What's happening
This bill reduces the maximum allowable political contribution limits to candidates and parties in New York State.
Why it matters
Reduces individuals’ ability to influence campaigns and parties by lowering the maximum amount one person can donate to statewide and local candidates, as well as party committees. potentially increasing the competitiveness of elections and reducing the impact of big donors.
Removes special higher contribution limits for close family members of candidates. , meaning family cannot give much larger sums than other donors, which could help level the playing field and prevent workarounds to the new limits.
Indexes contribution limits to inflation every two years instead of every four. , making adjustments more responsive to changing economic conditions and maintaining the real value of the limits.
Aligns contribution limits for New York City offices with the city’s own campaign finance rules. , creating consistency across local and state law and potentially simplifying compliance for candidates running in both city and state elections.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Lower Campaign Contribution Limits
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 26
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to elections
- Referred to elections
Full text
3 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2362
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 24, 2019
Introduced by Sen. KAVANAGH -- 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 decreasing contribution limitations
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 14-114 of the election law, as amended by chapter 79 of the laws of 1992, paragraphs a and b as amended by chapter 659 of the laws of 1994, is amended to read as follows:
1. The following limitations apply to all contributions to candidates for election to any public office or for nomination for any such office, or for election to any party positions, and to all contributions to political committees working directly or indirectly with any candidate to aid or participate in such candidate's nomination or election, other than any contributions to any party committee or constituted committee:
a. In any election for a public office to be voted on by the voters of the entire state, or for nomination to any such office, no contributor may make a contribution to any candidate or political committee, and no candidate or political committee may accept any contribution from any contributor, which is in the aggregate amount greater than: (i) in the case of any nomination to public office, the product of the total number of enrolled voters in the candidate's party in the state, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.005, but such amount shall be not less than four thousand dollars nor more than [twelve] ten thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision, and (ii) in the case of any election to a public office, [twenty-five] fifteen thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision[; provided however, that the maximum amount which may be so contributed or accepted, in the aggregate, from any candidate's child, parent, grandparent, brother and sister, and the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02341-01-9
S. 2362 2
spouse of any such persons, shall not exceed in the case of any nomination to public office an amount equivalent to the product of the number of enrolled voters in the candidate's party in the state, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.025, and in the case of any election for a public office, an amount equivalent to the product of the number of registered voters in the state excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.025].
b. In any other election for party position or for election to a public office or for nomination for any such office, no contributor may make a contribution to any candidate or political committee and no candidate or political committee may accept any contribution from any contributor, which is in the aggregate amount greater than: (i) in the case of any election for party position, or for nomination to public office, the product of the total number of enrolled voters in the candidate's party in the district in which he is a candidate, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.05, and (ii) in the case of any election for a public office, the product of the total number of registered voters in the district, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.05[,]; but in no event shall any such maximum exceed three thousand dollars or be less than one thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision; however in the case of a nomination or election within the city of New York for the office of mayor, public advocate [or], comptroller, borough president or member of the city council, such amount shall be [not less than four thousand dollars nor more than twelve thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision; in the case of an election within the city of New York for the office of mayor, public advocate or comptroller, twenty-five thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision] equal to the contribution limits set forth in paragraph (f) of subdivision one of section 3-703 of the administrative code of the city of New York; provided however in the case of a nomination or election for state senator, such amount shall be [four] six thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision; [in the case of an election for state senator, six thousand two hundred fifty dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision;] in the case of [an election or] a nomination or election for a member of the assembly, [twenty-five hundred] three thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdivision[; but in no event shall any such maximum exceed fifty thousand dollars or be less than one thousand dollars; provided however, that the maximum amount which may be so contributed or accepted, in the aggregate, from any candidate's child, parent, grandparent, brother and sister, and the spouse of any such persons, shall not exceed in the case of any election for party position or nomination for public office an amount equivalent to the number of enrolled voters in the candidate's party in the district in which he is a candidate, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.25 and in the case of any election to public office, an amount equivalent to the number of registered voters in the district, excluding voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.25; or twelve hundred fifty dollars, whichever is greater, or in the case of a nomination or election of a state senator, twenty thousand dollars, whichever is greater, or in the case of a nomination or election of a
S. 2362 3
member of the assembly twelve thousand five hundred dollars, whichever is greater, but in no event shall any such maximum exceed one hundred thousand dollars].
c. At the beginning of each [fourth] second calendar year, commencing in [nineteen hundred ninety-five] two thousand twenty-one, the state board shall determine the percentage of the difference between the most recent available monthly consumer price index for all urban consumers published by the United States bureau of labor statistics and such consumer price index published for the same month [four] two years previously. The amount of each contribution limit fixed in this subdivision shall be adjusted by the amount of such percentage difference to the closest one hundred dollars by the state board which, not later than the first day of February in each such year, shall issue a regulation publishing the amount of each such contribution limit. Each contribution limit as so adjusted shall be the contribution limit in effect for any election held before the next such adjustment.
§ 2. 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:
10. 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.
b. At the beginning of each [fourth] second calendar year, commencing in [nineteen hundred ninety-five] two thousand twenty-one, the state board shall determine the percentage of the difference between the most recent available monthly consumer price index for all urban consumers published by the United States bureau of labor statistics and such consumer price index published for the same month [four] two years previously. The amount of such contribution limit fixed in paragraph a of this subdivision shall be adjusted by the amount of such percentage difference to the closest one hundred dollars by the state board which, not later than the first day of February in each such year, shall issue a regulation publishing the amount of such contribution limit. Such contribution limit as so adjusted shall be the contribution limit in effect for any election held before the next such adjustment.
§ 3. Subdivision 3 of section 14-124 of the election law, as amended by section 1 of part B of chapter 286 of the laws of 2016, is amended to read as follows:
3. The contribution and receipt limits of this article shall not apply to 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; provided that such monies described in this subdivision shall be deposited in a segregated account. Contributions made for such activities to a party committee or constituted committee shall be limited to twenty-five thousand dollars in the aggregate from each contributor in each year.
§ 4. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, that contributions legally received prior to the effective date of this act may be retained and expended for lawful purposes and shall not provide the basis for a violation of article 14 of the election law, as amended by this act; and provided, further, that the state board of elections shall notify all candidates and political committees of the applicable provisions of this act within thirty days after this act shall have become a law.
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 decreasing contribution limitations
Purpose
To reduce campaign contributions limits for candidates for election to public office or party position.
Summary of provisions
Section 1 of the bill amends subdivision 1 of section 14-114 of the election law to lower contribution limits for individuals and political action committees in state and local elections as follows.
Read the full memo (646 words)
Statewide candidates could receive up to $10,000 for a primary and $15,000 for a general election, for a total of $25,000, compared to $65,100 permitted under current law.
Senate candidates could receive up to $6,000 per election, or $12,000 total for a primary and a general election, compared to $18,000 permit- ted under current law. Assembly candidates could receive up to $3,000 per election, or $6,000 total for a primary and a general election, compared to $8,800 permitted under current law.
For local candidates, depending on office sought (except for candidates in New York City for Mayor, Comptroller; Public Advocate, Borough Presi- dent, or City Council), the individual contribution limit ranges from $1,000 to $3,000 depending on the number of enrolled, voters on active status in the district. In New York City, for the election of Mayor, Public Advocate, Comptroller, Borough President, or a member of the City Council, contributions limits would be equal to the limits set forth in the Administrative Code of the City of New York (section 3-703(1)(f)).
Every odd calendar year, contribution limits will be adjusted by the State Board of Elections based on the monthly Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers as published by U.S. bureau of labor statistics, to the nearest $100. Each February, the Board shall issue a regulation publishing the amount of each contribution limit.
Section 1 of the bill also eliminates the distinct set of much higher contribution limits that currently exist for aggregate contributions from a candidate's child, parent, grandparent, brother, sister, or spouse.
Section 2 of the bill amends subdivision 10 of section 14-114 of the election law, to lower the annual contribution limit for contributions to political parties or constituted committees to $25,000, compared to $109,600 permitted under current law.
Section 3 of the bill amends subdivision 3 of section 14-124 of the election law in order to eliminate the ability to contribute unlimited sums to so-called party committee "housekeeping accounts," and to instead cap such contributions at $25,000.
Section 4 of the bill sets forth the effective date.
Justification
New York's campaign finance laws need substantial revision to ensure the integrity of elections in the state. This bill addresses one of the ways that New York's laws differ significantly from the laws of other states that regulate campaign contributions: the extremely high contribution limits for candidates and party committees.
Fiscal impact on the state
None.
Fiscal impact on localities
None.
Impact on regulation of businesses and individuals
Lowers the amount an individual is permitted to donate to a candidate, political party, constituted committee, or party committee "housekeeping account."
Impact on fines, imprisonment, forfeiture of rights, or other penal sanctions
None.
Legislative history
2018: S7070 - REFERRED TO ELECTIONS 2017: A2266 - stricken 2016: A07169A - referred to election law 2015: A07169 - referred to election law 2014: A00060A - referred to election law
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after it shall have become a law; provided, that contributions legally received prior to the effective date of this act may be retained and expended for lawful purposes and shall net provide the basis for a violation of arti- cle 14 of the election law, as amended by this act; and provided, further, that the state board of elections shall notify all candidates and political committees of the applicable provisions of this act within thirty days after this act shall have become a law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.