What's happening
This bill requires New York elected officials to post large campaign contributions and donor information on their websites, with violations classified as a felony.
Why it matters
Increases transparency by requiring top elected officials to directly disclose large campaign contributions (over $250) and donor identities on their own websites. not just through the Board of Elections—making it much easier for the public and media to track who is funding politicians.
Mandates timely disclosure, with a strict 30-day posting window for each qualifying contribution. , which could make it harder for officials to delay or obscure politically sensitive donations ahead of elections or important votes.
Prohibits New York state employees from being tasked with updating campaign sites as part of their official duties. , helping prevent the misuse of taxpayer resources for campaign-related activities and drawing a clear line between public service and campaign operations.
Establishes felony-level criminal liability for officials who knowingly and willfully fail to comply. , representing a significant escalation in legal consequences and signaling that transparency violations will be treated as serious offenses rather than minor infractions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Post Political Donations Online
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to investigations and government operations
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4964
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 3, 2017
Introduced by Sens. DIAZ, SQUADRON -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Investigations and Government Operations
AN ACT to amend the public officers law, in relation to requiring elected officials to post certain information regarding contributions on his or her websites
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public officers law is amended by adding a new section 61-a to read as follows:
§ 61-a. Contributions posted on certain elected officials' websites. 1. The governor, the comptroller, the attorney general and any member of the senate or assembly shall:
a. post on the homepage of his or her websites a direct link to the board of elections website to such elected official's campaign contributions.
b. post on the homepage of his or her websites all contributions over two hundred fifty dollars within thirty days of receipt; including the exact amount of each contribution and the identity of the donor.
2. Such elected official shall be responsible for ensuring that the information as required in paragraphs a and b of subdivision one of this section is posted, either by the elected official or such elected official's designee, provided, however, that under no circumstances shall staff employed by the state of New York, while in the course of his or her duties as an employee of the state, be designated for the purposes of posting such information on the campaign websites of any elected official.
3. Any person who shall knowingly and willfully violate any provision of this section shall be guilty of a class E felony.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07140-02-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public officers law, in relation to requiring elected officials to post certain information regarding contributions on his or her websites
Purpose or general idea of bill
Strengthens the provisions regarding the posting of contributions received by certain elected officials. Criminal sanction impact.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. Amends the Public Officers Law by adding a new section 61-a. Requires the Governor, the Comptroller, the Attorney General and any member of the Senate or Assembly to post on the homepage of his or her websites a direct link to the Board of Elections website to such elected official's campaign contributions. Requires all contributions over two-hundred and fifty dollars to be posted on the homepage of such elected officials websites within thirty days of receipt. Specifies that the exact dollar amount of the contribution and the identity of the donor shall be provided. Prohibits New York State employees from posting such information on the campaign websites of any elected official while performing their duties as a state employee. Establishes a Class E Felony for willful violations of this section
Section 2. Effective Date
Existing law
None
Justification
The provisions of this legislation will require that the Governor, Comptroller, the Attorney General and any member of the Senate or Assembly post on the homepage of his or her websites, a direct link to the Board of Elections website to his or her campaign contributions. Likewise, all contributions valued over two-hundred and fifty dollars will also be required to be posted on the homepage of the official's web sites within thirty days of receipt of the contribution. The specific dollar amount and the identity of the donor will also be required. Furthermore, New York State employees are prohibited from posting such information while performing their duties as a state employee. Deliberate failure to comply with the provisions of this legislation will be a Class E Felony.
This Legislation is supported by Member Organizations of the Fair Elections for New York Campaign: Citizen Action of New York; Brennan Center for Justice; Communication Workers of America District 1; Community Voices Heard; New York Friends of Democracy; Public Campaign; Public Citizen; Center for Working Families; Strong Economy for All; Democracy Matters; Americans for Campaign Reform; Demos; ACT NOW; and, United Auto Workers Region 9A.
The public should have easy, timely access to information regarding contributions to their elected officials. Currently this information is only available through the Board of Elections. This legislation improves both transparency and access regarding contributions to elected officials and provides for a criminal sanction impact for willful violation of its provisions.
Prior legislative history
2016: S.133 - REFERRED TO INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 2015: S.133 - DEFEATED IN INVESTIGATIONS AND GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 2014: S.787A - Referred to Investigations and Government Operations 2013: S.787A - Reported, Committed to Codes 2012: S.96- Referred to Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2011: S.96 - Defeated in Corporations, Authorities & Commissions 2010: S.84578 - Referred to Rules
Fiscal implications
None to state.
Effective date
Immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.