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History
- Referred 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.
Relates to defining permissible personal use of campaign contributions
In Assembly Committee · Election Law · Sponsor Kevin Cahill
Full text
The text isn't available here yet. Check nysenate.gov.
Sponsor's memo
BILL NUMBER:S3110
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law and the public officers law, in relation to campaign funds for personal use
Purpose
This legislation will more clearly delineate how candidates for elected office can and cannot use their campaign funds, establish rules and methods for the disposal of excess campaign funds and for the timing of such disposal, require that they specifically detail campaign contributions by lobbyists and prohibit the soliciting or receiving of contributions for campaigns for state or federal office by senior policy makers in the executive and legislative branch.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 amends section 14-130 of the election law, delineating how campaign funds can be spent; Section 2 adds a new section 14-132 to the election law, delineating when and how candidates must dispose of left over campaign funds; Section 3 amends section 14-102 of the election law, requiring that campaign filings state whether a contributor is a lobbyist required to register pursuant to article one-A of the legisla- tive law; and Section 4 amends subdivision 3 of section 74 of the public officers law, prohibiting any employee of a state agency or legislative employee required to file an annual statement of financial disclosure from soliciting or receiving contributions for a campaign for state or federal office.
Justification
This bill addresses a number of concerns with how campaign funds are raised and expended. Currently, New York's election law, allowing candidates to spend campaign funds for "any lawful purpose," is among the most lax in the nation. While spending campaign funds for personal use is technically prohibited, the lack of any defi- nition for what constitutes a personal use renders the provision mean- ingless. This shortcoming in the law is striking when compared to the detailed restrictions issued by the Federal Election Commission. And when it is combined with the provision that allows elected officials to retain campaign funds for any use related to the holding of a public office, it gives legislators virtual carte blanche for expenditures
Local fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the 60th day after becom- ing law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.