Relates to campaign finance reform and campaign contribution limits and penalties

BILL NUMBER:S6775

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to campaign finance reform and in relation to campaign contribution limits and penalties for violations

Summary of provisions

Section 1 would amend Election Law § 14-100 by adding new definitions for "clearly identified candidate," "general public audience," "labor organization," and "intermediary."

Section 2 would amend Election Law § 14-102 to require that statements filed by political committees include information about intermediaries.

Section 3 would amend Election Law § 14-106 to expand the types of political communications that must be reported to and filed with the board of elections by candidates, labor organizations, corporations, political committees, and other entities to include electronic, e-mail, and text message communications.

Section 4 would add a new § 14-107 to the Election Law that would.

* define independent expenditures;

* require that political communications paid for by an independent expenditure costing more than $1,000 identify the source of the communication and, with respect to communications regarding a candidate, state that the communication is not authorized by the candidate or the candidate's political committee or its agents;

* require that any person who intends to make an independent expenditure in the upcoming year register with the state board of elections as a political committee and report independent expenditures over $1,000; and that any contribution over $1,000 to that person also be disclosed by that person to the state board of elections either within 48 hours of receipt if received more than 30 days before an election, or within 24 hours of receipt within 30 days before an election, in a specified format and filed electronically; and

* require that copies of political communications paid for by independent expenditure be submitted to the state board of elections.

Section 5 would amend subdivision 3 of Election Law § 14-124 to apply a $25,000 contribution limit to so-called "housekeeping accounts."

Section 6 would amend Election Law § 14-126 to create penalties for falsely identifying or failing to identify the source of an independent expenditure. It also authorizes the State Board of Elections to impose fines directly after a hearing for violations, rather than seeking such fines by filing a civil proceeding in court.

Legislative history

New Bill

Fiscal implications

Not determined

Effective date

This act shall take effect June 1, 2014.