S T A T E O F N E W Y O R K
________________________________________________________________________
7914
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
I N A S S E M B L Y
April 11, 2025
___________
Introduced by M. of A. SLATER -- read once and referred to the Committee
on Governmental Operations
AN ACT in relation to establishing a commission to investigate foreign
influence on governmental employees and elections; and providing for
the repeal of such provisions upon expiration thereof
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. There is hereby established a commission to investigate
foreign influence on governmental employees and elections, hereinafter
referred to as "the commission". Such commission shall consist of 25
members to be appointed as follows: five members appointed by the gover-
nor; five members appointed by the speaker of the assembly; five members
appointed by the temporary president of the senate; five members
appointed by the minority leader of the assembly; and five members
appointed by the minority leader of the senate. The commission shall
elect from its appointed members a chairperson or chairpersons by a
majority vote of the total number of members of the commission. Such
chairperson or chairpersons shall preside over all commission meetings
and shall have the power to schedule meetings of the commission as such
chairperson or chairpersons deem necessary for the proper execution of
its duties.
§ 2. The commission shall:
(a) Investigate weaknesses in existing laws, regulations and proce-
dures relating to the regulation of lobbying, including but not limited
to examining compliance by organizations and other persons engaged in
lobbying and other attempts to influence public policies or elections,
including foreign entities, with the requirements of existing state laws
administered by the commission on ethics and lobbying in government, and
the sufficiency of such requirements; and make recommendations to reform
any weaknesses uncovered in such laws, regulations and procedures.
EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD07434-01-5
A. 7914 2
(b) Investigate weaknesses in existing laws, regulations and proce-
dures relating to addressing public corruption, conflicts of interest,
and ethics in state government, including but not limited to, criminal
laws protecting against abuses of the public trust; and make recommenda-
tions to reform any weaknesses uncovered in such laws, regulations and
procedures.
(c) Investigate weaknesses in existing laws, regulations, and proce-
dures relating to governmental employees acting on behalf of a foreign
entity, or nation; and make recommendations to reform any weaknesses
uncovered in such laws, regulations and procedures.
(d) Investigate weaknesses in existing laws, regulations and proce-
dures relating to addressing the influence of foreign entities on
elected officials, state employees, and election campaigns; and make
recommendations to reform any weaknesses uncovered in such laws, regu-
lations and procedures.
(e) Conduct public hearings around the state to provide opportunities
for members of the public and interested parties to comment on the
issues and the scope of its work.
§ 3. Pursuant to subdivision 8 of section 63 of the executive law, the
governor shall direct that the attorney general inquire into the matters
set forth in this act, that involve public peace, public safety, and
public justice, and request that the attorney general do so by appoint-
ing those of the appointed commissioners who are attorneys as deputy
attorneys general and delegating to such deputy attorneys general the
authority to exercise the investigative powers that are provided for in
an investigation pursuant to such subdivision.
§ 4. Members of the commission shall have all the powers and authority
that may be given or granted to persons appointed under authority of
section 6 and subdivision 8 of section 63 of the executive law, includ-
ing, but not limited to, the powers to subpoena and enforce the attend-
ance of individual witnesses, both public and private, to administer
oaths and examine witnesses under oath, and to require the production of
any books or papers deemed relevant or material; provided, however, that
(a) the chairperson or chairpersons of the commission shall unanimously
approve any subpoena prior to its issuance; and (b) the chairperson or
chairpersons of the commission shall unanimously approve such procedures
and rules as they believe necessary to govern the exercise of the powers
and authority given or granted to the members of the commission pursuant
to section 6 and subdivision 8 of section 63 of the executive law,
including rules designed to provide transparency while protecting the
integrity of the investigation and rights to privacy.
§ 5. If in the course of its inquiry, the commission obtains evidence
of a violation of existing laws, such evidence shall be communicated to
the office of the attorney general and other appropriate law enforcement
authorities, and the commission shall take steps to facilitate jurisdic-
tional referrals where appropriate. The superintendent of the division
of state police shall, as appropriate, authorize the attorney general,
pursuant to the provisions of subdivision 3 of section 63 of the execu-
tive law, to conduct an investigation of any indictable offense or
offenses arising out of any activity that is the subject of an inquiry
by the commission, and to prosecute the person or persons believed to
have committed the same and any crime or offense uncovered by such
investigation or prosecution or both, including but not limited to,
appearing before and presenting all such matters to a grand jury. The
commission shall cooperate with prosecutorial agencies to avoid jeopard-
izing ongoing investigations and prosecutions.
A. 7914 3
§ 6. Every department, board, bureau, and commission of the state,
including but not limited to state agencies, shall provide to the
commission every assistance and cooperation, including use of state
facilities, which may be necessary or desirable for the accomplishment
of the duties or purposes of this section.
§ 7. The commission shall issue a preliminary policy report on or
before May 1, 2026, setting forth its initial findings and making such
recommendations as required by this act for the express purpose of
consideration and enactment of statutory reforms by the governor and the
legislature in the 2026 legislative session. On or before May 1, 2027,
the commission shall make a final policy report to the governor and the
legislature of its findings and recommendations. All such reports must
be approved by a majority of the members of the commission.
§ 8. This act shall take effect immediately and shall expire and be
deemed repealed 6 months after the submission of the final report by the
commission to investigate foreign influence on governmental employees
and elections pursuant to section seven of this act; provided, however,
that a chairperson of the commission to investigate foreign influence on
governmental employees and elections shall notify the legislative bill
drafting commission upon the occurrence of the submission of the final
report by such commission pursuant to section seven of this act in order
that the commission may maintain an accurate and timely effective data
base of the official text of the laws of the state of New York in furth-
erance of effectuating the provisions of section 44 of the legislative
law and section 70-b of the public officers law.