Relates to media disclosure requirements and political contribution limitations

Title of bill

An act to amend the election law, in relation to media disclosure requirements and political contribution limitations

Purpose or general idea of bill

To add increased transparency and disclosure to the election process, limit contributions for entities other than individuals and reduce contribution limits for individuals.

Summary of specific provisions

Section 1- amends subdivision 2 of paragraph(c) of section 14-107 of the Election Law to require additional disclosure and transparency as to the real interest of those sponsoring independent expenditures in connection with election campaigns.

Section 2 - amends subdivision 1 of section 14-114 of the Election Law to delete COLA language that has allowed contribution limits to steadily increase without responsible consideration, and reduces the maximum contribution for other public offices not otherwise enumerated in the section to twenty-five thousand dollars.

Section 3 - amends subdivision 10 of section 14-114 of the Election Law to remove current COLA language that has allowed contributions to parties or constituted committees to increase without responsible consideration, and to reduce the contribution limits to parties and constituted committees to twenty-five thousand dollars.

Section 4 - amends section 14-116 of the Election Law to expand the list of entities that are restricted to total annual campaign donations to New York candidates of $5,000 per year to include not only corporations and joint-stock associations, but also LLC's, unincorporated business entities, labor organizations, associations, groups, organizations, committees or political committees, other than party committees, both within or without the state.

Section 5 - provides that if any part of the act shall be adjudged as unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining portions shall be deemed null and void.

Section 6 - provides that the act shall take effect one hundred eighty days after it shall have become law, but that effective immediately, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of the act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or before such effective date.

Justification

Transparency is critical to the democratic process. Each election cycle, voters are bombarded with campaign ads that do not clearly identify the true interest of the sponsor. This bill will provide voters with more information so that they may better understand the issues and candidates as they prepare to cast their vote on Election Day. In addition, concern has been expressed about the amount of money being donated generally, and in particular by entities other than individual voters. This bill would eliminate the current practice of allowing political donations by individuals to increase with the cost of living without any responsible consideration as to the effect of these increases, and further restrict political donations by various business and other artificial entities.

The effect of this bill would be to give more information to voters, reduce the impact of money on elections and curtail the often unidentifiable money that has been flowing to campaigns from artificial entities.

Prior legislative history

New bill.

Fiscal implications

None

Effective date

This act shall take effect one hundred eighty days after it shall have become law, but effective immediately, amendment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implementation of the act on its effective date is authorized to be made on or before such effective date.