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A4215Assembly2017-2018 Session

Ban Pre-Election Grant Spending

Official title

“Prohibits a member of the legislature from disbursing moneys pursuant to memoranda of understanding regarding certain line item appropriations prior to an election”

Sponsor Sandy GalefAD-95+8 co-sponsors
Status
In Assembly Committee
Governmental Operations
Impact
4/10
Low
Passage
0%

Bill progress

Step 2 of 7

In committee · Governmental Operations

What's happening

This bill prohibits state legislators from disbursing or announcing certain grants or appropriations within 60 days before their election.

Why it matters

  1. Reduces the ability of incumbents to use state-funded grants or appropriations for political advantage right before elections. , addressing concerns about “election-year giveaways” or using public funds to sway voters.

  2. Applies to both the announcement and the actual disbursement of funds. , meaning legislators cannot even publicize upcoming grants or appropriations within 60 days before their own election, potentially limiting last-minute campaign boosts.

  3. Covers specific funding mechanisms such as memoranda of understanding and lump sum appropriations for unspecified projects. , which are often criticized for lack of transparency and potential for political favoritism.

  4. Aims to increase public trust in the fairness of the electoral process. by creating a clear buffer period where government resources cannot be used for self-promotion, potentially leveling the playing field for challengers.

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Who cares

Headline styles

Ban Pre-Election Grant Spending

Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.

Sponsors

Primary sponsor
Sandy Galef

Assembly Member · Assembly District 95

History

  1. Referred to governmental operations
  2. Referred to governmental operations

Full text

1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗

STATE OF NEW YORK

4215

2017-2018 Regular Sessions

IN ASSEMBLY

February 1, 2017

Introduced by M. of A. GALEF, PAULIN, THIELE, KOLB, KEARNS, GIGLIO, MONTESANO, CROUCH, FINCH, FRIEND -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. BLANKENBUSH, BUCHWALD, CURRAN, HAWLEY, OAKS, SIMON, STEC -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations

AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to prohibiting a member from disbursing moneys pursuant to memoranda of understanding regarding certain line item appropriations in the state budget prior to an election

The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:

Section 1. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section 13 to read as follows:

§ 13. Limitations on line item appropriations prior to an election. No member of the legislature shall disburse or make public any single grant pursuant to memoranda of understanding or any segregation of lump sum appropriation for unspecified capital projects and operating grants resulting from the state budget process between the executive and the legislature within sixty days prior to such member's election.

§ 2. This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.

EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets

[ ] is old law to be omitted.

LBD07708-01-7

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.