Senate Bill S7593

2017-2018 Legislative Session

Enacts the "fair elections act"

download bill text pdf

Sponsored By

Archive: Last Bill Status - In Senate Committee Elections Committee


  • Introduced
    • In Committee Assembly
    • In Committee Senate
    • On Floor Calendar Assembly
    • On Floor Calendar Senate
    • Passed Assembly
    • Passed Senate
  • Delivered to Governor
  • Signed By Governor

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2017-S7593 (ACTIVE) - Details

Current Committee:
Senate Elections
Law Section:
Election Law
Laws Affected:
Amd El L, generally; add §359-gg, Gen Bus L; add §92-y, St Fin L; add §630-f, Tax L
Versions Introduced in Other Legislative Sessions:
2013-2014: S4705
2015-2016: S3502

2017-S7593 (ACTIVE) - Summary

Enacts the "fair elections act"; relates to providing for optional partial public financing of certain election campaigns in this state; relates to identification of the source of certain political contributions.

2017-S7593 (ACTIVE) - Sponsor Memo

2017-S7593 (ACTIVE) - Bill Text download pdf

                            
 
                     S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   7593
 
                             I N  S E N A T E
 
                             January 29, 2018
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  Sen.  STEWART-COUSINS -- 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  enacting  the  "fair
   elections  act";  to amend the election law, the state finance law and
   the tax law, in relation to  providing  for  optional  partial  public
   financing  of  certain  election campaigns in this state; and to amend
   the general business law, in relation to additional surcharges
 
   THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section  1.  Short title.  This act shall be known and may be cited as
 the "fair elections act".
   § 2. Legislative findings and declarations. The  legislature  declares
 that  is  in the public interest to create and ensure a truly democratic
 political system  in  which  citizens,  irrespective  of  their  income,
 status,  or financial connections, are enabled and encouraged to compete
 for public office.   Therefore, the legislature finds  it  necessary  to
 establish  a system of public financing for all qualified candidates for
 state elective offices  and  constitutional  convention  delegates.  The
 legislature further finds that a new system of public financing would be
 best  administered by a new "fair elections board" empowered with effec-
 tive oversight and enforcement capabilities dedicated  to  working  with
 and assisting candidates excel in the public financing system.
   §  3.  Section  3-102 of the election law is amended by adding two new
 subdivisions 3-a and 16-b to read as follows:
   3-A. NOTWITHSTANDING SUBDIVISION  THREE  OF  THIS  SECTION,  THE  FAIR
 ELECTIONS BOARD ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL, ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
 SIX  OF  SECTION 14-216 OF THIS CHAPTER, AS IT MAY DEEM NECESSARY, AFTER
 THE FAIR ELECTIONS BOARD HAS CONSIDERED THE MATTER OR MATTERS  IN  QUES-
 TION SHALL CONDUCT ANY INVESTIGATION NECESSARY TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS
 OF  TITLE TWO OF ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD
 OF ELECTIONS.   SUCH INVESTIGATIONS SHALL  BE  KEPT  CONFIDENTIAL  UNTIL
 BROUGHT TO THE FAIR ELECTIONS BOARD FOR REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION.
   16-B.  HEAR  AND  CONSIDER  THE  RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE FAIR ELECTIONS
 BOARD ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL REGARDING THE  ENFORCEMENT  OF  VIOLATIONS  OF
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
              

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