What's happening
This bill requires all political committees and candidates in New York to file campaign finance reports electronically, removing previous thresholds and paper filing options.
Why it matters
Removes the previous $1,000 threshold. for mandatory electronic campaign finance filings, meaning all candidates and committees—regardless of how much they raise or spend—must file electronically. This increases transparency and ensures smaller campaigns are also searchable and accessible to the public.
Eliminates paper filing options and county-level exceptions. , requiring uniform electronic reporting through the state board of elections. This streamlines the system, making it harder for localities to have less transparent or inconsistent reporting practices.
Retains a hardship exemption. , allowing committees without access to necessary technology to apply for and potentially receive a waiver from electronic filing. This prevents undue burden on those genuinely unable to comply, such as very small or rural committees without internet access.
Increases public access and oversight. by making all campaign finance data more easily aggregated, searchable, and available online, which could help watchdog groups, journalists, and voters hold political actors accountable.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Require Electronic Campaign Filings
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
1 Co-sponsor
History
- Substituted by A1641
- Advanced to third reading
- 2nd report cal.
- 1st report cal.616
- 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.
Require Electronic Campaign Filings
Signed by Governor · Sponsor Rebecca Seawright
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
3903
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 21, 2019
Introduced by Sen. MYRIE -- 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 requiring campaign finance information of certain candidates or committees to be filed on an electronic reporting system
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivisions 4 and 5 of section 14-102 of the election law, subdivision 4 as amended and subdivision 5 as added by chapter 406 of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as follows:
4. Any committee which is required to file statements with any board of elections pursuant to this article [and which raises or spends or expects to raise or spend more than one thousand dollars in any calendar year] shall file all such statements pursuant to the electronic reporting system prescribed by the state board of elections as set forth in subdivision nine-A of section 3-102 of this chapter. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, upon the filing of a sworn statement by the treasurer of a political committee which states that such political committee does not have access to the technology necessary to comply with the electronic filing requirements of subdivision nine-A of section 3-102 of this chapter and that filing by such means would constitute a substantial hardship for such political committee, the state board of elections may issue an exemption from the electronic filing requirements of this article.
[5. Any committee which is required to file statements pursuant to this article with county boards of elections shall file in paper format to the county board of elections or in electronic format if the legislative body of any county provides, by local law, an electronic filing system and shall file such statements by electronic reporting process to the state board of elections.]
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01919-01-9
S. 3903 2
§ 2. Subdivisions 2 and 3 of section 14-104 of the election law, subdivision 2 as amended and subdivision 3 as added by chapter 406 of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as follows:
2. Statements filed by any political committee authorized by a candidate pursuant to this article which is required to file such statements with any board of elections [and which raises or spends or expects to raise or spend more than one thousand dollars in any calendar year] shall file all such statements pursuant to the electronic reporting system prescribed by the state board of elections as set forth in subdivision nine-A of section 3-102 of this chapter. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, upon the filing of a sworn statement by the treasurer of a political committee authorized by a candidate pursuant to this article which states that such committee does not have access to the technology necessary to comply with the electronic filing requirements of subdivision nine-A of section 3-102 of this chapter and that filing by such means would constitute a substantial hardship for such committee, the state board of elections may issue an exemption from the electronic filing requirements of this article.
[3. Any committee which is required to file statements pursuant to this article with county boards of elections shall file in paper format to the county board of elections or in electronic format if the legislative body of any county provides, by local law, an electronic filing system and shall file such statements by electronic reporting process to the state board of elections.]
§ 3. This act shall take effect December 15, 2019.
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 requiring campaign finance information of certain candidates or committees to be filed on an electronic reporting system
Purpose
The purpose of this bill is to require all candidates and committees, pursuant to Article 14 of the Election Law, to file campaign-financial disclosure statements with the New York State Board of Elections (NYSBOE) by removing the $1,000 filing threshold.
Summary of provisions
Section one eliminates the one thousand dollar ($1,000) filing threshold to require all candidates or their authorized committee to electron- ically file with the NYSBOE. It also removes language requiring local and County filers to file with County Boards of Elections.
Difference between original and amended version (if applicable)
Not applicable.
Justification
Prior to 2006, only candidates running for Statewide, State Senate, State Assembly and other State offices filed campaign financial disclo- sure reports with the New York State Board of Elections. In 2006, a law was passed to require local filers to file with the State Board of Elections if they raised or spent (or expected to) $1,000. The majority of local campaigns meet the $1,000 threshold. County Board of Elections have a minimal number of filers that still file paper at the local level. This bill would take managing campaign finance compliance off of the workload of County and City Boards of Elections.This bill would also reduce confusion when it appears that a candidate or its authorized committee may not have filed required disclosure reports. By having one centralized depository in which all reports must be filed, it provides a convenience and increased transparency to the public when they look for campaign financial disclosure reports.
Legislative history
2017-18: S.5455-A (Hamilton) - Referred to Senate Elections Committee / A.6732-A (Seawright) - Passed in Assembly
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
There is a cost savings to County Boards of Elections. The State Board of Elections would have an off-set cost. Local candidates who currently file a paper CF-05 claim of exemption form with the NYSBOE would now be registering and filing with the NYSBOE. NYSBOE's intake and processing unit already has interaction with these filers.
Effective date
December 15, 2019.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.