New York City Bar Association Releases 2018 State Legislative Agenda

As part of its ongoing policy work at the local, state and federal levels, the New York City Bar Association has released its 2018 New York State Legislative Agenda. This agenda represents only a portion of the dozens of positions generated by City Bar committees over the course of each legislative session. It focuses on issues that are relevant to the current legislative debate or of particular importance to the City Bar, as well as legislative proposals drafted by committees. 

The following are the agenda items for 2018:

• Support efforts to bring meaningful and comprehensive ethics, voting, election law and rules reform to Albany.
• Advance criminal justice reform and policies that will reduce mass incarceration.
• Support the Judiciary’s 2018-19 Budget Request, including adequate funding for civil legal services.
• Promote comprehensive reproductive health policies.
• Provide that communications between a consumer of legal services and a legal referral service or lawyer referral service be deemed privileged.
• Enact the Uniform Voidable Transactions Act, which would modernize New York’s laws related to fraudulent conveyances.
• Amend the Arts and Cultural Affairs Law to re-incentivize art authenticators and restore integrity to art transactions in New York.
• Reform and modernize the administration of class actions in New York’s courts by amending Article 9 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules.
• Modernize New York’s public procurement construction laws to provide public owners with a wider variety of procurement and delivery modes, as necessary and appropriate, to reduce costs, speed delivery and improve quality and safety.

The City Bar’s 2018 New York State Legislative Agenda can be viewed here.

The City Bar’s State Legislative Agenda will help guide its advocacy work over the coming months.

About the Association
The New York City Bar Association, since its founding in 1870, has been dedicated to maintaining the high ethical standards of the profession, promoting reform of the law and providing service to the profession and the public.  The Association continues to work for political, legal and social reform, while implementing innovative means to help the disadvantaged.  Protecting the public’s welfare remains one of the Association’s highest priorities. www.nycbar.org