What's happening
This bill prohibits the use of campaign funds to pay legal fees for most civil or criminal actions against candidates or officials.
Why it matters
Limits politicians' ability to shield themselves from personal legal consequences. by preventing them from using campaign donations to pay for most lawsuits or criminal defense, potentially increasing their personal financial accountability.
May deter unethical or illegal behavior by candidates and officials. , since they can no longer rely on campaign funds to cover legal expenses related to alleged wrongdoing, raising the stakes for personal liability.
Promotes donor trust and transparency. , ensuring that campaign contributions are used for election-related activities rather than private legal battles, aligning spending with the intent of donors and the public's expectations.
Includes a narrow exception. campaign funds can still be used to cover costs related specifically to civil actions under Article Sixteen of the Election Law (typically related to election disputes), so not all legal defenses are banned.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Campaign Funds for Legal Fees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to election law
- Referred to election law
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.
Ban Campaign Cash for Legal Fees
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4181
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 1, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the use of campaign funds to pay attorney's fees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 14-130 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. No campaign funds shall be used to pay attorney's fees or any costs of defending against any civil or criminal action, investigation or prosecution for alleged violations of state or federal law alleged to have been committed by a candidate, public or party official, members of their immediate family or domestic partner unless such expenditure is used exclusively for costs related to civil actions instituted pursuant to article sixteen of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, 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.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD05306-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.