Prohibits the disbursement of any state monies to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now or to any related organization

27 Co-sponsors

• Michael J. Fitzpatrick
• Thomas Alfano
• Greg Ball
• William A. Barclay
• Robert Barra
• Phil Boyle
• Daniel Burling
• Nancy Calhoun
• Jane Corwin
• Clifford Crouch
• Janet Duprey
• Joseph Errigo
• Gary Finch
• James Hayes
• Tony Jordan
• Peter Lopez
• David McDonough
• Joel Miller
• Robert Oaks
• Thomas F. O'Mara
• Jack Quinn III
• Andrew Raia
• Bill Reilich
• Joseph Saladino
• Dierdre Scozzafava
• Louis Tobacco
• David Townsend

9 Multi-sponsors

• James Bacalles
• Marc Butler
• Joseph Giglio
• Stephen Hawley
• Thomas McKevitt
• Marcus Molinaro
• Ann Rabbitt
• Teresa Sayward
• James Tedisco

BILL NUMBER:A9171

Title of bill

An act to amend chapter 50 of the laws of 2009, enacting the public protection and general government budget, chapter 51 of the laws of 2009, enacting the legislative and judiciary budget, chapter 52 of the laws of 2009, enacting the state debt service budget, chapter 53 of the laws of 2009, enacting the education, labor and family assistance budget, chapter 54 of the laws of 2009, enacting the health and mental hygiene budget, chapter 55 of the laws of 2009, enacting the transporta- tion, economic development and environmental conservation budget, chap- ter 56 of the laws of 2009, amending the state finance law relating to expanding the use of funds deposited in the criminal justice improvement account, chapter 57 of the laws of 2009, amending the education law relating to contracts for excellence, chapter 58 of the laws of 2009, amending the public health law and the elder law relating to financing for certain provisions of the public health law, and chapter 59 of the laws of 2009, amending chapter 279 of the laws of 1998 amending the transportation law relating to enabling the commissioner of transporta- tion to establish a single audit pilot program relating to extending such provisions, in relation to prohibiting the disbursement of state funds to the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, the New York Agency for Community Affairs or any entity associated therewith

Purpose or general idea of bill

To prohibit certain entities from receiving funding under the 2009-10 New York State budget.

Summary of specific provisions

The bill amends the opening paragraphs of all the budget bills for the 2009-10 state budget with language to impose a moratorium on all state monies appropriated by the laws of 2009 from going to ACORN or any related organizations pending investigations by the attorney general and the state comptroller and the reports from those entities to the Governor and the Legislature.

Justification

It is the goal of this legislation to prevent the misuse of the funds of the state due to corruption, abuse and fraud. Recently ACORN has been the focus of numerous scandals ranging from voter fraud to providing advice to individuals on how to break the law. In the wake of these scandals, the United States Senate has overwhelmingly voted to block Housing and Urban Development funding from being distributed to ACORN and the United States Census Bureau has severed ties with the organization. In addition, it has recently been revealed that a princi- pal in ACORN misappropriated about $1 million of ACORN funds. In light of these revelations, the legislature should guard against the potential misuse of state funds until such time as the attorney general and comp- troller can assure the Governor and the Legislature that ACORN has taken sufficient steps to convince them that it can be a qualified and respon- sible contractor.

Prior legislative history

2009: New bill.

Fiscal implications for state and local governments

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect immediately.