Bill Text: NY A00108 | 2013-2014 | General Assembly | Introduced


Bill Title: Provides for a state board of elections enforcement unit and counsel.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-01-08 - referred to election law [A00108 Detail]

Download: New_York-2013-A00108-Introduced.html
                           S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                          108
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                      (PREFILED)
                                    January 9, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced  by M. of A. KAVANAGH, STEVENSON -- read once and referred to
         the Committee on Election Law
       AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to providing for  a  state
         board of elections enforcement unit and counsel
         THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section 1. Subdivision 3 of section 3-100  of  the  election  law,  as
    2  amended  by  chapter  220  of  the  laws  of 2005, is amended to read as
    3  follows:
    4    3. The commissioners of the state board of  elections  shall  have  no
    5  other public employment. The commissioners shall receive an annual sala-
    6  ry  of  twenty-five  thousand dollars, within the amounts made available
    7  therefor by appropriation. The board shall, for the purposes of sections
    8  seventy-three and seventy-four of the public officers law, be  a  "state
    9  agency",  and  such commissioners shall be "officers" of the state board
   10  of elections for the purposes of such sections. Within the amounts  made
   11  available  by appropriation therefor, the state board of elections shall
   12  appoint two co-executive directors, [counsel] AN ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL,  A
   13  DEPUTY  ENFORCEMENT  COUNSEL, WHO SHALL BE A MEMBER OF A DIFFERENT MAJOR
   14  POLITICAL PARTY THAN THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL, A SPECIAL COUNSEL, A DEPU-
   15  TY SPECIAL COUNSEL, WHO SHALL BE A MEMBER OF A DIFFERENT MAJOR POLITICAL
   16  PARTY THAN THE SPECIAL COUNSEL, A DIRECTOR  OF  ELECTION  OPERATIONS,  A
   17  DEPUTY  DIRECTOR  OF  ELECTION  OPERATIONS,  WHO  SHALL BE A MEMBER OF A
   18  DIFFERENT MAJOR POLITICAL PARTY THAN  THE  DIRECTOR  OF  ELECTION  OPER-
   19  ATIONS,  A  DIRECTOR  OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, A DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
   20  INFORMATION, WHO SHALL BE A MEMBER OF A DIFFERENT MAJOR POLITICAL  PARTY
   21  THAN  THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INFORMATION and such other staff members as
   22  are necessary in the exercise  of  its  functions,  and  may  fix  their
   23  compensation.  [Anytime  after  the effective date of the chapter of the
   24  laws of two thousand five  which  amended  this  subdivision,  the]  THE
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD00288-01-3
       A. 108                              2
    1  commissioners or, in the case of a vacancy on the board, the commission-
    2  er of each of the major political parties shall appoint one co-executive
    3  director.  Each  co-executive director shall serve a term of four years.
    4  THE  ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL AND THE SPECIAL COUNSEL SHALL EACH SERVE A TERM
    5  OF FOUR YEARS AND MAY ONLY BE REMOVED FOR CAUSE.   ANY  TIME  AFTER  THE
    6  EFFECTIVE  DATE  OF  THE  CHAPTER  OF  THE LAWS OF TWO THOUSAND THIRTEEN
    7  AMENDING THIS SUBDIVISION, THE COMMISSIONERS, OR IN THE CASE OF A VACAN-
    8  CY ON THE BOARD, THE COMMISSIONER, OF EACH OF THE SAME  MAJOR  POLITICAL
    9  PARTY  AS THE INCUMBENT ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL, DEPUTY ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL,
   10  SPECIAL COUNSEL, DEPUTY SPECIAL  COUNSEL,  DIRECTOR  OF  ELECTION  OPER-
   11  ATIONS,  DEPUTY  DIRECTOR  OF  ELECTION  OPERATIONS,  DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC
   12  INFORMATION AND DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF  PUBLIC  INFORMATION,  SHALL  APPOINT
   13  SUCH  COUNSELS,  DIRECTORS  AND  DEPUTIES.  Any vacancy in the office of
   14  co-executive director, ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL, DEPUTY ENFORCEMENT  COUNSEL,
   15  SPECIAL  COUNSEL,  DEPUTY  SPECIAL  COUNSEL,  DIRECTOR OF ELECTION OPER-
   16  ATIONS, DEPUTY DIRECTOR  OF  ELECTION  OPERATIONS,  DIRECTOR  OF  PUBLIC
   17  INFORMATION  AND  DEPUTY DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC INFORMATION, shall be filled
   18  by the commissioners or, in the case of a  vacancy  on  the  board,  the
   19  commissioner of the same major political party as the vacating incumbent
   20  for the remaining period of the term of such vacating incumbent, FOR THE
   21  REMAINING PERIOD OF THE TERM OF SUCH VACATING INCUMBENT.
   22    S  2.  Subdivision 3, paragraph (c) of subdivision 9-A and subdivision
   23  17 of section 3-102 of the  election  law,  subdivisions  3  and  17  as
   24  amended  by  chapter 9 of the laws of 1978, paragraph (c) of subdivision
   25  9-A as added by chapter 430 of the laws of 1997 and  subdivision  17  as
   26  renumbered  by  chapter  23  of the laws of 2005, are amended to read as
   27  follows:
   28    3. conduct any investigation necessary to carry out the provisions  of
   29  this  chapter,  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  THAT  THE  STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
   30  ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL, ESTABLISHED PURSUANT TO SECTION 3-104 OF THIS ARTI-
   31  CLE, SHALL CONDUCT ANY INVESTIGATION NECESSARY TO ENFORCE THE PROVISIONS
   32  OF ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF ELECTIONS;
   33    (c) establish [a] AN EDUCATIONAL AND training program on ALL REPORTING
   34  REQUIREMENTS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO the electronic reporting proc-
   35  ess and make it EASILY AND READILY available to any  such  candidate  or
   36  committee AND NOTIFY ANY SUCH CANDIDATE OR COMMITTEE OF THE AVAILABILITY
   37  OF THE MOST RECENT CAMPAIGN FINANCE HANDBOOK;
   38    17.    HEAR  AND  CONSIDER  THE  RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE STATE BOARD OF
   39  ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL REGARDING THE ENFORCEMENT OF VIOLATIONS OF
   40  ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER;
   41    18. perform such other acts as may  be  necessary  to  carry  out  the
   42  purposes of this chapter.
   43    S  3. Section 3-104 of the election law, subdivisions 1, 3, 4 and 5 as
   44  redesignated and subdivision 2 as amended by chapter 9 of  the  laws  of
   45  1978, is amended to read as follows:
   46    S  3-104.  State  board  of elections AND THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS
   47  ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL; enforcement powers.  1. (A) THERE SHALL BE  A  UNIT
   48  KNOWN AS THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS ENFORCEMENT UNIT ESTABLISHED WITH-
   49  IN  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS. THE HEAD OF SUCH UNIT SHALL BE THE
   50  ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL.
   51    (B) The state board of elections shall have jurisdiction  of,  and  be
   52  responsible  for,  the  execution  and  enforcement of the provisions of
   53  [article  fourteen  of  this  chapter  and  other]  statutes   governing
   54  campaigns,  elections  and related procedures; PROVIDED HOWEVER THAT THE
   55  ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL SHALL HAVE SOLE AUTHORITY WITHIN THE STATE BOARD  OF
   56  ELECTIONS TO INVESTIGATE ON HIS OR HER OWN INITIATIVE OR UPON COMPLAINT,
       A. 108                              3
    1  ALLEGED   VIOLATIONS  OF  ARTICLE  FOURTEEN  OF  THIS  CHAPTER  AND  ALL
    2  COMPLAINTS ALLEGING ARTICLE FOURTEEN VIOLATIONS SHALL  BE  FORWARDED  TO
    3  THE  ENFORCEMENT  UNIT.  NOTHING  IN  THIS SECTION SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO
    4  DIMINISH OR ALTER THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS' JURISDICTION PURSUANT TO
    5  THIS CHAPTER.
    6    2.  Whenever  [the state board of elections or other] A LOCAL board of
    7  elections shall determine, on its own initiative or upon  complaint,  or
    8  otherwise,  that  there  is substantial reason to believe a violation of
    9  this chapter or  any  code  or  regulation  promulgated  thereunder  has
   10  [occurred]  BEEN  COMMITTED  BY  A CANDIDATE OR POLITICAL COMMITTEE THAT
   11  FILES STATEMENTS OR IS REQUIRED TO DO SO PURSUANT TO ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF
   12  THIS CHAPTER SOLELY WITH SUCH LOCAL BOARD, it shall  expeditiously  make
   13  an  investigation  which shall also include investigation of reports and
   14  statements made or failed to be made by the complainant  and  any  poli-
   15  tical  committee supporting his candidacy if the complainant is a candi-
   16  date or, if the complaint was made by an officer or member  of  a  poli-
   17  tical  committee, of reports and statements made or failed to be made by
   18  such political committee and any candidates supported by it. [The  state
   19  board  of elections, in lieu of making such an investigation, may direct
   20  the appropriate board of elections to make an investigation.] The  state
   21  board of elections may request, and shall receive, the assistance of the
   22  state police in any investigation it shall conduct.
   23    3.  [If, after an investigation, the state or other board of elections
   24  finds reasonable cause to believe that a violation  warranting  criminal
   25  prosecution  has taken place, it shall forthwith refer the matter to the
   26  district attorney of the appropriate county and shall make available  to
   27  such  district  attorney  all  relevant papers, documents, testimony and
   28  findings relevant to its investigation.
   29    4. The state or other  board  of  elections  may,  where  appropriate,
   30  commence  a judicial proceeding with respect to the filing or failure to
   31  file any statement of receipts, expenditures,  or  contributions,  under
   32  the  provisions  of  this  chapter, and the state board of elections may
   33  direct the  appropriate  other  board  of  elections  to  commence  such
   34  proceeding.
   35    5.]   IF THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL DETERMINES THAT A VIOLATION OF SUBDI-
   36  VISION ONE OF SECTION 14-126 OF THIS CHAPTER HAS  OCCURRED  WHICH  COULD
   37  WARRANT  A CIVIL PENALTY, THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL SHALL, UPON HIS OR HER
   38  DISCRETION, SEEK TO RESOLVE THE MATTER EXTRA-JUDICIALLY  OR  COMMENCE  A
   39  SPECIAL  PROCEEDING  IN  THE SUPREME COURT PURSUANT TO SECTION 16-114 OF
   40  THIS CHAPTER.
   41    4. UPON RECEIPT OF A COMPLAINT AND SUPPORTING INFORMATION OR AN INTER-
   42  NAL REFERRAL FROM THE ENFORCEMENT UNIT ALLEGING ANY OTHER  VIOLATION  OF
   43  ARTICLE  FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER, THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL SHALL ANALYZE
   44  THE FACTS AND THE LAW RELEVANT TO SUCH COMPLAINT OR REFERRAL  TO  DETER-
   45  MINE  IF  AN INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE UNDERTAKEN. THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL
   46  SHALL, IF NECESSARY, REQUEST ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM THE COMPLAINANT
   47  TO ASSIST SUCH COUNSEL IN MAKING THIS DETERMINATION. SUCH ANALYSIS SHALL
   48  INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: FIRST, WHETHER THE ALLEGATIONS,  IF  TRUE,  WOULD
   49  CONSTITUTE  A VIOLATION OF ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER AND, SECOND,
   50  WHETHER THE ALLEGATIONS ARE SUPPORTED BY CREDIBLE EVIDENCE.
   51    5.  IF  THE  ENFORCEMENT  COUNSEL  DETERMINES  THAT  THE   ALLEGATIONS
   52  CONTAINED  IN  A COMPLAINT, IF TRUE, WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF
   53  ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF  THIS  CHAPTER  OR  THAT  THE  ALLEGATIONS  ARE  NOT
   54  SUPPORTED  BY  CREDIBLE EVIDENCE, HE OR SHE SHALL: (A) NOTIFY THE DEPUTY
   55  ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL OF SUCH DETERMINATION AND (B)  PUBLICLY  NOTIFY  THE
   56  STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS OF SUCH DETERMINATION. IF THE STATE BOARD OF
       A. 108                              4
    1  ELECTIONS PUBLICLY DETERMINES, AS PROVIDED IN THIS TITLE, THAT THE ALLE-
    2  GATIONS, IF TRUE, WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF  ARTICLE  FOURTEEN  OF
    3  THIS CHAPTER AND THAT THE ALLEGATIONS APPEAR TO BE SUPPORTED BY CREDIBLE
    4  EVIDENCE, IT SHALL DIRECT THAT THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL CONDUCT AN INVES-
    5  TIGATION.  LACKING  SUCH  A DETERMINATION, THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL SHALL
    6  ISSUE A LETTER TO THE COMPLAINANT DISMISSING THE COMPLAINT.
    7    6. IF THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL  DETERMINES  THAT  THE  ALLEGATIONS,  IF
    8  TRUE,  WOULD  CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER
    9  AND THAT THE ALLEGATIONS APPEAR TO BE SUPPORTED BY CREDIBLE EVIDENCE, HE
   10  OR SHE SHALL: (A) NOTIFY THE DEPUTY ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL OF  (I)  HIS  OR
   11  HER  INTENT TO RESOLVE THE MATTER EXTRA-JUDICIALLY DUE TO THE DE MINIMUS
   12  NATURE OF THE VIOLATION; OR (II) HIS OR HER INTENT TO COMMENCE AN INVES-
   13  TIGATION, AND (B) PUBLICLY NOTIFY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS  OF  SUCH
   14  INTENT  NO  LATER  THAN  THE  BOARD'S  NEXT REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING.
   15  NOTIFICATION SHALL SUMMARIZE THE RELEVANT FACTS AND THE  APPLICABLE  LAW
   16  AND  SHALL,  TO  THE EXTENT POSSIBLE, PROTECT FROM PUBLIC DISCLOSURE THE
   17  IDENTITY OF THE COMPLAINANT AND THE INDIVIDUAL SUBJECT TO THE COMPLAINT.
   18  THE DEPUTY ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL SHALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW  THE
   19  ENTIRE  FILE  OF ANY PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE ENFORCE-
   20  MENT COUNSEL A MINIMUM OF TEN DAYS PRIOR  TO  SAID  REGULARLY  SCHEDULED
   21  MEETING OF THE BOARD AND TO SUBMIT A PUBLIC, WRITTEN CONCURRENCE WITH OR
   22  DISSENT FROM THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL'S PROPOSAL.
   23    7.  IF, UPON CONSIDERING THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL'S NOTICE OF INTENT TO
   24  COMMENCE AN INVESTIGATION AND THE DEPUTY ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL'S RECOMMEN-
   25  DATION, THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS BELIEVES THAT THE  ALLEGATIONS,  IF
   26  TRUE, WOULD NOT CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAP-
   27  TER,  OR THE ALLEGATIONS ARE NOT SUPPORTED BY CREDIBLE EVIDENCE OR, THAT
   28  ON BALANCE, THE EQUITIES FAVOR A DISMISSAL OF THE COMPLAINT,  THE  BOARD
   29  SHALL  PUBLICLY  DIRECT THAT AN INVESTIGATION NOT BE UNDERTAKEN NO LATER
   30  THAN SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE RECEIPT OF NOTIFICATION FROM  THE  ENFORCEMENT
   31  COUNSEL  OF HIS OR HER INTENT TO COMMENCE AN INVESTIGATION. IN DETERMIN-
   32  ING WHETHER THE EQUITIES FAVOR A DISMISSAL OF THE COMPLAINT,  THE  STATE
   33  BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL CONSIDER THE FOLLOWING FACTORS: (A) WHETHER THE
   34  COMPLAINT  ALLEGES  A  DE  MINIMUS VIOLATION OF ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS
   35  CHAPTER; (B) WHETHER THE SUBJECT OF THE COMPLAINT HAS MADE A GOOD  FAITH
   36  EFFORT  TO  CORRECT  THE  VIOLATION;  AND (C) WHETHER THE SUBJECT OF THE
   37  COMPLAINT HAS A HISTORY OF SIMILAR VIOLATIONS.   DETERMINATIONS  OF  THE
   38  STATE  BOARD  OF ELECTIONS TO DISMISS A COMPLAINT AND NOT PROCEED WITH A
   39  FORMAL INVESTIGATION SHALL BE VOTED UPON AS PROVIDED IN SUBDIVISION FOUR
   40  OF SECTION 3-100 OF THIS TITLE AT AN OPEN MEETING  PURSUANT  TO  ARTICLE
   41  SEVEN  OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, AND SHALL BE MADE ON A FAIR AND EQUI-
   42  TABLE BASIS AND WITHOUT REGARD TO THE  STATUS  OF  THE  SUBJECT  OF  THE
   43  COMPLAINT.
   44    8.  ABSENT A TIMELY DETERMINATION BY THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS THAT
   45  AN INVESTIGATION SHALL NOT BE UNDERTAKEN, THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL  SHALL
   46  COMMENCE  AN INVESTIGATION ON A TIMELY BASIS. IF THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL
   47  DETERMINES THAT ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIVE  POWERS,  AS  PROVIDED  FOR  IN
   48  SUBDIVISIONS  FOUR,  FIVE  AND  SIX  OF SECTION 3-102 OF THIS TITLE, ARE
   49  NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE COUNSEL'S INVESTIGATION, HE OR SHE SHALL  REQUEST
   50  SUCH  ADDITIONAL  POWERS  FROM THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS. SUCH POWERS
   51  SHALL BE GRANTED BY THE BOARD IN PUBLIC ONLY WHEN THE BOARD  FINDS  THAT
   52  FURTHER INVESTIGATION IS WARRANTED AND JUSTIFIED.
   53    9.  AT  THE  CONCLUSION  OF ITS INVESTIGATION, THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL
   54  SHALL PROVIDE THE DEPUTY ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL  AND  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF
   55  ELECTIONS  WITH  A WRITTEN RECOMMENDATION AS TO: (A) WHETHER SUBSTANTIAL
   56  REASON EXISTS TO BELIEVE A VIOLATION OF ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER
       A. 108                              5
    1  HAS OCCURRED AND, IF SO, THE NATURE OF THE VIOLATION AND ANY  APPLICABLE
    2  PENALTY,  AS  DEFINED  IN  SECTION  14-126 OF THIS CHAPTER, BASED ON THE
    3  NATURE OF THE VIOLATION; (B)  WHETHER  THE  MATTER  SHOULD  BE  RESOLVED
    4  EXTRA-JUDICIALLY;  (C)  WHETHER A SPECIAL PROCEEDING SHOULD BE COMMENCED
    5  IN THE SUPREME COURT TO RECOVER A  CIVIL  PENALTY;  AND  (D)  WHETHER  A
    6  REFERRAL  SHOULD  BE MADE TO A DISTRICT ATTORNEY PURSUANT TO SUBDIVISION
    7  ELEVEN OF THIS SECTION BECAUSE REASONABLE  CAUSE  EXISTS  TO  BELIEVE  A
    8  VIOLATION  WARRANTING  CRIMINAL  PROSECUTION HAS TAKEN PLACE. THE DEPUTY
    9  ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL SHALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW THE ENTIRE FILE
   10  OF ANY INVESTIGATION CONDUCTED BY THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL A  MINIMUM  OF
   11  TEN  DAYS  PRIOR TO SAID REGULARLY SCHEDULED MEETING OF THE BOARD AND TO
   12  SUBMIT A PUBLIC, WRITTEN CONCURRENCE WITH OR DISSENT FROM  THE  ENFORCE-
   13  MENT COUNSEL'S RECOMMENDATION.
   14    10.  THE  STATE  BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL ACCEPT, MODIFY OR REJECT THE
   15  ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL'S RECOMMENDATION NO  LATER  THAN  SIXTY  DAYS  AFTER
   16  RECEIPT  OF  SUCH RECOMMENDATION. IN MAKING ITS DETERMINATION, THE BOARD
   17  SHALL AGAIN CONSIDER: (A) WHETHER THE COMPLAINT  ALLEGES  A  DE  MINIMUS
   18  VIOLATION  OF  ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER; (B) WHETHER THE SUBJECT
   19  OF THE COMPLAINT HAS MADE A GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO CORRECT THE  VIOLATION;
   20  AND  (C)  WHETHER  THE SUBJECT OF THE COMPLAINT HAS A HISTORY OF SIMILAR
   21  VIOLATIONS. ALL SUCH DETERMINATIONS SHALL BE VOTED UPON AS  PROVIDED  IN
   22  SUBDIVISION  FOUR  OF  SECTION  3-100  OF  THIS TITLE AT AN OPEN MEETING
   23  PURSUANT TO ARTICLE SEVEN OF THE PUBLIC OFFICERS LAW, AND SHALL BE  MADE
   24  ON  A  FAIR  AND  EQUITABLE  BASIS,  WITHOUT REGARD TO THE STATUS OF THE
   25  SUBJECT OF THE COMPLAINT.
   26    11. (A) IF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS  DETERMINES,  AS  PROVIDED  IN
   27  SUBDIVISION  TEN  OF  THIS  SECTION,  THAT  SUBSTANTIAL REASON EXISTS TO
   28  BELIEVE THAT A PERSON, ACTING AS OR ON BEHALF OF A  CANDIDATE  OR  POLI-
   29  TICAL  COMMITTEE  UNDER CIRCUMSTANCES EVINCING AN INTENT TO VIOLATE SUCH
   30  LAW, HAS UNLAWFULLY ACCEPTED A CONTRIBUTION IN EXCESS OF A  CONTRIBUTION
   31  LIMITATION  ESTABLISHED IN ARTICLE FOURTEEN OF THIS CHAPTER, WHICH COULD
   32  WARRANT A CIVIL PENALTY AS PROVIDED FOR IN SUBDIVISION THREE OF  SECTION
   33  14-126  OF  THIS  CHAPTER,  THE BOARD SHALL DIRECT THE COMMENCEMENT OF A
   34  SPECIAL PROCEEDING IN THE SUPREME COURT.
   35    (B) IF THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS DETERMINES, AS PROVIDED IN  SUBDI-
   36  VISION  TEN  OF  THIS  SECTION THAT REASONABLE CAUSE EXISTS TO BELIEVE A
   37  VIOLATION WARRANTING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION HAS  TAKEN  PLACE,  THE  BOARD
   38  SHALL  REFER  THE MATTER TO A DISTRICT ATTORNEY AND SHALL MAKE AVAILABLE
   39  TO SUCH DISTRICT ATTORNEY ALL PAPERS, DOCUMENTS, TESTIMONY AND  FINDINGS
   40  RELEVANT TO ITS INVESTIGATION.
   41    12.  UPON NOTIFICATION THAT A SPECIAL PROCEEDING HAS BEEN COMMENCED BY
   42  A PARTY OTHER THAN THE STATE BOARD OF  ELECTIONS,  PURSUANT  TO  SECTION
   43  16-114  OF  THIS  CHAPTER, THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS SHALL DIRECT THE
   44  ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL TO INVESTIGATE THE ALLEGED VIOLATIONS UNLESS  OTHER-
   45  WISE DIRECTED BY THE COURT.
   46    13.  THE ENFORCEMENT COUNSEL SHALL PREPARE A REPORT, TO BE INCLUDED IN
   47  THE ANNUAL REPORT TO  THE  GOVERNOR  AND  LEGISLATURE,  SUMMARIZING  THE
   48  ACTIVITIES  OF  THE  UNIT  DURING  THE  PREVIOUS YEAR. SUCH REPORT SHALL
   49  INCLUDE: (A) THE NUMBER  OF  COMPLAINTS  RECEIVED;  (B)  THE  NUMBER  OF
   50  COMPLAINTS  THAT WERE FOUND TO NEED INVESTIGATION AND THE NATURE OF EACH
   51  COMPLAINT; AND (C) THE NUMBER OF MATTERS THAT HAVE BEEN RESOLVED.    THE
   52  REPORT  SHALL  NOT  CONTAIN  ANY INFORMATION FOR WHICH DISCLOSURE IS NOT
   53  PERMITTED.
   54    14. The state board of elections may promulgate rules and  regulations
   55  consistent with law to effectuate the provisions of this section.
       A. 108                              6
    1    S  4.  The state of New York shall appropriate during each fiscal year
    2  to the New York state board of elections enforcement unit, not less than
    3  thirty-five percent of the appropriation available from the general fund
    4  for the state board of  elections  to  pay  for  the  expenses  of  such
    5  enforcement unit.
    6    S 5. This act shall take effect immediately.
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