Provides that remaining campaign accounts be transferred to the state treasury after death of a candidate

3 Co-sponsors

• Ruth Hassell-Thompson
• Liz Krueger
• Kevin S. Parker

BILL NUMBER:S1326

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to providing that campaign accounts be transferred to the state treasury upon death of a candidate

Purpose or general idea of bill

Provides that remaining campaign accounts be transferred to the state treasury after the death of a candidate unless previous arrangements have been made to have the funds donated to a charity of the candidate's choice upon his or her death.

Summary of specific provisions

Section one (1) requires the disposal of campaign funds to the state comptroller (2) requires the treasurer of said political committee to notify the board of elections within 30 days of the candidates death (3) allows said candidate to designate a charitable organization to receive the balance of any monies.

Section 2 provides that this act shall take effect 60 days after it has become law.

Justification

In August 2009, it was revealed that the widow of the late Senator Ron Stafford had been making contributions to various charities and campaign committees from the "Committee to Re-elect Stafford" account. Since his death in 2005, Kay Stafford has doled out approximately $60,000. Kay Stafford is a long time lobbyist with CMA Consulting Services.

These contributions are known as "ghost" contributions. Currently, there is no statute in New York state law addressing the disposition of funds when someone with a campaign account passes away. This bill clearly states who would inherit control of the money and where the money is permitted to go, post mortem. This area of law needs to be clearly defined.

Prior legislative history

2013/2014: S. 1162 Referred to the Elections Committee 2011/2012: A.898/S.1163 Remained in the Senate Committee on Elections and the Assembly Committee on Election Law 2010: A.11517/S.6259

Fiscal implications

None to the State

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that this act shall apply to contributions received after such effective date; and provided, further, that the state board of elections shall notify all registered campaign committees of the applicable provisions of this act within thirty days after this act shall have become a law.