability Reform Law. Doing so will make the bi-partisan promise of open and government a reality.
THE DISCLOSURE AND ACCOUNTABILITY REFORM LAW
A proposed local law relating to changes in action by the county legislature; creating and adding a sub-new section to the Charter of Nassau County
ARTICLE 1-A, Section 152.
LEGISLATIVE INTENT
New Sub-Section. 1. The Disclosure and Accountability Reform law would give residents of Nassau County sufficient notice of proposed legislation in order to petition their government prior to the scheduled hearing date and ensure full disclosure. This will encourage greater accountability by the legislature. The law would require a minimum of thirty days notice of a proposed law prior to any hearing date. Furthermore, the law calls for the establishment of a public registry where all proposed legislation (in final form for passage) would be published on the county website and made available at all public libraries thirty days prior to the public hearing. The measure would take effect on June 1, 2010.
INCREASED PUBLIC NOTICE OF PROPOSED LAWS SHALL BE GIVEN AND REQUIREMENT CALLING FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A PUBLIC REGISTRY OF ALL PROPOSED LAWS.
New Sub-Section. 2. A new section is added to ARTICLE 1-A, Section 152 to read as follows:
(1) No local law shall be passed until it shall have been in final form and disclosed to the residents of Nassau County at least 30 days prior to any public hearing. This shall be disclosed by publication in electronic format and a paper hard copy shall be distributed to all public libraries in Nassau County.
(2) The County of Nassau shall create and maintain a public registry containing all proposed legislation in final form for passage. This registry shall be displayed both in the public square and by electronic format.
(3) For the purposes of this section, “electronic format” means a website either owned or controlled by Nassau County government and a “public registry” means a centralized location including but not limited to an electronic format.
(4) This provision may be waived only in exigent circumstances wherein it is deemed that an emergency exists relating to matters of public health or safety. This determination shall be decided by at least thirteen affirmative votes of the county legislature and such reasons shall be published as soon as reasonably possible.
CONSTRUCTION CLAUSE
New Sub-Section. 3. The provisions of this law are to be liberally construed to effectuate the policies, purposes, and intent of this law.
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE
New Sub-Section 4. If any provision of this law or its application to any person or circumstance is held unconstitutional or invalid, the constitutionality or validity of the remainder of the law or the application of the provision to the persons or circumstances shall not be affected.