S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
371
2023-2024 Regular Sessions
I N S E N A T E
(PREFILED)
January 4, 2023
___________
Introduced by Sen. GIANARIS -- 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 "democracy
preservation act"; and in relation to prohibiting contributions by
foreign-influenced business entities and requiring certification
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "democracy
preservation act".
§ 2. Legislative Findings. The legislature hereby finds and declares
that New York state welcomes immigrants, visitors, and investors from
around the world. However, its elections should be decided by the people
of New York and not by foreign investors or the business entities over
which they exert influence. Corporations with partial foreign ownership
have been spending money to influence state and local elections in New
York and around the country. The public has a compelling interest in
limiting the participation of foreign entities in activities of American
democratic self-government, which include spending money to influence
voters and finance campaigns, in the interest of preventing foreign
influence over the United States political process.
Investors are the ultimate beneficiaries of corporate interests. Where
part of the shareholders' equity is attributable to foreign investors,
spending corporate treasury funds on New York elections means spending
the equity of foreign entities on New York elections.
Business corporations and similar entities have a fiduciary duty to
their shareholders, including investors around the world, and generally
prioritize the interests of such shareholders, which may diverge
substantially from the interests of the people of New York and of citi-
zens of the United States. In addition, both formal procedures of corpo-
rate democracy and informal mechanisms of influence can provide foreign
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02553-01-3
S. 371 2
investors with substantial influence even with only a minority of
shares. The United States Securities and Exchange Commission, major
capital investors, corporate managers, and corporate governance experts
broadly agree that ownership or control of one percent or more of shares
can confer substantial influence on corporate decision-making.
Political spending by foreign-influenced business entities can weaken,
interfere with, or disrupt New York's democratic self-government and the
faith that the electorate has in its elected officials. To protect the
integrity of New York's democratic self-government, it is necessary to
prevent foreign-influenced business entities from influencing New York
elections through political spending.
§ 3. The election law is amended by adding a new section 14-116-a to
read as follows:
§ 14-116-A. PROHIBITED CONTRIBUTIONS BY FOREIGN-INFLUENCED BUSINESS
ENTITIES. 1. NOTWITHSTANDING ANY PROVISION OF LAW TO THE CONTRARY, IT
SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR A FOREIGN-INFLUENCED BUSINESS ENTITY, DIRECTLY OR
INDIRECTLY, TO MAKE A CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION OF MONEY OR OTHER THING
OF VALUE, OR TO MAKE AN EXPRESS OR IMPLIED PROMISE TO MAKE A CONTRIB-
UTION OR DONATION, IN CONNECTION WITH A STATE OR LOCAL ELECTION.
2. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR A BUSINESS ENTITY PROHIBITED UNDER SUBDI-
VISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO MAKE A CONTRIB-
UTION OR DONATION TO A CONSTITUTED COMMITTEE, INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE
COMMITTEE, POLITICAL COMMITTEE, OR PARTY COMMITTEE.
3. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR A BUSINESS ENTITY PROHIBITED UNDER SUBDI-
VISION ONE OF THIS SECTION, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO MAKE AN EXPENDI-
TURE, INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE, OR DISBURSEMENT FOR A POLITICAL COMMUNI-
CATION.
4. IT SHALL BE UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON TO KNOWINGLY SOLICIT, ACCEPT, OR
RECEIVE A CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO OR
THREE OF THIS SECTION FROM A FOREIGN-INFLUENCED BUSINESS ENTITY.
5. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION SIX OF THIS SECTION, IT SHALL BE
UNLAWFUL FOR A PERSON WHO RECEIVES A CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION FROM A
BUSINESS ENTITY TO USE THAT CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION, DIRECTLY OR INDI-
RECTLY, FOR ANY OF THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO, OR
THREE OF THIS SECTION, OR TO CONTRIBUTE, DONATE, TRANSFER, OR CONVEY
FUNDS FROM SUCH A CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION TO ANOTHER PERSON FOR USE FOR
ANY OF THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO, OR THREE OF THIS
SECTION. HOWEVER, A PERSON MAY USE FUNDS THAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE
REQUIREMENTS OF THIS SECTION FOR OTHER LAWFUL PURPOSES.
6. A PERSON WHO RECEIVES A CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION FROM A BUSINESS
ENTITY, AND ALSO RECEIVES FROM THE BUSINESS ENTITY A COPY OF THE STATE-
MENT OF CERTIFICATION DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION 14-116 OF
THIS TITLE, MAY USE SUCH FUNDS FOR THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION
ONE, TWO, OR THREE OF THIS SECTION ONLY IF THE PERSON SEPARATELY DESIG-
NATES, RECORDS, AND ACCOUNTS FOR SUCH FUNDS, AND ENSURES THAT DISBURSE-
MENTS FOR THE PURPOSES DESCRIBED IN SUBDIVISION ONE, TWO, OR THREE OF
THIS SECTION ARE ONLY MADE FROM FUNDS THAT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS
OF THIS SECTION. A PERSON MAY RELY IN GOOD FAITH ON A STATEMENT OF
CERTIFICATION THAT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBDIVISION FOUR OF SECTION
14-116 OF THIS TITLE.
7. ANY PERSON FOUND IN VIOLATION OF THIS SECTION SHALL BE GUILTY OF A
CLASS E FELONY AND SHALL BE SUBJECT TO A CIVIL PENALTY EQUAL TO THE
CONTRIBUTION OR DONATION AMOUNT PLUS A FINE OF UP TO TEN THOUSAND
DOLLARS, TO BE RECOVERABLE IN A SPECIAL PROCEEDING OR CIVIL ACTION TO BE
BROUGHT BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS CHIEF ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL.
S. 371 3
§ 4. Section 14-100 of the election law is amended by adding three new
subdivisions 18, 19 and 20 to read as follows:
18. "FOREIGN-INFLUENCED" SHALL MEAN A BUSINESS ENTITY FOR WHICH AT
LEAST ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS IS MET:
I. A SINGLE FOREIGN OWNER HOLDS, OWNS, CONTROLS, OR OTHERWISE HAS
DIRECT OR INDIRECT BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF ONE PERCENT OR MORE OF THE
TOTAL EQUITY, OUTSTANDING VOTING SHARES, MEMBERSHIP UNITS, OR OTHER
APPLICABLE OWNERSHIP INTERESTS OF THE BUSINESS ENTITY; OR
II. TWO OR MORE FOREIGN OWNERS, IN AGGREGATE, HOLD, OWN, CONTROL, OR
OTHERWISE HAVE DIRECT OR INDIRECT BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF FIVE PERCENT
OR MORE OF THE TOTAL EQUITY, OUTSTANDING VOTING SHARES, MEMBERSHIP
UNITS, OR OTHER APPLICABLE OWNERSHIP INTERESTS OF THE BUSINESS ENTITY;
OR
III. A FOREIGN OWNER PARTICIPATES DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY IN THE BUSI-
NESS ENTITY'S DECISION-MAKING PROCESS WITH RESPECT TO THE BUSINESS ENTI-
TY'S POLITICAL ACTIVITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
19. "BUSINESS ENTITY" SHALL MEAN A FOR-PROFIT ENTITY DOING BUSINESS
FOR PROFIT IN THE STATE OR ELSEWHERE, INCLUDING A FOR-PROFIT CORPO-
RATION, COMPANY, LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, BUSI-
NESS TRUST, BUSINESS ASSOCIATION, JOINT-STOCK ASSOCIATION OR OTHER SIMI-
LAR ENTITY.
20. "FOREIGN OWNER" SHALL MEAN:
I. A FOREIGN NATIONAL; OR
II. A BUSINESS ENTITY WHEREIN A FOREIGN NATIONAL HOLDS, OWNS,
CONTROLS, OR OTHERWISE HAS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY ACQUIRED BENEFICIAL
OWNERSHIP OF EQUITY OR VOTING SHARES IN AN AMOUNT THAT IS EQUAL TO OR
GREATER THAN FIFTY PERCENT OF THE TOTAL EQUITY OR OUTSTANDING VOTING
SHARES.
§ 5. Section 14-116 of the election law is amended by adding a new
subdivision 4 to read as follows:
4. EVERY BUSINESS ENTITY THAT MAKES AN EXPENDITURE, OR CONTRIBUTION,
FOR POLITICAL PURPOSES FOR A STATE OR LOCAL ELECTION SHALL FILE WITH THE
STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS, WITHIN SEVEN BUSINESS DAYS AFTER MAKING SUCH
EXPENDITURE OR CONTRIBUTION, ON THE FORM PRESCRIBED BY THE STATE BOARD
OF ELECTIONS, A STATEMENT OF CERTIFICATION SIGNED BY THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE
OFFICER, PRESIDENT OR OWNER UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY, AVOWING THAT AFTER
DUE INQUIRY, SUCH BUSINESS ENTITY WAS NOT A FOREIGN-INFLUENCED BUSINESS
ENTITY ON THE DATE SUCH EXPENDITURE OR CONTRIBUTION WAS MADE. BUSINESS
ENTITIES SHALL PROVIDE A COPY OF THE STATEMENT OF CERTIFICATION REQUIRED
BY THIS SUBDIVISION TO ANY CAMPAIGN OR COMMITTEE TO WHICH THEY CONTRIB-
UTE, AND, UPON REQUEST OF THE RECIPIENT, TO ANY OTHER PERSON TO WHOM
THEY CONTRIBUTE.
§ 6. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend-
ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen-
tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made on or
before such effective date.
This bill is a gresat step forward in protecting our rights and our ability to choose our leaders. We have been forced to watch as big money buys our government representation away from us. Our reps work for us and we will continue to partner with and vote for those who actually do so. I vote. I encourage others to vote as well. We have had enough and will no longer accept the loss of our voting power due to it being bought out from under us.