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- Referred to finance
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Provides for the issuance of a certificate of ethics course completion to professional fundraisers who complete a course of instruction in the law and ethics of fundraising
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S7624
Title of bill
An act to amend the executive law, in relation to providing for the issuance of a certificate of ethics course completion to professional fundraisers and charitable organizations who complete a course of instruction in the law and ethics of fundraising
Purpose or general idea of bill
This bill provides for the issuance by the Attorney General of a certificate of ethics course completion to professional fundraisers who complete a course of instruction in the law and ethics of fundraising.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill amends the Executive Law to add a new section 178, which provides for the issuance by the Attorney General of a certificate of ethics course completion to professional fundraisers, professional solicitors, fundraising counsel, and charitable organizations required to register with the Charities Bureau of the Attorney General's Office, who complete a course of instruction in the law and ethics of fundraising. It also provides that the Attorney General shall annually publish the names of the individuals and organizations which have been granted the certificate and that the charities bureau registry maintained by the attorney general shall indicate that a certificate has been granted.
This bill defines "acceptable course" as a course of instruction approved by the Attorney General in consultation with the Education Department, in relation to the law and ethics of fundraising and philanthropy. Universities and colleges statewide, and professional trade associations would be permitted to offer the course through classroom training and/or by distance learning.
Justification
There are approximately 1.8 million non-profits in existence today raising between $225-$255 billion per year. Many of these organizations employ in-house fundraisers who do not have formal education in fundraising. Many ethical problems exposed in Corporate America are now spilling over into the non-profit sector. Recent scandals, in particular the Bernard Madoff catastrophe, point out that there is need for transparency and maximum accountability. In order to encourage education in professional responsibility in the field of philanthropy, this legislation provides an incentive in the form of a certificate of ethics course completion from the Attorney General. The course will raise the consciousness of fundraisers making them sensitive to the ethical issues they are faced with on a daily basis. In addition, fundraisers would be apprised of the many new state and federal laws pertaining to non-profits.
Prior legislative history
Similar legislation was introduced in 2011 A.1441/S.2695.
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.