Alters provision respecting filing of campaign financial disclosure statements

3 Co-sponsors

• Liz Krueger
• John L. Sampson
• Toby Ann Stavisky

BILL NUMBER:S1164

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to the manner of filing of campaign financial disclosure statements

Purpose

To require that last-minute campaign expenditures in excess of $5,000, be disclosed to the Board of Elections within 24 hours. This bill would also require any statements that are required to be filed in the final 15 days preceding an election day to be done so in person or by express mail.

Summary of provisions

The bill amends Section 14-108 subdivision 2 to require that all candidates and campaign committees report campaign expenditures or liabilities in excess of $5,000 incurred in the final 10 days preceding an election, to the Board of Elections within 24 hours. Under current law, only contributions in excess of $1,000 are subject to a 24 hour reporting requirement in the final 10 days preceding an election. The bill also amends Section 14-108 subdivision 6 to require that all campaign financial disclosure filings made during the final 15 day period prior to an election, be filed in person or by express mail to assure prompt delivery and dissemination. Currently, such filings are allowed to be made by first class mail.

Justification

Current state regulations require the final pre-election campaign financial disclosure statement to be filed 11 days prior to election day (9 NYCRR Sec. 6200.2). However, many candidates file their statements using first-class mail and deem it filed when it is postmarked. Depending on where the candidates are filing from, the statement can take one or more days to reach the State Board of Elections in Albany. While the statement makes its way through the mail, important contributor and campaign expenditure information is unavailable to the public. This bill would ensure prompt public disclosure and access to this important campaign fund information.

Legislative history

2011-2012: S.588/A.5875 Remained in the Senate Committee on Elections/Assembly Committee on Election Law 2009-2010: S.472/A.504 Remained in the Senate Committee on Elections/Assembly Committee on Election Law 2007-2008: S.735 Remained in the Senate Committee on Elections 2005-2006: S.219 Remained in the Senate Committee on Elections 2003-2004: S.3261 Remained in the Senate Committee on Elections

Fiscal implications

None.

Effective date

Immediately.