What's happening
This bill prohibits executive appointees and their households from contributing to the governor’s campaign and imposes penalties for violations.
Why it matters
Reduces potential conflicts of interest. by blocking executive appointees—and anyone in their household—from financially supporting the governor’s campaigns, both before, during, and after their term, making it harder for appointees to “buy” influence or curry favor.
Closes loopholes for indirect contributions. by explicitly including spouses, domestic partners, and children in the ban, preventing campaign donations from being funneled through family members to evade the rules.
Creates mandatory refunds and stronger penalties. by requiring the governor to return any campaign contributions received from an appointee before appointment, and imposing significant civil penalties (up to $10,000 or 200% of the contribution) for violations, along with mandatory refunds for illegal contributions.
Applies regardless of how appointees leave office. or whether they file financial disclosure forms, ensuring the rules can’t be dodged through procedural or administrative maneuvers.
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Ban Appointee Campaign Donations
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 Appointee Campaign Donations
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Michael H. Ranzenhofer
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1684
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 16, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ABINANTI -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to contributions by executive appointees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 14-131 to read as follows:
§ 14-131. Contributions by executive appointees. 1. (a) No individual appointed by the governor, including but not limited to appointees to any commission, board, council, panel, or public authority, shall make a monetary contribution to the campaign of such governor or to any political campaign committee organized by or for the specific benefit of such governor.
(b) Such prohibition shall apply to any contributions occurring one year prior to, during the term of, and one year following the term of his or her appointment.
(c) Such prohibition shall also apply to anyone residing in the appointee's household including, but not limited to, a spouse, domestic partner, or child.
2. Before an individual is appointed by the governor, the appointee shall identify any contributions made to such governor within the twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of appointment, and such governor shall refund the entire amount of any such contribution.
3. No appointee shall request or demand that any other person make or offer to make any monetary contribution to the campaign of such governor or to any political campaign committee organized by or for the specific benefit of such governor.
4. Such prohibition shall apply regardless of the method of removing such appointee from office, or regardless of any requirement on the appointee to file a statement of financial disclosure.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02258-01-9
A. 1684 2
§ 2. Section 14-126 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 8 to read as follows:
8. (a) Any person who, under circumstances evincing an intent to violate such law, makes or receives a contribution in contravention of section 14-131 of this article shall be subject to a civil penalty not to exceed the greater of ten thousand dollars or an amount equal to two hundred percent of the contribution.
(b) Any person who, acting as or on behalf of an officeholder, candidate, or political committee, accepts a contribution or receives a transfer in contravention of section 14-131 of this article shall be required to refund such contribution.
§ 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law.
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.