What's happening
Writing a plain-English summary… Track this bill to get it by email.
Why it matters
Albany, before your first meeting.
Every bill that moved yesterday, summarized in a sentence and ranked by impact. The Albany Scorecard follows on Sundays.
Free. Unsubscribe in one click. Want alerts on specific bills? Create an account.
Who cares
Headline styles
Sponsors
History
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.721
- Print number 7479a
- Amend and recommit to codes
- Reported and committed to codes
- 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.
Requires entities advertising for political purposes to disclose in such advertisements the source thereof
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Sandy Galef
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 the disclosure of sources for political advertisements
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to ensure that the public is fully informed of the sources of political advertisements in support of or in opposition to a candidate, or a ballot proposal or constitutional amendment, in order to prevent the sponsors of such communications from concealing their interests in the outcome by acting through third parties, such as trade associations.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Adds a new election law section Sec. 14-107, which defines independent expenditures and those affected by the bill, such as trade associations, and requires that whenever a person or trade association makes an independent expenditure of more than one thousand dollars for a political advertisement or other communication to the general public, the one paying for it must be identified, and the communication must state that it is not authorized by the candidate or his or her committee. If the sponsor is a trade association, it must disclose its three largest contributors since January first of the year in which the advertisement is published, and, if the advertisement is made with respect to a presidential primary race, it must disclose the three largest contributors since July first of the year before the primary. Willful violation of these provisions is punishable by a civil penalty of up to $1,000 or the cost of the communication, whichever is greater, and the attorney general is given concurrent jurisdiction with district attorneys to prosecute such offenses.
Section 2: Provides that the Act takes effect immediately.
Existing law
None.
Justification
This bill is a response to the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, which effectively eliminated restrictions on corporations' ability to spend corporate treasury funds in support of or in opposition to political candidates, political parties and ballot issues. Disclosure of corporate funding of political advertising is viewed by many as at least a partial solution, as it will empower the press to investigate the interests being served by the political advertising, and allow the public to make informed decisions regarding the weight to be given to such advertising. Because recent statements by some corporate leaders have indicated that they would try to hide their political expenditures by contributing to trade associations that could buy political advertisements without disclosing the source of their funding, this bill requires that such trade associations disclose in any such advertisements their three largest contributors.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
None to the state.
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This bill is effective immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.