What's happening
This bill allows the New York Board of Elections to send compliance notices by first class mail with an affidavit instead of certified mail.
Why it matters
Could reduce costs and administrative burdens. for the Board of Elections, since first class mail is significantly less expensive and easier to process than certified mail with return receipts.
May result in faster notification. to candidates and campaign treasurers about deficiencies in their financial filings, potentially allowing for quicker corrections and improved compliance.
Shifts the burden of proof of mailing. from a third-party (USPS certification) to an internal affidavit, which could streamline operations but may raise questions about how mailing disputes or claims of non-receipt are handled.
Could impact the accountability and transparency. of the compliance process by replacing a more formal notification method (certified mail with proof of delivery) with a less verifiable one, possibly affecting candidates’ ability to contest or track official notices.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Allow First Class Notices
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
Senator · Senate District 14
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Signed chap.530
- Delivered to governor
- Returned to senate
- Passed assembly
- Ordered to third reading cal.188
- Substituted for A3360
- Referred to codes
- Delivered to assembly
- Passed senateVote 62–0
- Ordered to third reading cal.1722
- Referred to rules
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.
Mail Compliance Notices Faster
Assembly Floor Calendar · Sponsor Robert C. Carroll
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
6450
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
June 11, 2019
Introduced by Sen. COMRIE -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Rules
AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to first class mailing of compliance unit notices
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision 1 of section 3-104-a of the election law, as added by section 5 of subpart B of part H of chapter 55 of the laws of 2014, is amended to read as follows:
1. There shall be a compliance unit within the board of elections. The compliance unit shall examine campaign finance statements required to be filed pursuant to article fourteen of this chapter. If such statements are found to be deficient, the compliance unit shall notify the person required to file such statement of such deficiency. Such notice shall be in writing and mailed to the last known residence or business address of such person by certified mail, return receipt requested, or mailed to such address by first class mail if an affidavit attesting to such mailing is created to evidence such mailing. If the person required to file such statement is a treasurer who has stated that the committee has been authorized by one or more candidates, a copy of such notice shall be sent to each candidate by first class mail.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the fifteenth of December next succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD01994-01-9
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 first class mailing of compliance unit notices
Purpose or general idea of bill
To ensure candidates are promptly notified of potential campaign compli- ance deficiencies.
Summary of specific provisions
This bill amends section 3-104-a of the election law to allow for first class mailing of deficiency notices if an affidavit attesting to such mailing is created to evidence such mailing.
Justification
Current law requires the compliance unit within the board of elections to mail a notice of deficiency relating to campaign finance statements by certified mail, return receipt requested. Often, because pick-up at a post office may be required, these mailing go unclaimed which deters notice. Further, mailing by certified mail is an additional cost to the State and is slower than first class mail. Allowing for the mailing of such notices via first class mail will provide a cost savings, promote the likelihood that these notices are timely received instead of remain- ing unclaimed and/or returned to the board of elections.
Prior legislative history
A.10638 of 2017-18.
Fiscal implications
Cost savings to the State.
Effective date
This act shall take effect on the fifteenth day of December after it shall become law.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.