[HISTORY: Adopted by the Rockland County Legislature as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
County Legislature — See Art. II of the Charter.
Legislative districts — See Ch. 5, § 5-7.
Legislative branch — See Ch. 5, Art. II.
Rules of the Legislature — See Ch. 149.
[Adopted 7-19-1977 by L.L. No. 6-1977[1]]
[1]
Editor's Note: Approved at referendum 11-8-1977.
[Amended 7-1-1997 by L.L. No. 15-1997]
Notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law to the contrary, the term of office of members of the Legislature of Rockland County shall be four years. However, notwithstanding the above provision, the legislative terms of all Legislators elected in the general election held November 4, 1997, shall be for two years and shall expire December 31, 1999.
[Adopted 11-20-1984 by L.L. No. 1-1985]
It is the intention of the Legislature of the County of Rockland by this article to comply with the equal-protection clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States and Article I, § 11, of the Constitution of the State of New York.
[Amended 7-1-1997 by L.L. No. 15-1997; 4-27-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011; 11-1-2022 by L.L. No. 1-2023]
(See Schedule A, Maps and Census Block Descriptions, with new district lines to take effect January 1, 2024, annexed hereto and made a part hereof.)[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Schedule A, which contains descriptions of the legislative districts, is on file in the County offices.
[Amended 10-19-1993 by L.L. No. 6-1993; 7-1-1997 by L.L. No. 15-1997]
A. 
County Legislators shall be electors of Rockland County and shall have been residents continuously in the County for at least one year preceding their election. Each County Legislator shall be a resident elector of the district he or she represents throughout his or her term of office. Each Legislator shall also be a resident elector of the district he or she represents if he or she is appointed to fill a vacancy and throughout his or her term of office. Any person elected from a district in which he or she does not reside must become a resident of such district within one year after his or her election.
B. 
Notwithstanding the provision of any local law, resolution or other act of the former Board of Supervisors or of the Legislature of Rockland County, an elected County official may not at the same time hold any other elective Town or Village office.
C. 
Neither the boundaries nor the territory encompassed by these legislative districts may be varied prior to the first day of January 2024, except as hereinafter set forth.
[Amended 4-27-2011 by L.L. No. 1-2011; 11-1-2022 by L.L. No. 1-2023]
[Amended 7-1-1997 by L.L. No. 15-1997[1]]
A. 
Commencing on the first day of January 1998 and terminating on the 31st day of December 1999, the number of votes that each member of the County Legislature shall be entitled to cast shall be determined and fixed in accordance with the provisions of this article.
B. 
Based upon the 1990 Federal Census, commencing on the first day of January 1998 and terminating December 31, 1999, each of the 21 members of the County Legislature of Rockland County shall be entitled to the following whole number of votes on any resolution, local law, motion or proposal to be voted on by the County Legislature.
District
Population per Legislator
Number of Votes per Legislator
Stony Point
12,814
51
Haverstraw
10,904
43
Haverstraw
10,904
43
Haverstraw
10,904
43
Ramapo
13,408
53
Ramapo
13,408
53
Ramapo
13,409
53
Ramapo
13,409
53
Ramapo
13,409
53
Ramapo
13,409
53
Ramapo
13,409
53
Clarkstown
13,224
52
Clarkstown
13,224
52
Clarkstown
13,224
52
Clarkstown
13,224
52
Clarkstown
13,225
52
Clarkstown
13,225
52
Orangetown
11,685
46
Orangetown
11,685
46
Orangetown
11,686
46
Orangetown
11,686
46
Total Population
265,475
Total Votes
1,047
C. 
The total number of whole votes which each legislator is entitled to cast shall not be divisible and shall be cast as one unit.
D. 
The attendance of legislators entitled to cast 524 votes shall be required to constitute a quorum.
E. 
A total of 524 affirmative votes shall be required for the adoption of any resolution, local law, motion or proposal requiring a simple majority vote, and a total of 698 affirmative votes shall be required for the adoption of any resolution, local law, motion or proposal requiring a 2/3 vote.
F. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of this local law, every member of the County Legislature serving on a committee of the Legislature shall be entitled to cast one vote as a member of such committee.
[1]
Editor's Note: This local law also provided for the repeal of former § 101-8, Terms of office, and the renumbering of former §§ 101-9 and 101-10 as §§ 101-8 and 101-9, respectively.
In the event of any vacancy in the Legislature, other than by expiration of term, the Legislature shall fill such vacancy by the appointment of an individual from the same district. The person appointed to fill such vacancy must be fully qualified to hold the office of County Legislator the same as if he had been elected. The term of the person appointed to fill a vacancy on the Legislature shall be as provided by law.