What's happening
This bill makes it a class E felony for lobbyists, public corporations, or clients to knowingly submit false statements to the state, with strict financial penalties.
Why it matters
Raises the stakes for honesty in lobbying. By making false statements a felony, the bill significantly increases the legal risks for lobbyists, public corporations, and their clients, potentially deterring dishonest reporting and increasing transparency in government decision-making.
Targets intentional fraud. The law only applies if the false statement is made knowingly and with the intent to defraud the state, meaning it specifically aims at deliberate deception rather than accidental errors, which could reassure those acting in good faith while increasing pressure on bad actors.
Imposes severe financial consequences. The penalties include not just a flat $75,000 fine but also a multiplier—ten times the value of any compensation or benefit gained from the violation—creating a powerful financial disincentive for those considering fraudulent activity.
Empowers enforcement. By granting the commission the authority to assess civil penalties, the bill provides a clear mechanism for holding violators accountable, potentially making enforcement more efficient and effective.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Punish Lobbyist False Statements
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
7 Co-sponsors
2 Multi-sponsors
History
- Referred to governmental operations
- Referred to governmental operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
7163
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
April 11, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. BUCHWALD -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations
AN ACT to amend the legislative law, in relation to penalties for false statements made by lobbyists, public corporations or clients
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 1-o of the legislative law is amended by adding a new subdivision (e) to read as follows:
(e) Any lobbyist, public corporation, or client who, knowing that a statement or report made pursuant to this article contains false information, and with intent to defraud the state, offers or presents a statement or report to the commission with the knowledge or belief that it will be filed with, registered or recorded in or otherwise become a part of the records of the commission, shall be guilty of a class E felony, and may be subject to a penalty of the greater of seventy-five thousand dollars, or an amount equal to ten times the value of any compensation or benefit received as a result of the violation. The commission may assess such civil penalties.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the ninetieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD10783-01-7
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.