What's happening
This bill prohibits fundraising events within fifteen miles of the New York State Capitol while the legislature is in session.
Why it matters
Aims to reduce perceived or actual conflicts of interest. by preventing lawmakers and lobbyists from holding or attending fundraising events close to the Capitol during session, when legislative decisions are being made.
Targets political fundraising transparency and ethics. by specifically banning events designed to solicit campaign contributions within a 15-mile radius of the Capitol, reinforcing the separation between legislative activity and campaign finance.
Imposes significant penalties for violations. , including criminal misdemeanor or felony charges, substantial civil fines, and potential bans on lobbying activities, signaling a stricter enforcement posture against unethical fundraising practices.
Changes could impact political fundraising strategies. for elected officials, lobbyists, and advocacy groups, potentially shifting the location and timing of key fundraising events and altering the influence landscape around legislative sessions.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Fundraisers During Session
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to ethics and internal governance
- Referred to ethics and internal governance
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 Fundraisers During Session
In Assembly Committee · Governmental Operations · Sponsor Sandy Galef
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4874
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 28, 2019
Introduced by Sen. METZGER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Ethics and Internal Governance
AN ACT to amend the legislative law and the election law, in relation to prohibiting certain functions whenever the legislature is in session
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The legislative law is amended by adding a new section 1-m-1 to read as follows:
§ 1-m-1. Certain functions prohibited within a fifteen mile radius of the New York state Capitol. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, no person or entity shall hold, participate in, or attend a function designed to solicit funds that are subject to the reporting requirements of article fourteen of the election law within a fifteen mile radius of the New York state Capitol whenever the legislature is in session.
§ 2. Subdivision (a) and paragraphs (i) and (iv) of subdivision (b) of section 1-o of the legislative law, as added by chapter 14 of the laws of 2007, are amended to read as follows:
(a) (i) Any lobbyist, public corporation, or client who knowingly and wilfully fails to file timely a report or statement required by this section or knowingly and wilfully files false information or knowingly and wilfully violates section one-m or one-m-one of this article shall be guilty of a class A misdemeanor; and
(ii) any lobbyist, public corporation, or client who knowingly and wilfully fails to file timely a report or statement required by this section or knowingly and wilfully files false information or knowingly and wilfully violates section one-m or one-m-one of this article, after having previously been convicted in the preceding five years of the crime described in paragraph (i) of this subdivision, shall be guilty of a class E felony. Any lobbyist convicted of or pleading guilty to a
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD09414-04-9
S. 4874 2
felony under the provisions of this section may be barred from acting as a lobbyist for a period of one year from the date of the conviction. For the purposes of this subdivision, the chief administrative officer of any organization required to file a statement or report shall be the person responsible for making and filing such statement or report unless some other person prior to the due date thereof has been duly designated to make and file such statement or report.
(i) A lobbyist, public corporation, or client who knowingly and wilfully fails to file a statement or report within the time required for the filing of such report or knowingly and wilfully violates section one-m or one-m-one of this article shall be subject to a civil penalty for each such failure or violation, in an amount not to exceed the greater of twenty-five thousand dollars or three times the amount the person failed to report properly or unlawfully contributed, expended, gave or received, to be assessed by the commission.
(iv) Any lobbyist or client that knowingly and wilfully fails to file a statement or report within the time required for the filing of such report, knowingly and wilfully files a false statement or report, or knowingly and wilfully violates section one-m or one-m-one of this article, after having been found by the commission to have [knowing] knowingly and wilfully committed such conduct or violation in the preceding five years, may be subject to a determination that the lobbyist or client is prohibited from engaging in lobbying activities, as that term is defined in paragraph (v) of subdivision (c) of section one-c of this article, for a period of one year.
§ 3. Subdivision 4 of section 14-126 of the election law, as amended by section 6 of subpart C of part H of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
4. Any person who knowingly and willfully fails to file a statement required to be filed by this article within ten days after the date provided for filing such statement or any person who knowingly and willfully violates any other provision of this article or who knowingly and willfully violates the provisions of section one-m-one of the legislative law shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.
§ 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the legislative law and the election law, in relation to prohibiting certain functions whenever the legisla- ture is in session
Purpose or general idea of bill
The purpose of this legislation is to prohibit fundraising events within 15 miles of the Capitol when the legislature is in Session.
Summary of specific provisions
Section 1. A new section 1-m-1 is added to the Legislative Law, which prohibits fundraising functions within a 15 mile radius of the New York State Capitol.
Section 2. This section amends the legislation law, subdivision (a) and paragraphs (i) and (iv) of subdivision (b) of section 1-o of the legis- lative law, to subject lobbyists who violate the above mentioned prohi- bition to a class A misdemeanor for first time violators and a class E felony for persons who have been convicted of violating this section within the last five years. This section also subjects lobbyists who violate this prohibition to civil penalties. Violators may have their registration as a lobbyist terminated for violating the prohibition on fundraisers within 15 miles of the Capitol.
Section 3. This section amends subdivision 4 of section 14-126 of the election law to subject all violators of the prohibition on fundraising to a misdemeanor.
Section 4. This act shall take effect immediately.
Justification
Fundraisers near the capital, held during the legislative session, are attended primarily by lobbyists seeking to gain influence. Meanwhile, average citizens do not enjoy this access because they cannot afford the price of admission. This legislation is intended to reduce the potential for undue influence by monied interests in the legislative process, and help ensure public trust in our democratic institutions. The legis- lation prohibits fundraisers within a 15-mile radius of the Capitol while the legislature is in session.
Prior legislative history
This is a new bill in the Senate.
Fiscal implications
To be determined
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.