New York Legislative Law Section 36 - Convening extraordinary sessions of the legislature by petition.

36. Convening extraordinary sessions of the legislature by petition. a. (1) The secretary or clerk of the initiating house, upon the receipt of the written request of any member or members elected thereto that the legislature be convened in extraordinary session and stating the subject matter sought to be acted upon, shall forthwith cause a petition to be served personally on, or sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to each member of such house at his voting address or such other address as he shall have designated therefor in writing.

(2) Upon timely return to the temporary president or speaker, as the case may be, of the signatures of two-thirds of the members of such house, the respective secretary or clerk shall forthwith transmit a certified copy of such petition to the secretary or clerk of the receiving house.

b. The secretary or clerk of the receiving house, as the case may be, upon receipt of such certified copy of the petition from the secretary or clerk of the initiating house, shall forthwith cause a concurring petition to be served personally on, or sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to each member of the receiving house, at his voting address or such other address as he shall have designated therefor in writing.

c. The secretary and clerk, upon the receipt of a joint written request by at least one member of each house that the legislature be convened in extraordinary session and stating the subject matter sought to be acted upon, shall forthwith cause a joint petition to be served personally on, or sent by registered mail, return receipt requested, to each member of both houses, at such member's voting address or such other address as he shall have designated therefor in writing. The secretary or clerk, upon the receipt of such a joint written request, shall forthwith transmit to the other such officer a copy thereof.

d. No signature of any member upon any petition, joint petition, or concurring petition shall be effective unless received by the temporary president or the speaker, as the case may be, of the member's house, at the capitol, within twenty-one days of the date of service or mailing of such petition on or to such member.


Last modified: February 3, 2019