BIPARTISAN OPERATING PROPOSAL FOR THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE
                  
WHEREAS the Democratic and Republican Conferences are unable to agree as to who is the validly elected President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader of the New York State Senate; and


WHEREAS in order to move forward with legislation critical to the people of this state, the Democratic Conference and the Republican Conference (which, combined with Senator Espada, identifies themselves as the “Reform Coalition”) are willing to put aside temporarily the dispute over the election of the President Pro Tempore and Majority Leader, and to suspend the Rules of the Senate for the purpose of considering legislation critical to the public and municipalities of the State;


WE HEREBY ADOPT the following bipartisan operating agreement to allow the New York State Senate to vote on critical legislation:


1. Term of Agreement. This agreement shall be in effect until the Senate votes on the bills mutually agreed upon as attached to this signed document.

2. Presiding Officers. Two Presiding Officers of the Senate shall be designated to serve during such Session. The Democratic Conference shall nominate three Senators from their conference and the Republican Conference shall nominate three Senators from their conference. The Republican Conference shall choose one Senator from the list provided by the Democratic Conference. The Democratic Conference shall choose one Senator from the list provided by the Republican Conference. Such Presiding Officers shall alternate on an hourly basis. Alternatively, the Conferences may agree on a mutually acceptable presiding officer.


3. Floor Leaders. The parties agree to alternate Floor Leaders during such Session, one each to be designated by the Democratic Conference and the Republican Conference, respectively. Whenever the Presiding Officer is a Democrat, the Floor Leader shall be a Republican, and whenever the Presiding Officer is a Republican, the Floor Leader shall be a Democrat.


4. Legislation for Consideration. The parties agree that the only bills to come before the Senate shall be those bills set forth in the attached Appendix, which are agreed to by the Democratic Conference, the Republican Conference and Senator Espada.  Except for a motion to adjourn upon agreement and those limited motions or procedures necessary to bring the legislation described in the attached Appendix for a vote, no other legislative matters, resolutions, motions, including motions to amend or procedures of any kind shall be considered.


5. Senate Procedures. For the purposes of consideration of the bills (to be listed on the attached Appendix), the parties agree to suspend the Senate Rules to enable all of the bills listed in the Appendix to be brought to the Senate Floor for immediate consideration by the full Senate.