What's happening
This bill lowers the annual contribution limit to party committees from $62,500 to $25,000 and repeals a related provision.
Why it matters
Reduces the influence of wealthy donors. by lowering the maximum annual contribution an individual or entity can make to party or constituted committees from $62,500 to $25,000, potentially decreasing the overall amount of money in party politics.
Narrows the scope. of what counts toward the new $25,000 limit by explicitly including funds for party headquarters, staff, and general operations, making it harder for donors to circumvent the cap through non-campaign-specific contributions.
Repeals an existing provision. (Subdivision 3 of Section 14-124), which could eliminate exceptions or loopholes related to contribution or receipt limits, strengthening the overall effectiveness of the cap.
Aims to promote fairer elections. by making it more challenging for large donors to wield outsized influence over political parties and their day-to-day activities, thus potentially leveling the playing field for smaller contributors and grassroots participation.
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Who cares
Party and constituted committees
The bill would lower the annual limit on contributions they may accept from any contributor from $62,500 to $25,000.
Donors to party and constituted committees
Contributors would face a $25,000 annual cap that includes money given for permanent headquarters, staff and ordinary activities not expressly promoting specific candidates.
Party headquarters staff
Contributions supporting permanent headquarters and staff would count toward the same annual limit as other contributions to the committee.
Headline styles
Lower Political Donation Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
784
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 4, 2017
Introduced by Sen. CARLUCCI -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to party committee and constituted committee contribution and receipt limits; and to repeal subdivision 3 of section 14-124 of the election law relating thereto
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraph a of subdivision 10 of section 14-114 of the election law, as added by chapter 79 of the laws of 1992, is amended to read as follows:
a. No contributor may make a contribution to a party or constituted committee and no such committee may accept a contribution from any contributor which, in the aggregate, is greater than [sixty-two] twenty-five thousand [five hundred] dollars per annum, which shall include all monies received for the purposes of maintaining a permanent headquarters and staff and for carrying on ordinary activities which are not for the express purpose of promoting the candidacy of specific candidates.
§ 2. Subdivision 3 of section 14-124 of the election law is REPEALED.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01952-01-7
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the election law, in relation to party committee and constituted committee contribution and receipt limits; and to repeal subdivision 3 of section 14-124 of the election law relating thereto
Purpose
To repeal the exemption from contribution limits to political party "housekeeping" accounts and to reduce the amount that can be contributed annually to a political party.
Summary of provisions
Section 1. Amends paragraph a of subdivision 10 of section 14-114 of the election law to reduce the annual contribution limits to political parties or constituted committees from $62,500 to $25,000, which shall include contributions to party housekeeping accounts.
Section 2. Repeals subdivision 3 of section 14-124 of the election law, which provides an exemption from contribution limits on monies received and expenditures made by a party committee or constituted committee to maintain a permanent headquarters and staff and carry on ordinary activities which are not for the express purpose of promoting the candidacy of specific candidates, aka "housekeeping" accounts.
Section 3. Effective date.
Justification
The exemption from contribution limits that exists for political party housekeeping accounts is a glaring loophole in the state's campaign finance laws. What's more, New York's contribution limits are some of the highest in the country and are long overdue for reform. By closing a glaring loophole in our campaign finance laws and greatly reducing contribution limits we can limit the effect that big money has on our political system so that the voices of the citizens of the state can be heard.
Legislative history
New bill.
Fiscal implications
2015-16: S2200 - Elections
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.