Nassau County Legislature
Nassau County Legislature | |
---|---|
Unicameral | |
Leadership | |
Presiding officer | Howard J. Kopel, Republican since January 2024 |
Deputy presiding officer | Thomas McKevitt, Republican since January 2024 |
Alternate Deputy presiding officer | John R. Ferretti Jr., Republican since January 2024 |
Minority caucus leader | Delia DeRiggi-Whitton, Democrat since November 2023 |
Structure | |
Seats | 19 |
Political groups |
Republican (12)
Theodore Roosevelt Executive and Legislative Building, Nassau County, New York |
Website | |
[1] |
The Nassau County Legislature is the lawmaking body of Nassau County, New York. It has a member from each of 19 districts. It was formed in 1996 to succeed the county's board of supervisors, which was ruled unconstitutional.
The legislature serves as a check against the county executive. The legislature monitors the performance of county agencies and makes land use decisions as well as legislating on a variety of other issues. The county legislature also has sole responsibility for approving the county budget. All members can serve for as long as they want (there is no term limit), unless expelled. Legislators are elected every two years.
The presiding officer of the county legislature is called the presiding officer. The current presiding officer as of January 2024 is Howard J. Kopel, a Republican.[1] The presiding officer sets the agenda and presides at meetings of the legislature. The Republican Party holds an 12-7 majority over the Democratic Party.
Composition
District | Member | Party | Residence | Elected |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Scott Davis | Democratic | Rockville Centre | 2024 |
2 | Siela A. Bynoe | Democratic | Westbury | 2014 |
3 | Carrié Solages | Democratic | Lawrence | 2014 |
4 | Patrick Mullaney | Republican | Long Beach | 2024 |
5 | Seth Koslow | Democratic | Merrick | 2024 |
6 | Debra Mulé | Democratic | Freeport | 2017 |
7 | Howard J. Kopel | Republican | Lawrence | 2009 |
8 | John J. Giuffre | Republican | Stewart Manor | 2021 |
9 | Scott Strauss | Republican | Mineola | 2024 |
10 | Mazi Melesa Pilip | Republican | Great Neck | 2021 |
11 | Delia DeRiggi-Whitton | Democratic | Glen Cove | 2012 |
12 | Michael Giangregorio | Republican | Merrick | 2015 |
13 | Thomas McKevitt | Republican | East Meadow | 2017 |
14 | William Gaylor III | Republican | Lynbrook | 2015 |
15 | John R. Ferretti Jr. | Republican | Levittown | 2017 |
16 | Arnold W. Drucker | Democratic | Plainview | 2016 |
17 | Rose Marie Walker | Republican | Hicksville | 2009 |
18 | Samantha Goetz | Republican | Locust Valley | 2017 |
19 | James D. Kennedy | Republican | Massapequa | 2015 |
Position | Name | Party | District |
---|---|---|---|
Presiding officer | Howard J. Kopel | Republican
|
7 |
Alternate presiding officer | Thomas McKevitt | Republican
|
13 |
Alternate deputy presiding officer | John R. Ferretti Jr. | Republican
|
15 |
Minority caucus leader | Delia DeRiggi-Whitton | Democratic
|
11 |
History
When the western portions of Queens County joined
In 1993, federal
The plan adopted by the board of supervisors was written into the Nassau County Charter called for a nineteen-district legislature, with at least two black-majority districts. This new plan has had the legislature fluctuating from a Democratic majority to a Republican majority, and vice versa, contrary to the regularly Republican board of Supervisors.[4]
Salary
The legislature's salary was made $39,500 in the charter; however that document allows the legislature to raise or lower that salary by law.[5] In December 2015, legislators voted without much debate to raise their salary to $75,000 amidst a county financial crisis; this went into effect the next session in 2017.[6]
Standing committees and the floor
All issues introduced to the legislature is sent to one of the legislature's committees for review and consideration. Then, it is sent to the Rules Committee for further review and consideration. Once through the Rules Committee, it is sent to the floor for all members to discuss, debate, and vote on. If passed, it is sent to the desk of the county executive. If it is signed by the county executive, it is now a local law and is codified in either the Nassau County Administrative Code or the Miscellaneous Laws of Nassau County. All members of the public can attend any public meeting of the legislature, and can speak at floor meetings at a designated time.
Committees
- Budget Review (Chair: Thomas McKevitt)
- Economic and Community Development and Labor (Chair: James Kennedy)
- Finance (Chair: Thomas McKevitt)
- Government Services and Operations (Chair: John R. Ferretti Jr.)
- Health and Social Services (Chair: Rose Marie Walker)
- Minority Affairs (Chair: Scott Strauss)
- Planning, Development, and the Environment (Chair: Samantha Goetz)
- Public Safety (Chair: Patrick Mullaney)
- Public Works (Chair: Michael Giangregorio)
- Rules (Chair: Howard Kopel)
- Veterans Chair: (William Gaylor III)
- Senior Affairs (Chair: John Giuffré)
- Towns, Villages, and Cities (Chair: Mazi Melesa Pilip)
Law
All legislation intended to become local law is introduced as an issue on the floor.[7] If passed, it becomes local law and is codified either in the Nassau County Administrative Code or the Miscellaneous Laws of Nassau County. Ordinances and Resolutions are also passed the same way, but are not codified.
References
- ^ "The Nassau County Legislature". www.nassaucountyny.gov. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
- ^ "Power on the Nassau County Board of Supervisors". www.milefoot.com. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Nassau Board Is Overturned By U.S. Judge". Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "History | Nassau County, NY - Official Website". www.nassaucountyny.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "The Nassau County Charter". January 2, 2020. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "Legislators vote to raise their pay from $39,500 to $75G". Newsday. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
- ^ "What We Do | Nassau County, NY - Official Website". www.nassaucountyny.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2020.