Actions

Memo

BILL NUMBER:S1159               REVISED 1/8/13

TITLE  OF  BILL:    An  act  to amend the election law, in relation to limiting the  number  and  type  of  party  committees  which  may  be established  by  state  committees  for the receipt and expenditure of campaign contributions to aid in the election or defeat of  candidates for public office

PURPOSE:    To  limit  the number of party committees that a party can form.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:   Amends the  Election  Law  by  adding  a  new section 14-121. Defines the types of party committees affected by this legislation.

JUSTIFICATION:    The  development  of  multiple  party committees has become a new method  of  avoiding  contribution  limits  to  political parties.   This   abuse   allows  virtually  an  unlimited  number  of contributions to be made, which frustrates disclosure, the intent  and the  spirit  of the campaign finance law. It leads the public to think that political parties are for sale and  destroys  confidence  in  the electoral  process. This bill restores the original intent and purpose of party committees and closes election law loopholes.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:  2011-2012 - S.917A/A.1339 Remained in the Senate Committee on Elections and the Assembly Committee on Election Law. 2009-2010 - S.559/A.836 Remained in the Senate Committee on  Elections and the Assembly Committee on Election Law. 2007/2008 - S.802/A.1411 Remained in the Senate Committee on Elections and the Assembly Committee on Election Law. 2005/2006   -  S.1152/A.1332  Remained  in  the  Senate  Committee  on Elections and the Assembly Committee on Election Law.

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:  This act shall take effect on the first  of  December next  succeeding  the date on which it shall have become a law, except that effective immediately state committees shall  take  any  and  all actions  necessary  to  be in compliance with the requirements of this act on its effective date before such date occurs.

Text

STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________

1159

2013-2014 Regular Sessions

IN SENATE

(PREFILED)

January 9, 2013
___________

Introduced by Sens. BRESLIN, ADAMS, KRUEGER, MONTGOMERY, SMITH, STAVISKY
  -- 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 limiting the number and
  type  of party committees which may be established by state committees
  for the receipt and expenditure of campaign contributions  to  aid  in
  the election or defeat of candidates for public office

  THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section  14-121
to read as follows:
  S  14-121.  NUMBER AND TYPE OF PARTY COMMITTEES WHICH MAY BE FORMED BY
STATE COMMITTEES FOR THE PURPOSE OF  RECEIVING  AND  EXPENDING  CAMPAIGN
CONTRIBUTIONS  IN SUPPORT OF OR OPPOSITION TO CANDIDATES FOR ELECTION TO
PUBLIC OFFICE LIMITED.  1.  STATE  COMMITTEES  MAY  ESTABLISH  ONLY  THE
FOLLOWING  TYPES  OF  PARTY  COMMITTEES FOR THE PURPOSE OF RECEIVING AND
EXPENDING CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF OR OPPOSITION  TO  CANDI-
DATES FOR ELECTION TO PUBLIC OFFICE:
  A.  STATE  SENATE  PARTY  COMMITTEE.  THIS TYPE OF PARTY COMMITTEE MAY
RECEIVE AND EXPEND CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF OR OPPOSITION  TO  CANDI-
DATES FOR ELECTION TO STATE SENATE IN GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
  B.  STATE  ASSEMBLY  PARTY COMMITTEE. THIS TYPE OF PARTY COMMITTEE MAY
RECEIVE AND EXPEND CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF OR OPPOSITION  TO  CANDI-
DATES FOR ELECTION TO STATE ASSEMBLY IN GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
  C.  FEDERAL  ACCOUNT PARTY COMMITTEE. THIS TYPE OF PARTY COMMITTEE MAY
RECEIVE AND EXPEND CONTRIBUTIONS IN SUPPORT OF OR OPPOSITION  TO  CANDI-
DATES  FOR  ELECTION  TO FEDERAL OFFICE IN GENERAL AND SPECIAL ELECTIONS
PROVIDED THAT SUCH COMMITTEE IS ALSO IN COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL LAW.

 EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                      [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                           LBD01186-01-3
S. 1159                             2

  2. EACH STATE COMMITTEE MAY ESTABLISH NO MORE THAN ONE PARTY COMMITTEE
OF EACH OF THE TYPES OF PARTY COMMITTEES DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE OF
THIS SECTION.
  S 2. This act shall take effect on the first of December next succeed-
ing  the date on which it shall have become a law, except that effective
immediately state committees shall take any and all actions necessary to
be in compliance with the requirements of this act on its effective date
before such date occurs.