What's happening
This bill prohibits the use of campaign funds to pay attorney's fees for most legal defenses, with limited exceptions.
Why it matters
Limits politicians' ability to use campaign donations for personal legal troubles. , increasing pressure on officeholders to fund their own defenses when accused of wrongdoing not directly related to campaign activities.
Closes a potential loophole for corrupt or unethical behavior. , as candidates and officials can no longer rely on campaign contributors to pay for legal defenses in most civil or criminal cases.
Exceptions are narrowly defined. campaign funds may only cover legal costs for actions brought under Article 16 (which concerns election-related disputes), ensuring that funds are reserved for campaign or election-related legal matters rather than personal or unrelated issues.
Enhances transparency and public trust. by reducing the risk that donations are used for private benefit, potentially deterring both frivolous lawsuits and misuse of campaign funds.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Campaign Funds for Legal Fees
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
4 Co-sponsors
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 Campaign Funds for Legal Fees
In Senate Committee · Elections · Sponsor Brad Hoylman-Sigal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1827
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 17, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. LAVINE -- read once and referred to the Committee on Election Law
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the use of campaign funds to pay attorney's fees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Section 14-130 of the election law is amended by adding a new subdivision 7 to read as follows:
7. No campaign funds shall be used to pay attorney's fees or any costs of defending against any civil or criminal action, investigation or prosecution for alleged violations of state or federal law alleged to have been committed by a candidate, public or party official, members of their immediate family or domestic partner unless such expenditure is used exclusively for costs related to civil actions instituted pursuant to article sixteen of this chapter.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, however, that the state board of elections shall notify all registered campaign committees of the applicable provisions of this act within thirty days after this act shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD04147-01-9
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.