S917-2011 Actions

• Jan 4, 2012: REFERRED TO ELECTIONS
• Jan 5, 2011: REFERRED TO ELECTIONS

S917-2011 Memo

BILL NUMBER:S917

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 par1y 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:
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
after which it has become law.

S917-2011 Text

 S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 
 
                                          917
 2011-2012 Regular Sessions
 I N  SENATE
 (PREFILED)
 January 5, 2011
 
 Introduced  by Sens. BRESLIN, ADAMS, DUANE, KRUEGER, KRUGER, MONTGOMERY,
 OPPENHEIMER, 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.
 LBD04384-01-1
 
       S. 917                              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.

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