Decreases contribution limits; repealer

Summary of provisions

Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 1 of section 14-114 of the election law, as amended by chapter 79 of the laws of 1992, paragraphs a and b as amended by chapter 659 of the laws of 1994, to lower contribution limits for individuals or political action committees in state and local elections as follows: statewide candidates could receive up to $5,400 per election, i e., $10,800 total (as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described below); Senate candidates could receive up to $2,700 per election, i.e , $5,400 total (as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described below); Assembly candidates could receive up to $2,700 per election, i.e., $5,400 total (as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described below); and for local candidates, depending on office sought (except for candidates in New York City for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, borough president or city council), the individual contribution limit ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the number of enrolled voters on active status in the district.

In New York City, for the election of Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, or a member of the City Council, contributions limits will be equal to the limits set forth in the Administrative Code of the City of New York (section 3-703 (1)(f)).

Every odd calendar year, contribution limits will be adjusted by the State Board of Elections based on the monthly Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers as published by U.S. bureau of labor statistics, to the nearest $100. Each February, the Board shall issue a regulation publishing the amount of each contribution limit.

Section one of the bill also eliminates the distinct set of contribution limits that currently exist for contributions from a candidate's child, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, or spouse..

Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision 8 of section 14-114 of the election law, as amended by chapter 8 of the laws of 1978 and as redesignated by chapter 9 of the laws of 1978, to lower the annual individual aggregate contribution limit to all candidates, political parties and political committees from $150,000 to $25,000. There is an exception for contributions by a candidate for his or her own campaign.

Section 3 of the bill amends subdivision 10 of section 14-114 of the election law, as added by chapter 79 of the laws of 1992, to lower the annual aggregate contribution limit from all contributors to political parties or constituted committees to $25,000, as increased or

decreased by a cost of living adjustment by the State Board of Elections that would occur each odd calendar year, based on the monthly consumer price index for all urban consumers published by the U.S. bureau of labor statistics, to the nearest $100. Each February, the Board shall issue a regulation publishing the amount of each contribution limit.

Section 4 of the bill repeals subdivision 3 of section 14-124 of the election law in order to eliminate the ability to contribute unlimited sums to so-called party committee "housekeeping accounts."

Section 5 of the bill establishes the effective date.

Justification

New York's campaign finance laws need substantial revision to ensure the integrity of elections in the state. This bill addresses one of the ways that New York's laws differ significantly from the laws of other states that regulate campaign contributions: the extremely high contributions that may be given to candidates.

Absent reform of the existing contribution limits, for the 2016 election cycle, a single contributor will be able to give up to $65,100 to a statewide candidate, up from the 2014 statewide-candidate contribution limit of $60,800 ($19,700 for the primary and $41,100 for the general election). In 2016, a single contributor will be able to donate up to $18,000 to a candidate for the New York State Senate, up from the 2014 limit of $16,800, while an Assembly candidate will be able to receive $8,800 in 2016 from an individual contributor, up from $8,200 in 2014.

This bill would, inter alia, reduce the allowable contribution amount to a candidate for Governor to $5,400 for the primary and $5,400 for the general election for a total of $10,800 and would reduce the contribution limit for the state legislature to $2,700 for both the primary and the general election, for a total of $5,400. These limits are subject to adjustment by the Board of Elections, to account for inflation.

Legislative history

2013-2014- S174/A60- REFERRED TO ELECTIONS/referred to election law 2011-2012- S44/A5878- COMMITTED TO RULES/referred to election law 2009-2010- S4549/A8753- REFERRED TO ELECTIONS/referred to election law

Fiscal impact on the state

None.

Effective date

This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, that contributions legally received prior to the effective date of this act may be retained and expended for lawful purposes and shall not provide the basis for a violation of article 14 of the election law, as amended by this act; and provided, further, that the state board of elections shall notify all candidates

and political committees of the applicable provisions of this act within thirty days after this act shall have become a law.