ALBANY - The Assembly on Monday gave final legislative approval to override Gov. George Pataki's veto and potentially give the Legislature more power in writing state budgets.

The measure passed by the Assembly 112-29, with all Democrats supporting it, is the legislation needed if voters in the fall approve a constitutional amendment to shift the balance in the writing of the state budget, which controls much of what happens in Albany.

The Republican-led Senate approved the so-called enabling legislation earlier this month.

In a landmark decision, Pataki won a high court ruling last year that gave the governor the upper hand in writing budgets.

Under the Legislature's plan, the start of the state's fiscal year would be shifted to May 1, from the current April 1. There would also be a Legislature-controlled contingency budget in the event that a new budget was not adopted in time for the start of the new fiscal year. School aid would be appropriated in two-year intervals, helping districts plan better. Lawmakers argue the change will be more democratic and balance the powers of the executive.

Pataki has argued that a constitutional convention seven decades ago gave greater power to the governor because only he or she represented all New Yorkers, instead of being beholden to a small election district, city or county.

"We're disappointed because this is a giant leap backwards for the government reform effort and for on-time, fiscally responsible budgets," said Pataki spokesman Kevin Quinn. The governor has advanced a reform package to make permanent several measures that led to this year's timely budget, he said, such as mandating conference committees, authorizing binding revenue forecasts and requiring a balanced enacted budget.