What's happening
This bill allows campaign funds to be used for childcare expenses incurred during campaigning or official duties.
Why it matters
Reduces barriers for parents (especially women) to run for office. by allowing campaign funds to cover childcare, making political participation more accessible for people with young children.
Clarifies campaign finance rules. so candidates and officials know that using campaign funds for childcare related to campaigning or official duties is permitted, helping avoid confusion or ethics complaints.
May encourage more diverse candidates. by addressing a common, practical obstacle—childcare costs—that disproportionately affects working-class, single parents, and caregivers.
Signals a shift toward recognizing caregiving as a legitimate campaign expense. , potentially setting a precedent for how other personal-but-essential costs are treated in campaign finance regulation.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow Campaign Funds for Childcare
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Signed chap.136
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading rules cal.486
- Substituted for A1108B
- Referred to election law
- Returned to assembly
- Repassed senate
- Amended on third reading 2680a
- Vote reconsidered - restored to third reading
- Returned to senate
Show 8 earlier actions
- Recalled from assembly
- Referred to election law
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 61–0
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.614
- Referred to elections
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.
Allow Campaign Funds For Childcare
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Linda Rosenthal
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
2680--A Cal. No. 614
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 28, 2019
Introduced by Sens. MAYER, BROOKS, GIANARIS, HOYLMAN, JACKSON, LIU, MAY, METZGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections -- reported favorably from said committee, ordered to first and second report, ordered to a third reading, passed by Senate and delivered to the Assembly, recalled, vote reconsidered, restored to third reading, amended and ordered reprinted, retaining its place in the order of third reading
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to the use of campaign funds for childcare expenses
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Paragraphs (ix) and (x) of subdivision 3 of section 14-130 of the election law, as added by section 9 of part CC of chapter 56 of the laws of 2015, are amended and a new paragraph (xi) is added to read as follows:
(ix) dues, fees, or gratuities at a country club, health club, recreational facility or other entities with a similar purpose, unless they are expenses connected with a specific fundraising event or activity associated with a political campaign or the holding of public office or party position that takes place on the organization's premises; [and]
(x) travel expenses including automobile purchases or leases, unless used for campaign purposes or in connection with the execution of the duties of public office or party position and usage of such vehicle which is incidental to such purposes or the execution of such duties[.]; and
(xi) childcare expenses, other than expenses incurred in the campaign or in the execution of the duties of public office or party position.
§ 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.
LBD02165-05-9
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 the use of campaign funds for childcare expenses
Purpose
This bill relates to the use of campaign funds for childcare expenses.
Summary of specific provisions
Section one amends section 14-130 of the election law Section two sets forth the effective date.
Justification
The need for childcare often serves as a prohibitive barrier to people running for office. Women, in particular, are affected by these demands, and it is critical that we work with candidates to ensure that childcare costs not bar them from considering a run for office. In May 2018, a candidate for Congressional office in Long Island, NY successfully peti- tioned the Federal Election Commission to allow her to use campaign funds to pay for child care expenses incurred as a result of her candi- dacy.
This legislation aims to extend this ruling to all candidates for state and local office within New York State, by allowing candidates to use campaign funds for any childcare expenses incurred as a direct result of their candidacy. As we encourage more women to run for elected office, we must be responsive to issues that predominantly affect women.
Legislative history
2018: S9130 (Mayer) - REFERRED TO RULES
Fiscal implications
Undetermined.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.