28 May 2009

Public Hearing: Standing Committee on Elections

10:00 AM to 01:00 PM

Nazareth College

Otto A. Shults Community Center -The Forum

4245 East Avenue

Rochester, NY 14618

                      

The goal of this series of hearings is to open the legislative process to the public, listen to thoughts and feedback about proposed election reforms and reinvigorate participatory democracy. The campaign finance reform hearings in Rochester (May 28) and Albany (June 3) are the third set in a series of five that will continue in September and November.

Previous hearings in April and May considered reforms to the registration process, casting a ballot and poll site operations. In future hearings, the Elections Committee will consider Board
of Elections oversight, additional election law reforms and oversight of the November elections.

This dialogue between lawmakers and the public are part of the Senate’s commitment to beginning a robust committee process, developing sound public policy through open dialogue and creating transparency in the legislative process.

The purpose of the hearings in Rochester on May 28, and in Albany on June 3, is to seek public comment on the following bills and bill drafts; full text is available at NYSenate Markup:

(Multiple bill drafts) Public financing of elections through three different systems: "clean elections," 4:1 matching system with "triggers," and hybrid matching system with grants

TBD (Squadron): Lowers contribution limits to candidates and parties
TBD (Squadron): Closes multiple LLC contribution loophole
S5565 (Addabbo): Disclosure of bundling by "intermediaries"
S4061B (Schneiderman): Increases penalties for campaign finance violations
S5545 (Addabbo): Disclosure of occupation, employer and business address of
contributors
S5546 (Addabbo): Limits candidates to one campaign committee per election

Those who wish to attend or testify should call Bernadette Oliver at (518) 455-2310, and fill out and return the attached reply form via fax at least two days prior to the hearing. The Elections Committee will accommodate as many witnesses as possible, and encourages the submission of written testimony, which will be considered and made part of the hearing record. Written testimony should be e-mailed no later than two days prior to the hearing as an attachment in any common format to: oliver@senate.state.ny.us.

Witnesses are requested to keep their oral testimony to no more than five minutes in length and to bring 10 copies of their prepared statement to the hearing. In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the New York State Senate has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. Accommodations will be provided for individuals with disabilities upon reasonable request to afford such individuals access and admission to Senate facilities and activities. Questions about this hearing may be directed to Bernadette Oliver at (518) 455-2310 (oliver@senate.state.ny.us).

past Elections committee events

11 May

25 Apr

28 Feb

11 May

03 May

19 Jan

11 Jan

21 Jul

04 Jun

30 Apr

06 Jun

09 May

08 Feb

01 Jun

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building

5:00 PM

12 May

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building

5:00 PM

27 Apr

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building

5:00 PM

05 May

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building

9:04 PM

24 Mar

Elections Meeting

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5:00 PM

10 Feb

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building

6:00 PM

05 Jun

22 Apr

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building

5:00 PM

04 Jun

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building

5:00 PM

12 Mar

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building

5:00 PM

06 Jun

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building

4:30 PM

02 May

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

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28 Feb

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

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31 Jan

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

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08 Jun

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

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3:30 PM

25 May

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Room 816 in the LOB

3:30 PM

11 May

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building, Room 816

3:30 PM

27 Apr

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building, Room 816

3:30 PM

13 Apr

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building, Room 816

3:30 PM

23 Mar

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building, Room 816

3:30 PM

09 Mar

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building, Room 816

4:30 PM

02 Mar

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Legislative Office Building, Room 816

4:30 PM

02 Feb

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Room 816 in the LOB

4:30 PM

20 Jan

Elections Meeting

NYS Capitol Building

Room 816 in the LOB

4:30 PM

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