S170-2013 Actions

• Jan 9, 2013: REFERRED TO ELECTIONS

S170-2013 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S170

TITLE OF BILL:
An act
to amend the election law, in relation to reducing the aggregate
calendar limit on the amount of contributions that can be made by
individuals

PURPOSE:
To reduce the limit on aggregate campaign contributions an individual
may make during each calendar year from $150,000 to $75,000.

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section 1 of the bill would amend subdivision 8 of section 14-114 of
the election law, as amended by chapter 8 of the laws of 1978 and as
redesignated by chapter 9 of the laws of 1978, to reduced the reduce
the limit on aggregate campaign contributions an individual may make
during each calendar year from $150,000 to $75,000. Section 2 of the
bill specifies the effective date.

JUSTIFICATION:
It is widely believed that our campaign finance laws need substantial
changes to ensure the integrity of elections in our state. This bill
does not address the broad range of issues that might be addressed in
a comprehensive reform package. However, by reducing the aggregate
amount that each individual may contribute each year, this
bill will be a step toward diminishing the danger of corruption posed
by wealthy individuals who may donate large sums to multiple
candidates with an expectation that specific actions will be taken in
exchange for their contributions-as well as the perception that such
corruption may occur. Corporate contributors are subject to separate,
lower limits and are unaffected by this bill.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2012:    Referred to Elections
2011:    Referred to Elections
2009-10: S.4545 (Squadron) - Elections, A.429 (Kavanagh) - Election Law
2008:    A.11402A (Kavanagh) - Election Law

FISCAL IMPACT TO THE STATE:
None.

EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect on the first January next succeeding the
date on which it shall have become law.

S170-2013 Text

                      S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
  ________________________________________________________________________

                                     170

                         2013-2014 Regular Sessions

                              I N  SENATE

                                 (PREFILED)

                               January 9, 2013
                                 ___________

  Introduced  by Sen. SQUADRON -- 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 reducing the  aggregate
    calendar  limit  on  the  amount  of contributions that can be made by
    individuals

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


    Section  1.  Subdivision  8  of section 14-114 of the election law, as
  amended by chapter 8 of the laws of 1978 and as redesignated by  chapter
  9 of the laws of 1978, is amended to read as follows:

    8. Except as may otherwise be provided for a candidate and his family,
  no  person  may  contribute, loan or guarantee in excess of [one hundred
  fifty] SEVENTY-FIVE thousand dollars within the state in connection with
  the nomination or election of persons to state and local public  offices
  and  party  positions  within  the state of New York in any one calendar
  year. For the purposes of this subdivision "loan" or  "guarantee"  shall
  mean a loan or guarantee which is not repaid or discharged in the calen-
  dar year in which it is made.
    S  2. This act shall take effect on the first of January next succeed-
  ing 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.
                                                             LBD00297-01-3