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History
- Print number 4549c
- Amend and recommit to elections
- Referred to elections
- Print number 4549b
- Amend and recommit to elections
- Print number 4549a
- Amend (t) and recommit to elections
- Referred to elections
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
Decreases contribution limits; repealer
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Brian Kavanagh
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to decreasing contribution limitations; and to repeal subdivision 3 of section 14-124 of the election law relating thereto
Purpose of bill
To reduce campaign contributions limits for candidates for election to public office or party position.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 1 of section 14-114 of the election law, as amended by chapter 79 of the laws of 1992, paragraphs a and b as amended by chapter 659 of the laws of 1994, to lower contribution limits for individuals or political action committees in state and local elections as follows: statewide candidates from $18,000 for primary and $37,800 for general election to $5,000 for per election, i.e., $10,000 total; Senate candidates from $6,000 for primary and $9,500 for general election to $2,400 per election, i.e., $4,800 total; for Assembly candidates from $3,800 for primary and $3,800 for general election to $2,400 for each, i.e., $4,800 total; and for local candidates, depending on office sought (except for candidates for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president or city council participating in New York City's public financing program), ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the number of enrolled voters on active status in the district. Beginning in 2012, contribution limits will be adjusted annually to the nearest $100, based on the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers as published by U.S. Department of Labor.
Read the full memo (803 words)
Individual Limits to Current Law Bill Reduction Candidates Per Election Cycle (also applies to PACs and Labor Organizations)
Statewide Candidates Primary $18,000 $ 5,000 72% General Election $37,800 $ 5,000 87% Total $55,800 $10,000 82%
Senate Candidates Primary $ 6,000 $ 2,400 62% General Election $ 9,500 $ 2,400 76% Total $15,500 $ 4,800 70%
Assembly Candidates Primary $ 3,800 $ 2,400 39% General Election $ 3,800 $ 2,400 39% Total $ 7,600 $ 4,800 39%
Local Candidates Depending on Office Sought
Ranged From Ranges From $1,000 $1,000 to to $55,000 $3,000
Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision 8 of section 14-114 of the election law, as amended by chapter 8 of the laws of 1978 and as re-designated by chapter 9 of the laws of 1978, to lower the annual individual aggregate contribution limit to all candidates, political parties and political committees from $150,000 to $25,000.
Aggregate Limits in a Current Law Bill Calendar Year to Candidates and Committees
Individuals $150,000 $25,000 83% Corporations $ 5,000 $ 5,000 Same
Section 3 of the bill amends subdivision 10 of section 14-114 of the election law, as added by chapter 79 of the laws of 1992, to lower the annual aggregate contribution to political parties from $94,200 to $25,000.
Aggregate Limits in a Current Law Bill Calendar Year to Party Committees
Individuals $94,200 $25,000 73%
Labor Organizations $94,200 $25,000 73%
PACs $94,200 $25,000 73%
Section 4 of the bill repeals subdivision 3 of section 14-124 of the election law in order to eliminate the ability to contribute unlimited sums to so-called party committee "housekeeping accounts."
Section 5 of the bill establishes the effective date.
Justification
It is widely believed that New York's campaign finance laws need substantial revision to ensure the integrity of elections in the state. This bill addresses one of the ways that New York's laws differ significantly from the laws of other states that regulate campaign contributions: the extremely high contributions that may be given to candidates. For example, presently, a single contributor may give up to $55,900 to a statewide candidate during a single election cycle ($18,100 for the primary and $37,800 for the general election). This figure is the highest among any of the 45 states that place limits on campaign contributions. A single contributor can donate up to $15,500 to a candidate for the New York State Senate. This bill would, among other provisions, reduce the allowable contribution amount to a candidate for Governor to $5,000 for the primary and $5,000 for the general election for a total of $10,000; and would reduce the contribution limit for the state legislature to $2,400 for both the primary and the general election, for a total of $4,800.
Legislative history
2009: A.08753 (Kavanagh) - Election Law
Fiscal impact on the state
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect effect January 1, 2011; provided, further, that contributions legally received prior to the effective date of this act may be retained and expended for lawful purposes and shall not provide the basis for a violation of article 14 of the election law, as amended by this act; and provided, further, that the state board of elections shall notify all candidates and political committees of the applicable provisions of this act within thirty days after this act shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.