STATE OF NEW YORK
________________________________________________________________________
3956
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
February 21, 2019
___________
Introduced by Sen. RANZENHOFER -- 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 contributions by execu-
tive appointees
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem-bly, do enact as follows:
1 Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 14-131
2 to read as follows:
3 § 14-131. Contributions by executive appointees. 1. (a) No individual
4 appointed by the governor, including but not limited to appointees to
5 any commission, board, council, panel, or public authority, shall make a
6 monetary contribution to the campaign of such governor or to any poli-
7 tical campaign committee organized by or for the specific benefit of
8 such governor.
9 (b) Such prohibition shall apply to any contributions occurring one
10 year prior to, during the term of, and one year following the term of
11 his or her appointment.
12 (c) Such prohibition shall also apply to anyone residing in the
13 appointee's household including, but not limited to, a spouse, domestic
14 partner, or child.
15 2. Before an individual is appointed by the governor, the appointee
16 shall identify any contributions made to such governor within the
17 twelve-month period immediately prior to the date of appointment, and
18 such governor shall refund the entire amount of any such contribution.
19 3. No appointee shall request or demand that any other person make or
20 offer to make any monetary contribution to the campaign of such governor
21 or to any political campaign committee organized by or for the specific
22 benefit of such governor.
23 4. Such prohibition shall apply regardless of the method of removing
24 such appointee from office, or regardless of any requirement on the
25 appointee to file a statement of financial disclosure.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[] is old law to be omitted.
LBD02258-01-9
S. 3956 2
1 § 2. Section 14-126 of the election law is amended by adding a new
2 subdivision 8 to read as follows:
3 8. (a) Any person who, under circumstances evincing an intent to
4 violate such law, makes or receives a contribution in contravention of
5 section 14-131 of this article shall be subject to a civil penalty not
6 to exceed the greater of ten thousand dollars or an amount equal to two
7 hundred percent of the contribution.
8 (b) Any person who, acting as or on behalf of an officeholder, candi-
9 date, or political committee, accepts a contribution or receives a
10 transfer in contravention of section 14-131 of this article shall be
11 required to refund such contribution.
12 § 3. This act shall take effect on the one hundred eightieth day after
13 it shall have become a law.