N.Y. Senate Rules Rule 8, § 4: Hearings

§ 4. Hearings. a. Committee hearings. Chairs of standing committees

may call public hearings to permit interested persons, groups or

organizations the opportunity to testify orally or in writing on

legislation or issues pending before such standing committee. Chairs are

encouraged to hold public hearings on legislation of important public

interest, where, outside of the budget, significant public money is

allocated, broad conduct is regulated or where the proposal has a broad

public impact. Chairs may request that the Official Stenographer make a

stenographic record of a public hearing. Official hearings may be

conducted in accordance with procedure established by law. No committee

may take testimony at a hearing unless at least two of its members are

present at such hearing. Prior notice of all public hearings shall be

filed by the chair or his or her designee with The Legislative Bill

Drafting Commission and the Secretary of the Senate and such notice

shall contain information as to subject matter, date and place.

b. Public forums. Notwithstanding the public hearings conducted by

standing committees, any Senator may convene a public forum on proposed

or pending legislation within the jurisdiction of a committee upon which

he or she is a member, provided that any charge incurred attendant to

such forum be borne by said Senator or his or her party conference.

Prior notice of such forum shall be filed with the chair of the

committee.

c. Committee oversight function. Each standing committee is required

to conduct oversight of the administration of laws and programs by

agencies within its jurisdiction.

d. Each standing committee is required to file with the secretary of

the senate an annual report, detailing its legislative and oversight

activities. Such report shall be posted to the Senate web site.

e. Petition for a public hearing on a bill. By a petition of one-third

of the members assigned to a committee rounded up to the nearest whole

number, a public hearing shall be scheduled on a specific bill or number

of bills within the jurisdiction of a committee, unless the majority of

members of the committee reject such petition. Such petitions shall be

submitted on the proper form to the Senate Desk for Operations, who will

forward it to the appropriate committee, for presentation at the next

committee meeting. Such public hearings shall be held if they meet the

guidelines as promulgated by the Majority Coalition Leaders. Public

hearings scheduled by petition will be held at least 14 days following

the committee meeting at which the petition was considered.

f. Hearings of standing committees shall be video recorded and to the

extent practicable webcast live. Video of such hearing shall be posted

to the Senate web site within 24 hours.