New York adopts new attorney discipline rules

From the New York State Office of Court Administration:

The new rules, which provide for a harmonized approach to the investigation, adjudication and post-proceeding administration of attorney disciplinary matters were approved following public comment and upon recommendation of the Administrative Board of the Courts. They will be promulgated as Part 1240 of the Rules of the Appellate Division (22 NYCRR Part 1240) and will take effect in July 2016.

The rules announced today are comprehensive in scope, and set forth a uniform approach to the full panoply of issues in attorney discipline, including: standards of jurisdiction and venue; appointment of disciplinary committees and staff; screening and investigation of complaints; proceedings before the Appellate Division; rules of discovery; the name and nature of available disciplinary sanctions and procedural remedies for further review; expanded options for diversion to monitoring programs; reinstatement; and confidentiality.

The new rules are available here.

New York State Constitutional Convention Boot Camp

In 2017, New York voters will decide whether to authorize a convention to consider revising the New York State Constitution. The New York State Bar Association co-sponsored a "boot camp" for reporters on the issue on Dec. 7.

While intended for journalists, the boot camp offers valuable information for everyone interested in the state constitutional process.

View a video of the boot camp here.

Report: Gov. Cuomo vetoes transparency laws

Glens Falls Post-Star:

Gov. Andrew Cuomo over the weekend vetoed two laws intended to strengthen the Freedom of Information Law process but issued an executive order to expedite the process of receiving government documents, but only for state agencies.

Blair Horner, legislative director of New York Public Interest Research Group, said it is odd that Cuomo vetoed the measures when Robert Freeman, executive director of the State Committee on Open Government, recommended both measures in the state agency’s annual report...

Public interest advocacy groups and newspaper editorial boards advocated for both measures...

The Freedom of Information Law guarantees public access to government documents and records, with certain specific exceptions.

One of the bills the governor vetoed would have required state agencies to pay legal fees and court costs when a court rules that documents have been withheld without a reasonable basis...

The other bill Cuomo vetoed reduced the time public agencies have to appeal a court decision on access to public records — from nine months to two months.

Cuomo on Saturday issued an executive order that requires state agencies to file notice of an appeal, settle the record on the appeal and file a legal brief within 60 days.

Schuyler County to offer "Medicare 101" class

Notice of Public Hearing: Town of Ovid Proposed Local Law No. E of the Year 2015

The Town Board will hold a public hearing at the Ovid Firehouse, 2136 Brown St Ovid, NY 14521, at 7:00 p.m. on the 9 day of December, 2015 in relation to Proposed Local Law No. E of the Year 2015, Town of Ovid, County of Seneca, State of New York: “A local law Repealing Local Law No. 2 of the year 2015."

The text of the proposed local as introduced is as follows:

Section 1. Local Law No. 2 of the Year 2015, “a local law to override the tax levy limit established in General Municipal Law §3-c,” which local law was duly passed by the Town Board on September 9, 2015, is hereby repealed in its entirety as unnecessary.

Section 2. This local law shall be effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State.

More more on the proposed local law, click here.