The Text

There shall be in each county, except in a county wholly included in a city, a board of supervisors, to be composed of such members and elected in such manner and for such period as is or may be provided by law. The legislature may provide by law for forms of government for the counties of Westchester and Nassau, or either, subject to adoption and approval by the electors of any such county at a general election in an odd-numbered year. Any such form of government may include the transfer to the county or to county officers of any functions now exercised by towns or town officers. After the adoption of such form of government by the county, no law which abolishes or creates an elective office or changes the voting or veto power of or the method of removing an elective officer, changes the term of office or reduces the salary of an elective officer during his term of office, abolishes, transfers or curtails any power of an elective officer, changes the form or composition of a legislative body, or provides a new charter for such county, shall become effective without adoption and approval by the electors of such county. No other special or local law affecting the counties of Westchester or Nassau, or either, shall be passed by the legislature except in conformity with the provisions of this section. After any such bill has been passed by both branches of the legislature, the house in which it originated shall immediately transmit a certified copy thereof to the clerk of the board of supervisors or other governing elective body of such county, and within fifteen clays thereafter such clerk shall return such bill to the clerk of the house from which it was sent, or if the session of the legislature at which such bill was passed has terminated, to the governor, with the clerk’s certificate thereon, stating whether the county has or has not accepted the same. The legislature shall provide for a public notice and opportunity for a public hearing concerning any such bill before the board of supervisors or other governing elective body of the county before action thereon, and the board of supervisors or other governing elective body shall act for the county as to such bill, provided that if under such form of government there shall be an executive head of the county, the concurrence of such executive head shall also be required for the acceptance of such bill by the county. Whenever any such bill is accepted as herein provided, it shall be subject as are other bills, to the action of the governor. No such bill shall take effect until at least sixty days after the approval by the governor, or its final adoption by the legislature notwithstanding the disapproval of the governor; nor unless and until adopted and approved by the electors of the county, if within said sixty days there shall be filed with the county clerk of the county a petition protesting against such bill executed by electors of the county in number equal to at least five per centum of the total number of votes cast in the county for governor at the last gubernatorial election. Whenever, during the session at which it was passed, any such bill is returned without the acceptance of the county, or within such fifteen days is not returned, it may nevertheless again be passed by both branches of the legislature and it shall then be subject as are other bills, to the action of the governor, but shall not take effect unless and until adopted and approved by the electors of the county. In every such law which has been accepted by the county to which it relates, the title shall be followed by the words “accepted by the county.” In every such law which is passed without such acceptance, by the words “passed without the acceptance of the county.” If under such form of government the board of supervisors be abolished, the powers and duties of the board of supervisors, as prescribed by the constitution, or by statute if not provided for by such form of government, shall devolve upon the governing elective body in such county. In a city which includes an entire county, or two or more entire counties, the powers and duties of a board of supervisors may be devolved upon the municipal assembly, common council, board of aldermen or other legislative body of the city.