Bill Text: NY A11299 | 2017-2018 | General Assembly | Amended


Bill Title: Relates to matching financing; relates to the New York state campaign finance fund and the abandoned property fund.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 5-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2018-09-19 - print number 11299a [A11299 Detail]

Download: New_York-2017-A11299-Amended.html


                STATE OF NEW YORK
        ________________________________________________________________________
                                        11299--A
                   IN ASSEMBLY
                                     August 15, 2018
                                       ___________
        Introduced  by  COMMITTEE  ON RULES -- (at request of M. of A. Abinanti,
          Galef, Thiele, Epstein, Stirpe) --  read  once  and  referred  to  the
          Committee  on  Election  Law  --  committee  discharged, bill amended,
          ordered reprinted as amended and recommitted to said committee
        AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to statements of  campaign
          receipts,  contributions,  transfers  and expenditures to and by poli-
          tical committees; to amend the election law, in relation to establish-
          ing a contribution limit for certain contributions to a party  commit-
          tee  or  constituted committee; to amend the election law, in relation
          to public financing; to amend the state finance law,  in  relation  to
          the  New  York  state  campaign finance fund; to amend the tax law, in
          relation to the New York state campaign  finance  fund  check-off;  to
          amend  the  election  law, in relation to enforcement proceedings; 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:
     1    Section  1.    Subdivision 1 of section 14-102 of the election law, as
     2  amended by chapter 8 and as redesignated by chapter 9  of  the  laws  of
     3  1978, is amended to read as follows:
     4    1.  The  treasurer of every political committee which, or any officer,
     5  member or agent of any  such  committee  who,  in  connection  with  any
     6  election,  receives  or  expends  any  money  or other valuable thing or
     7  incurs any liability to pay money or its equivalent  shall  file  state-
     8  ments  sworn,  or subscribed and bearing a form notice that false state-
     9  ments made therein are punishable as a class A misdemeanor  pursuant  to
    10  section  210.45 of the penal law, at the times prescribed by this [arti-
    11  cle] title setting forth all the  receipts,  contributions  to  and  the
    12  expenditures  by  and liabilities of the committee, and of its officers,
    13  members and agents in its behalf.  Such  statements  shall  include  the
    14  dollar  amount  of  any  receipt,  contribution or transfer, or the fair
    15  market value of any receipt, contribution or transfer,  which  is  other
    16  than  of  money, the name and address of the transferor, contributor, or
    17  person from whom received, and if the transferor, contributor or  person
    18  is a political committee; the name of and the political unit represented
         EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD16417-03-8

        A. 11299--A                         2
     1  by  the  committee,  the date of its receipt, the dollar amount of every
     2  expenditure, the name and address of the person to whom it was  made  or
     3  the name of and the political unit represented by the committee to which
     4  it was made and the date thereof, and shall state clearly the purpose of
     5  such expenditure.  Any statement reporting a loan shall have attached to
     6  it  a  copy  of the evidence of indebtedness. Expenditures in sums under
     7  fifty dollars need not be specifically accounted for by  separate  items
     8  in  said statements, and receipts and contributions aggregating not more
     9  than ninety-nine dollars, from any one contributor need not  be  specif-
    10  ically  accounted  for  by  separate  items in said statements, provided
    11  however, that such expenditures, receipts  and  contributions  shall  be
    12  subject  to  the  other  provisions  of section 14-118 of this [article]
    13  title.
    14    § 2. The article heading of article 14 of the election law is  amended
    15  to read as follows:
    16                     CAMPAIGN RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES;
    17                              PUBLIC FINANCING
    18    §  3.  Paragraph  b of subdivision 1 of section 14-114 of the election
    19  law, as amended by chapter 659 of the laws of 1994, is amended and a new
    20  paragraph d is added to read as follows:
    21    b. In any other election for party  position  or  for  election  to  a
    22  public  office or for nomination for any such office, no contributor may
    23  make a contribution to any candidate or political committee and no  such
    24  candidate  or  political  committee may accept any contribution from any
    25  contributor, which is in the aggregate amount greater than: (i)  in  the
    26  case  of  any  election  for party position, or for nomination to public
    27  office, the product of the total number of enrolled voters in the candi-
    28  date's party in the district in which he or she is a candidate,  exclud-
    29  ing  voters in inactive status, multiplied by $.05, and (ii) in the case
    30  of any election for a public office, the product of the total number  of
    31  registered  voters in the district, excluding voters in inactive status,
    32  multiplied by $.05, except in the  case  of  a  candidate  for  attorney
    33  general  not  participating  in  the  state's  attorney  general  public
    34  campaign financing system defined in title two of this  article,  multi-
    35  plied  by  $.03  and  in  the  case  of a candidate for attorney general
    36  participating in the state's attorney general public campaign  financing
    37  system defined in title two of this article, multiplied by $.01, however
    38  in  the  case of a nomination within the city of New York for the office
    39  of mayor, public advocate or comptroller, such amount shall be not  less
    40  than  four  thousand  dollars  nor  more than twelve thousand dollars as
    41  increased or decreased by the cost of  living  adjustment  described  in
    42  paragraph  c  of this subdivision; in the case of an election within the
    43  city of New York for the office  of  mayor,  public  advocate  or  comp-
    44  troller,  twenty-five  thousand dollars as increased or decreased by the
    45  cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this  subdivision;
    46  in  the case of a nomination for state senator, four thousand dollars as
    47  increased or decreased by the cost of  living  adjustment  described  in
    48  paragraph  c  of  this subdivision; in the case of an election for state
    49  senator,  six  thousand  two  hundred  fifty  dollars  as  increased  or
    50  decreased  by  the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of
    51  this subdivision; in the case of an election or nomination for a  member
    52  of  the  assembly, twenty-five hundred dollars as increased or decreased
    53  by the cost of living adjustment described in paragraph c of this subdi-
    54  vision; but in no event shall any such  maximum  exceed  fifty  thousand
    55  dollars or be less than one thousand dollars; provided however, that the
    56  maximum  amount  which  may be so contributed or accepted, in the aggre-

        A. 11299--A                         3
     1  gate, from any  candidate's  child,  parent,  grandparent,  brother  and
     2  sister, and the spouse of any such persons, shall not exceed in the case
     3  of  any  election  for party position or nomination for public office an
     4  amount  equivalent  to  the number of enrolled voters in the candidate's
     5  party in the district in which he  or  she  is  a  candidate,  excluding
     6  voters  in  inactive  status,  multiplied by $.25 and in the case of any
     7  election to public office, an amount equivalent to the number of  regis-
     8  tered  voters  in  the  district,  excluding  voters in inactive status,
     9  multiplied by $.25; or twelve hundred fifty dollars, whichever is great-
    10  er, or in the case of a nomination or election of a state senator, twen-
    11  ty thousand dollars, whichever is greater, or in the  case  of  a  nomi-
    12  nation  or  election  of  a  member of the assembly twelve thousand five
    13  hundred dollars, whichever is greater, but in no event  shall  any  such
    14  maximum exceed one hundred thousand dollars.
    15    d.  Notwithstanding  any  other  contribution  limit  in this section,
    16  participating candidates as defined in subdivision fourteen  of  section
    17  14-201  of  this  article  may contribute, out of their own money, three
    18  times the applicable contribution limit for non-participating candidates
    19  to their own authorized political committee.
    20    § 4. Sections 14-100 through 14-132 of the election law are designated
    21  title I and a new title heading is added to read as follows:
    22                     CAMPAIGN RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES
    23    § 5. Article 14 of the election law is amended by adding a  new  title
    24  II to read as follows:
    25                                  TITLE II
    26                              PUBLIC FINANCING
    27  Section 14-200. Legislative findings and intent.
    28          14-201. Definitions.
    29          14-202. Reporting requirements.
    30          14-203. Contributions.
    31          14-204. Proof of compliance.
    32          14-205. Eligibility.
    33          14-206. Limits on public financing.
    34          14-207. Payment of public matching funds.
    35          14-208. Use of public matching funds; qualified campaign expend-
    36                    itures.
    37          14-209. Powers and duties of the board.
    38          14-210. Audits and repayments.
    39          14-211. Enforcement  and  penalties  for  violations  and  other
    40                    proceedings.
    41          14-212. Reports.
    42          14-213. Severability.
    43    § 14-200. Legislative findings and intent.  The legislature finds  and
    44  determines  that  the  attorney  general for the state fulfills a unique
    45  role in government, substantively distinct from other offices.
    46    The legislature also finds and determines that the attorney general is
    47  not elected to represent the views of voters, but rather is  elected  to
    48  uphold the law.
    49    The  legislature  additionally  finds and determines that the attorney
    50  general's impartiality  and  independence  is  critical  to  maintaining
    51  public confidence and the rule of law.
    52    The  legislature  additionally  finds and determines that the attorney
    53  general must maintain impartiality and independence and  the  appearance
    54  of impartiality and independence.

        A. 11299--A                         4
     1    The  legislature  additionally  finds  and determines that raising the
     2  necessary funds to run for the office of attorney general has the poten-
     3  tial to reduce the appearance of attorney general impartiality.
     4    The  legislature  additionally  finds and determines that the need for
     5  the attorney general to be independent and impartial, is furthered by an
     6  attorney general public campaign finance system.
     7    The legislature  additionally  finds  and  determines  that  a  public
     8  campaign finance system for candidates for the office of attorney gener-
     9  al reduces the potential for partiality.
    10    §  14-201. Definitions.  For the purposes of this title, the following
    11  terms shall have the following meanings:
    12    1. The term "authorized political committee"  shall  mean  the  single
    13  political committee designated by a candidate pursuant to section 14-202
    14  of  this title to receive contributions and make expenditures in support
    15  of the candidate's campaign.
    16    2. The term "board" shall mean the state board of elections.
    17    3. The term "contribution" shall have the same meaning as  appears  in
    18  subdivision nine of section 14-100 of this article.
    19    4. The term "contributor" shall mean any person or entity that makes a
    20  contribution.
    21    5. The term "covered election" shall mean any general election for the
    22  office of attorney general.
    23    6.  The  term  "election  cycle"  shall  mean  any  primary or general
    24  election for nomination for election or election to the office of attor-
    25  ney general.
    26    7. The term "expenditure" shall mean any gift, subscription,  advance,
    27  payment, or deposit of money or anything of value, or a contract to make
    28  any  gift,  subscription,  payment,  or  deposit of money or anything of
    29  value, made in connection with the nomination for election, or election,
    30  of any candidate.  Expenditures made by contract are  deemed  made  when
    31  such funds are obligated.
    32    8.  The  term  "fund"  shall  mean the New York state attorney general
    33  campaign finance fund.
    34    9. The term "immediate family" shall mean a spouse, domestic  partner,
    35  child, sibling or parent.
    36    10.  The  term  "intermediary"  shall mean an individual, corporation,
    37  partnership, political committee, employee organization or other  entity
    38  which bundles, causes to be delivered or otherwise delivers any contrib-
    39  ution  from  another  person or entity to a candidate's authorized poli-
    40  tical committee, other than in the  regular  course  of  business  as  a
    41  postal,  delivery  or  messenger  service.    Provided, however, that an
    42  "intermediary" shall not include spouses,  domestic  partners,  parents,
    43  children  or  siblings of the person making such contribution or a staff
    44  member or volunteer of the campaign identified in writing to  the  state
    45  board of elections.
    46    11.  The  term  "item  with  significant intrinsic and enduring value"
    47  shall mean any item, including tickets to an event, that are  valued  at
    48  twenty-five dollars or more.
    49    12. (a) The term "matchable contribution" shall mean a lawful contrib-
    50  ution, contributions or a portion of a contribution or contributions for
    51  any covered elections held in the same election cycle, made by a natural
    52  person  and resident of the state to a participating candidate's author-
    53  ized political committee, that has been reported in full to the board in
    54  accordance with sections 14-102 and 14-104 of this article by the candi-
    55  date's authorized political committee and has  been  contributed  on  or
    56  before  the  day  of  the applicable general election. Any contribution,

        A. 11299--A                         5
     1  contributions, or a portion of a contribution determined to  be  invalid
     2  for  matching  funds  by  the  board  may  not be treated as a matchable
     3  contribution for any purpose.
     4    (b) The following contributions are not matchable:
     5    (i) loans;
     6    (ii) in-kind contributions of property, goods, or services;
     7    (iii) contributions in the form of the purchase price paid for an item
     8  with significant intrinsic and enduring value;
     9    (iv) transfers from a party or constituted committee;
    10    (v)  contributions whose source is not itemized as required by section
    11  14-202 of this title;
    12    (vi) contributions gathered during a previous election cycle;
    13    (vii) illegal contributions;
    14    (viii) contributions from minors;
    15    (ix) contributions from vendors for campaigns; and
    16    (x) contributions from lobbyists registered  pursuant  to  subdivision
    17  (a) of section one-c of the legislative law.
    18    13. The term "nonparticipating candidate" shall mean a candidate for a
    19  covered  election  who does not file a written certification in the form
    20  of an affidavit under section 14-205 of this  title  by  the  applicable
    21  deadline.
    22    14.  The  term  "participating candidate" shall mean any candidate for
    23  election to the office of attorney general, who files a written  certif-
    24  ication  in  the form of an affidavit pursuant to section 14-205 of this
    25  title.
    26    15. The term "post-election period" shall mean the six months  follow-
    27  ing an election.
    28    16.  The  term "qualified campaign expenditure" shall mean an expendi-
    29  ture for which public matching funds may be used.
    30    17. The term "threshold for eligibility"  shall  mean  the  amount  of
    31  matchable  contributions that a candidate's authorized political commit-
    32  tee must receive in total in order for such  candidate  to  qualify  for
    33  voluntary public financing under this title.
    34    18.  The  term  "transfer"  shall mean any exchange of funds between a
    35  party or constituted committee and a candidate or  any  of  his  or  her
    36  authorized political committees.
    37    §  14-202.  Reporting requirements.   1. Political committee registra-
    38  tion. Political committees as defined pursuant  to  subdivision  one  of
    39  section  14-100  of  this  article  shall register with the board before
    40  making any contribution or expenditure.  The board shall publish a cumu-
    41  lative list of political committees that have registered,  including  on
    42  its webpage, and regularly update it.
    43    2.  Only one authorized political committee per candidate per elective
    44  office sought.  Before receiving any contribution or making any expendi-
    45  ture for a covered election, each candidate shall notify the board as to
    46  the existence of his or her authorized political committee that has been
    47  approved by such candidate. Each candidate shall have one and  only  one
    48  authorized  political committee per elective office sought. Each author-
    49  ized political committee shall have a treasurer and is  subject  to  the
    50  restrictions found in section 14-112 of this article.
    51    3.  (a)  Detailed  reporting. In addition to each authorized political
    52  committee reporting to the board every contribution  and  loan  received
    53  and every expenditure made in the time and manner prescribed by sections
    54  14-102,  14-104  and  14-108  of this article, each authorized political
    55  committee of a candidate intending to participate in the attorney gener-
    56  al public financing system shall also submit disclosure reports on March

        A. 11299--A                         6
     1  fifteenth and May fifteenth of each election year reporting to the board
     2  every contribution and loan received and every expenditure  made.    For
     3  contributors  who  make  contributions  of five hundred dollars or more,
     4  each  authorized political committee shall report to the board the occu-
     5  pation, and employer of each contributor, lender, and intermediary.  The
     6  board  shall  revise, prepare and post forms on its webpage that facili-
     7  tate compliance with the requirements of this section.
     8    (b) Board review. The board shall review each disclosure report  filed
     9  and  shall inform the treasurer of the authorized political committee of
    10  relevant questions it has concerning: (i) compliance  with  requirements
    11  of  this title and of the rules issued by the board; and (ii) qualifica-
    12  tion for receiving public matching funds pursuant to this title. In  the
    13  course  of this review, it shall give authorized political committees an
    14  opportunity to respond to and  correct  potential  violations  and  give
    15  candidates  an  opportunity to address questions it has concerning their
    16  matchable contribution claims or other issues concerning eligibility for
    17  receiving public matching funds pursuant to this title. Upon  completion
    18  of  the  compliance review, nothing in this paragraph shall preclude the
    19  chief enforcement counsel from subsequently  reviewing  such  disclosure
    20  reports and taking any action otherwise authorized under this title.
    21    (c)  Itemization. Contributions that are not itemized in reports filed
    22  with the board shall not be matchable.
    23    (d) Option to file more frequently. Participating candidates may  file
    24  reports  of contributions as frequently as once a week on Monday so that
    25  their matching funds may be paid at the earliest allowable date.
    26    § 14-203. Contributions.  Recipients of funds pursuant to  this  title
    27  shall  be  subject  to  the  applicable contribution limits set forth in
    28  section 14-114 of this article.
    29    § 14-204. Proof of compliance. Authorized political  committees  shall
    30  maintain  such  records  of  receipts  and  expenditures  for  a covered
    31  election as required by the board. The treasurer of an authorized  poli-
    32  tical committee shall obtain and furnish to the board any information it
    33  may  request  relating  to  financial  transactions or contributions and
    34  furnish such documentation and other proof of compliance with this title
    35  as may be requested. In compliance with section 14-108 of this  article,
    36  authorized  political  committees  shall maintain copies of such records
    37  for a period of five years.
    38    § 14-205. Eligibility.  1. Terms and conditions. To  be  eligible  for
    39  voluntary public financing under this title, a candidate must:
    40    (a) be a candidate in a covered election;
    41    (b)  meet  all  the requirements of law to have his or her name on the
    42  ballot;
    43    (c) in the case of a covered election, be opposed by another candidate
    44  on the ballot who is not a write-in candidate;
    45    (d) submit a certification in the form of an affidavit, in  such  form
    46  as may be prescribed by the board, that sets forth his or her acceptance
    47  of  and  agreement  to  comply  with  the  terms  and conditions for the
    48  provision of such funds in each covered election and such  certification
    49  shall  be  submitted  at  least  four  months before the election but no
    50  earlier than nine months before the nomination pursuant  to  a  schedule
    51  promulgated by the board;
    52    (e) be certified as a participating candidate by the board;
    53    (f)  not  make, and not have made, expenditures from or use his or her
    54  personal funds or property or the personal  funds  or  property  jointly
    55  held  with  his  or  her spouse, or unemancipated children in connection
    56  with his or her election to a covered office, but may  make  a  contrib-

        A. 11299--A                         7
     1  ution  to  his  or  her authorized political committee in an amount that
     2  does not exceed three times the applicable contribution  limit  from  an
     3  individual  contributor  to  non-participating candidates for the office
     4  that he or she is seeking;
     5    (g) meet the threshold for eligibility set forth in subdivision two of
     6  this section;
     7    (h)  continue  to  abide  by all requirements during the post-election
     8  period;
     9    (i) not have accepted contributions in amounts exceeding the  contrib-
    10  ution  limits  set  forth for participating candidates in paragraph b of
    11  subdivision one of section 14-114 of this article  during  the  election
    12  cycle for which the candidate seeks certification;
    13    (i)  Provided  however,  that,  if  a candidate accepted contributions
    14  exceeding such limits before certification, such  acceptance  shall  not
    15  prevent the candidate from being certified by the board if the candidate
    16  immediately  pays  to the fund or returns to the contributor the portion
    17  of any contribution that exceeded the applicable contribution limit.
    18    (ii) If the candidate is  unable  to  return  such  funds  immediately
    19  because  they  have  already  been  spent,  acceptance  of contributions
    20  exceeding the limits shall not prevent the candidate from  being  certi-
    21  fied  by the board if the candidate submits an affidavit agreeing to pay
    22  to the fund from non-public funds all portions of any contributions that
    23  exceeded the  limit  no  later  than  thirty  days  before  the  general
    24  election.  If a candidate provides the board with such an affidavit, any
    25  disbursement of public funds to the candidate made under section  14-207
    26  of this title shall be reduced by no more than twenty-five percent until
    27  the total amount owed by the candidate is repaid.
    28    (iii)  Contributions received and expenditures made by the candidate's
    29  authorized political committee prior to the effective date of this title
    30  shall not constitute a violation of this title; and
    31    (j) comply with the rules governing prosecutorial conduct pursuant  to
    32  Rule  3.8  of  Part  1200, Rules of Professional Conduct of the New York
    33  State Unified Court System, as applicable.
    34    2. Threshold for eligibility. The threshold for eligibility for public
    35  funding for participating candidates shall be not less than ten thousand
    36  dollars in matchable contributions including at least one hundred match-
    37  able contributions comprised of sums between ten and two  hundred  fifty
    38  dollars  per  contributor,  from  residents of the district in which the
    39  office is to be filled.
    40    § 14-206. Limits on  public  financing.    In  any  general  election,
    41  receipt  of public funds by a participating candidate's authorized poli-
    42  tical committee shall not exceed the sum of four million dollars.
    43    § 14-207. Payment of public matching funds. 1. Determination of eligi-
    44  bility. No public matching funds shall be paid to  an  authorized  poli-
    45  tical  committee  unless  the  board  determines  that the participating
    46  candidate has met the eligibility requirements of  this  title.  Payment
    47  shall  not  exceed  the  amounts  specified  in  subdivision two of this
    48  section, and shall be made only in accordance  with  the  provisions  of
    49  this  title.  Such  payment may be made only to the participating candi-
    50  date's authorized political committee. No public matching funds shall be
    51  used except as reimbursement or payment for qualified campaign  expendi-
    52  tures actually and lawfully incurred or to repay loans used to pay qual-
    53  ified campaign expenditures.
    54    2.  Calculation  of  payment. If the threshold for eligibility is met,
    55  the  participating  candidate's  authorized  political  committee  shall
    56  receive  payment  for  qualified campaign expenditures of two dollars of

        A. 11299--A                         8
     1  public matching funds for each one dollar  of  matchable  contributions,
     2  for  the  first  two hundred fifty dollars of eligible private funds per
     3  contributor, obtained and reported to the board in accordance  with  the
     4  provisions  of  this title. The maximum payment of public matching funds
     5  shall be limited to the amounts set forth  in  section  14-206  of  this
     6  title for the covered election.
     7    3.  Timing  of  payment.  The  board  shall make any payment of public
     8  matching funds to participating candidate's authorized political commit-
     9  tees as soon as is practicable. But in all cases, it shall verify eligi-
    10  bility for public matching funds within four  business  days,  excluding
    11  weekends and holidays, of receiving a campaign contribution report filed
    12  in  compliance  with section 14-104 of this article. Within two business
    13  days of determining that a candidate for a covered  office  is  eligible
    14  for  public matching funds, it shall authorize payment of the applicable
    15  matching funds owed to the candidate. However, it  shall  not  make  any
    16  payments of public money earlier than the earliest dates for making such
    17  payments  as  provided  by  this  title.   If any of such payments would
    18  require payment on a weekend or federal holiday, payment shall  be  made
    19  on the next business day.
    20    4.  Electronic  funds  transfer. The board shall, in consultation with
    21  the office of the comptroller, promulgate rules to facilitate electronic
    22  funds transfers directly from the campaign finance fund into an  author-
    23  ized committee's bank account.
    24    §  14-208.  Use  of public matching funds; qualified campaign expendi-
    25  tures.  1. Public matching funds provided under the provisions  of  this
    26  title may be used only by an authorized political committee for expendi-
    27  tures  to  further  the  participating  candidate's  election, including
    28  paying for debts incurred within nine months prior to  a  nomination  to
    29  further the participating candidate's election.
    30    2. Such public matching funds may not be used for:
    31    (a) an expenditure in violation of any law;
    32    (b)  an  expenditure  in  excess of the fair market value of services,
    33  materials, facilities or other things of value received in exchange;
    34    (c) an expenditure made after the candidate has been finally disquali-
    35  fied from the ballot and all judicial remedies have been exhausted;
    36    (d) an expenditure made after  the  only  remaining  opponent  of  the
    37  candidate has been finally disqualified from the general election ballot
    38  and all judicial remedies have been exhausted;
    39    (e) an expenditure made by cash payment;
    40    (f)  a  contribution  or  loan  or  transfer made to or expenditure to
    41  support another candidate or political committee or party, committee  or
    42  constituted committee;
    43    (g)  an  expenditure  to  support  or oppose a candidate for an office
    44  other than that which the participating candidate seeks;
    45    (h) gifts, except brochures, buttons, signs and other printed campaign
    46  material;
    47    (i) legal fees to defend against a criminal charge;
    48    (j) payments to immediate family members of the  participating  candi-
    49  date;
    50    (k)  any expenditure made to challenge the validity of any petition of
    51  designation or nomination or any certificate of nomination,  declination
    52  or substitution;
    53    (l)  any impermissible personal use under section 14-130 of this arti-
    54  cle; or
    55    (m) any use which would violate the Rules of Professional  Conduct  of
    56  the New York State Unified Court System, as applicable.

        A. 11299--A                         9
     1    §  14-209.  Powers and duties of the board.  1. Advisory opinions. The
     2  board shall render advisory opinions with respect to  questions  arising
     3  under  this title upon the written request of a candidate, an officer of
     4  a political committee or member of the public, or upon  its  own  initi-
     5  ative.    The board shall promulgate rules regarding reasonable times to
     6  respond to such requests. The board shall make public the  questions  of
     7  interpretation  for  which  advisory  opinions will be considered by the
     8  board and its advisory opinions, including by publication on its webpage
     9  with identifying information redacted as  the  board  determines  to  be
    10  appropriate.
    11    2. Public information and candidate education. The board shall develop
    12  a  program for informing candidates and the public as to the purpose and
    13  effect of the provisions of this title, including by means of a webpage.
    14  The board shall prepare in plain language and make available educational
    15  materials, including compliance manuals and summaries  and  explanations
    16  of the purposes and provisions of this title. The board shall prepare or
    17  have prepared and make available materials, including access to an elec-
    18  tronic  recordkeeping  and  filing  system,  to  facilitate  the task of
    19  compliance with the disclosure and recordkeeping  requirements  of  this
    20  title.
    21    3.  Rules  and  regulations.  The  board  shall  have the authority to
    22  promulgate such rules and regulations and provide such forms as it deems
    23  necessary for the administration of this title.
    24    4. Database.  The  board  shall  develop  an  interactive,  searchable
    25  computer  database  that shall contain all information necessary for the
    26  proper administration of this title including  information  on  contrib-
    27  utions  to and expenditures by candidates and their authorized political
    28  committee, independent expenditures in support or opposition  of  candi-
    29  dates  for  covered  offices, and distributions of moneys from the fund.
    30  Such database shall be accessible to the public on the  board's  webpage
    31  no later than June first, two thousand twenty.
    32    § 14-210. Audits and repayments.  1. Audits. The board shall audit and
    33  examine  all matters relating to the proper administration of this title
    34  and shall complete such  audit  no  later  than  six  months  after  the
    35  election  in question.   Every candidate who receives public funds under
    36  this title shall be audited by the board. The cost of complying  with  a
    37  post-election  audit  shall be borne by the candidate's authorized poli-
    38  tical committee using public funds, private funds or any combination  of
    39  such  funds.    The  authorized  political  committee of a participating
    40  candidate must maintain a reserve of three percent of the  public  funds
    41  received  to  comply  with the post-election audit.   Any public reserve
    42  funds not used shall be remitted to the New York state attorney  general
    43  campaign  finance fund. The board shall issue to each campaign audited a
    44  final audit report that details its findings.
    45    2. Repayments. (a) If the board determines that  any  portion  of  the
    46  payment  made  to  a candidate's authorized political committee from the
    47  fund was in excess of the aggregate amount of payments that such  candi-
    48  date  was  eligible  to  receive pursuant to this title, it shall notify
    49  such committee and such committee shall pay to the board an amount equal
    50  to the amount of excess payments. Provided, however, that if the errone-
    51  ous payment was the result of an error by the board, then the  erroneous
    52  payment  will  be  deducted  from  any future payment, if any, and if no
    53  payment is to be made then neither the candidate nor the committee shall
    54  be liable to repay the excess amount to the board.  The  candidate,  the
    55  treasurer and the candidate's authorized political committee are jointly
    56  and severally liable for any repayments to the board.

        A. 11299--A                        10
     1    (b)  If the board determines that any portion of the payment made to a
     2  candidate's authorized political committee from the fund  was  used  for
     3  purposes  other  than  qualified campaign expenditures and such expendi-
     4  tures were not approved by the board, it shall notify such committee  of
     5  the  amount so disqualified and such committee shall pay to the board an
     6  amount equal to such disqualified amount. The candidate,  the  treasurer
     7  and  the  candidate's  authorized  political  committee  are jointly and
     8  severally liable for any repayments to the board.
     9    (c) If the total of payments from the fund received by a participating
    10  candidate's authorized political committee  exceed  the  total  campaign
    11  expenditures  of  such  candidate's authorized political committee, such
    12  candidate's authorized political committee shall use such  excess  funds
    13  to reimburse the fund for payments received by such authorized political
    14  committee  from the fund during such calendar year. Participating candi-
    15  dates' authorized political committees shall pay to  the  board  unspent
    16  public  campaign funds from an election not later than twenty-seven days
    17  after all liabilities for the election have been paid and in any  event,
    18  not  later than the day on which the board issues its final audit report
    19  for  the  participating  candidate's  authorized  political   committee;
    20  provided,  however, that all unspent public campaign funds for a partic-
    21  ipating candidate shall be immediately due and payable to the board upon
    22  a determination by the board that the participant has delayed the  post-
    23  election audit. A participating candidate's authorized political commit-
    24  tee  may  make  post-election  expenditures  with  public funds only for
    25  routine activities involving nominal cost associated with winding  up  a
    26  campaign  and  responding  to the post-election audit.   Nothing in this
    27  title shall be construed to prevent a candidate or his or her authorized
    28  political committee from  using  campaign  contributions  received  from
    29  private contributors for otherwise lawful expenditures.
    30    3.  Rules and regulations.  The board shall promulgate regulations for
    31  the certification of the amount of funds  payable  by  the  comptroller,
    32  from  the fund established pursuant to section ninety-two-t of the state
    33  finance law, to a participating candidate's authorized political commit-
    34  tee that has qualified to receive such payment. These regulations  shall
    35  include  the  periods  during  which  such reports must be filed and the
    36  verification required, and  the  board  shall  develop  forms  on  which
    37  contributions  and  expenditures  are  to  be  reported. The board shall
    38  institute procedures which will make possible payment by the fund within
    39  four business days after receipt of the  required  forms  and  verifica-
    40  tions.
    41    §   14-211.   Enforcement  and  penalties  for  violations  and  other
    42  proceedings.  1. Civil penalties. Any person who, acting as or on behalf
    43  of a candidate  or  such  candidate's  authorized  political  committee,
    44  violates  any  provision  of this title, under circumstances evincing an
    45  intent to violate such provision, shall be subject to a civil penalty in
    46  an amount not in excess of ten thousand dollars, to be recoverable in  a
    47  special  proceeding or civil action to  be brought by the chief enforce-
    48  ment counsel pursuant to sections 3-104 and 3-104-a of this chapter.
    49    2. Criminal conduct. Any person who knowingly and willfully  furnishes
    50  or  submits  false  statements or information to the board in connection
    51  with its administration of this title, shall be guilty of a  misdemeanor
    52  in addition to any other penalty as may be imposed under this chapter or
    53  pursuant  to  any  other  law.  Any  referral for prosecution under this
    54  subdivision shall be made pursuant to section  3-104  of  this  chapter.
    55  Upon  conviction, the chief enforcement counsel shall initiate a special

        A. 11299--A                        11
     1  proceeding or civil action to recover any public matching funds obtained
     2  as a result of such criminal conduct.
     3    3. Proceedings as to public financing. (a) The determination of eligi-
     4  bility  pursuant  to  this  title  and any question or issue relating to
     5  payments for  campaign  expenditures  pursuant  to  this  title  may  be
     6  contested  in a proceeding instituted in the Supreme court, Albany coun-
     7  ty, by an aggrieved candidate.
     8    (b) A proceeding with respect to such a determination  of  eligibility
     9  or  payment for qualified campaign expenditures pursuant to this chapter
    10  shall be instituted within fourteen days after  such  determination  was
    11  made. The board shall be made a party to any such proceeding.
    12    (c)  Upon the board's failure to receive the amount due from a partic-
    13  ipating candidate or such  candidate's  authorized  political  committee
    14  after  the issuance of written notice of such amount due, as required by
    15  this title, the chief enforcement counsel is authorized to seek recovery
    16  of such amount pursuant to sections 3-104 and 3-104-a of this chapter.
    17    (d) Any such funds obtained or collected through judgment  or  settle-
    18  ment  shall  be remitted to the New York state attorney general campaign
    19  finance fund.
    20    § 14-212. Reports. The board shall review and evaluate the  effect  of
    21  this  title  upon  the conduct of election campaigns and shall submit an
    22  annual report to the governor and  the  legislature  on  or  before  May
    23  first, two thousand twenty-one, and on or before May first of every year
    24  thereafter,  and  at any other time upon the request of the governor and
    25  at such other times as the board deems appropriate. These reports  shall
    26  include:
    27    1.  a  list  of  the  participating and nonparticipating candidates in
    28  covered elections and the votes received  by  each  candidate  in  those
    29  elections;
    30    2.  the  amount  of contributions and loans received, and expenditures
    31  made, on behalf of these candidates;
    32    3. the amount of public matching funds  each  participating  candidate
    33  received, spent, and repaid pursuant to this title;
    34    4.  analysis  of  the  effect  of  this  title on political campaigns,
    35  including its effect on the sources and amounts  of  private  financing,
    36  the  level  of campaign expenditures, voter participation, the number of
    37  candidates, the candidates' ability to campaign effectively  for  public
    38  office,  and  the diversity of candidates seeking and elected to office;
    39  and
    40    5. recommendations for amendments to this title, including changes  in
    41  contribution  limits, thresholds for eligibility, and any other features
    42  of the system.
    43    § 14-213. Severability.  If any clause, sentence,  subdivision,  para-
    44  graph,  section or part of this title be adjudged by any court of compe-
    45  tent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect,  impair
    46  or invalidate the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in its opera-
    47  tion  to  the  clause, sentence, subdivision, paragraph, section or part
    48  thereof directly involved in the  controversy  in  which  such  judgment
    49  shall have been rendered.
    50    Nothing  in  this  title  shall  be construed to require candidates or
    51  candidates' authorized political committees  to  commit  any  act  which
    52  would  violate  the rules governing attorney general conduct pursuant to
    53  the Rules of Professional Conduct of the New York  State  Unified  Court
    54  System,  as applicable.   To the extent that any provision in this title
    55  conflicts with such rules, the rules shall control.

        A. 11299--A                        12
     1    § 6. The state finance law is amended by adding a new section 92-t  to
     2  read as follows:
     3    §  92-t.  New  York  state  attorney general campaign finance fund. 1.
     4  There is hereby established in the joint  custody  of  the  state  comp-
     5  troller  and the commissioner of taxation and finance a fund to be known
     6  as the New York state attorney general campaign finance fund.
     7    2. Such fund shall consist of all revenues received from the New  York
     8  state  attorney  general  campaign  finance  fund  check-off pursuant to
     9  subsection (h) of section six hundred fifty-eight of the tax  law,  from
    10  the  abandoned  property  fund  pursuant  to section ninety-five of this
    11  article, from the general fund, and from all other  moneys  credited  or
    12  transferred thereto from any other fund or source pursuant to law.  Such
    13  fund  shall  also receive contributions from private individuals, organ-
    14  izations, or other persons to  fulfill  the  purposes  of  the  attorney
    15  general  public financing system, as well as any funds remitted pursuant
    16  to section 14-211 of the election law.
    17    3. Moneys of the fund, following appropriation by the legislature, may
    18  be expended for the purposes of making payments to  candidates  pursuant
    19  to  title II of article fourteen of the election law and for administra-
    20  tive expenses related to the implementation of article fourteen  of  the
    21  election  law.  Moneys  shall be paid out of the fund by the state comp-
    22  troller on  vouchers  certified  or  approved  by  the  state  board  of
    23  elections,   or  its  duly  designated  representative,  in  the  manner
    24  prescribed by law, not more than five business days after  such  voucher
    25  is received by the state comptroller.
    26    4.  Notwithstanding  any  provision of law to the contrary, if, in any
    27  state fiscal year, the state  attorney  general  campaign  finance  fund
    28  lacks the amount of money to pay all claims vouchered by eligible candi-
    29  dates  and  certified  or  approved by the state board of elections, any
    30  such deficiency shall be paid  by  the  state  comptroller,  from  funds
    31  deposited  in  the general fund of the state not more than four business
    32  days after such voucher is received by the state comptroller.
    33    5. Commencing in two thousand twenty-one, if the surplus in  the  fund
    34  on  April  first of the year after a year in which a governor is elected
    35  exceeds twenty-five percent of the disbursements from the fund over  the
    36  previous  four years, the excess shall revert to the general fund of the
    37  state.
    38    6. No public funds shall be paid to any participating candidates in  a
    39  general  election  any  earlier than the last day to decline an attorney
    40  general nomination pursuant to subdivision seven of section 6-158 of the
    41  election law.
    42    7. No public funds shall be paid to the authorized political committee
    43  of any participating candidate who has been disqualified or whose  nomi-
    44  nation  has  been declared invalid by the appropriate board of elections
    45  or a court of competent jurisdiction until and unless  such  finding  is
    46  reversed  by  a  higher  court in a final judgment.  No payment from the
    47  fund in the possession  of  such  participating  candidate's  authorized
    48  political committee on the date of such disqualification or invalidation
    49  may thereafter be expended for any purpose except the payment of liabil-
    50  ities  incurred before such date.  All other such moneys shall be repaid
    51  to the fund.
    52    § 7. Section 95 of the state finance law is amended by  adding  a  new
    53  subdivision 5 to read as follows:
    54    5.  (a)  As  often  as  necessary, the co-chairs of the state board of
    55  elections shall certify the amount such co-chairs have determined neces-

        A. 11299--A                        13
     1  sary to fund estimated payments from the  fund  established  by  section
     2  ninety-two-t of this article for the general election.
     3    (b)  Notwithstanding  any  provision  of  this section authorizing the
     4  transfer of any moneys in the abandoned property  fund  to  the  general
     5  fund, the comptroller, after receiving amounts  sufficient to pay claims
     6  against  the  abandoned property fund, shall, based upon a certification
     7  of the state board of elections pursuant to paragraph (a) of this subdi-
     8  vision, and at the direction of the director of the budget, transfer the
     9  requested amount from remaining available monies in the abandoned  prop-
    10  erty  fund  to the New York state attorney general campaign finance fund
    11  established by section ninety-two-t of this article.
    12    § 8. Section 658 of the tax law is amended by adding a new  subsection
    13  (h) to read as follows:
    14    (h)  New  York state attorney general campaign finance fund check-off.
    15  (1) For each taxable year beginning on  and  after  January  first,  two
    16  thousand  nineteen,  every resident taxpayer whose New York state income
    17  tax liability for the taxable year for which  the  return  is  filed  is
    18  forty dollars or more may designate on such return that forty dollars be
    19  paid  into  the  New  York  state attorney general campaign finance fund
    20  established by section ninety-two-t of the state finance  law.  Where  a
    21  husband  and  wife  file a joint return and have a New York state income
    22  tax liability for the taxable year for which  the  return  is  filed  is
    23  eighty  dollars or more, or file separate returns on a single form, each
    24  such taxpayer may make separate designations on  such  return  of  forty
    25  dollars  to  be  paid  into the New York state attorney general campaign
    26  finance fund.
    27    (2) The commissioner shall transfer to the  New  York  state  attorney
    28  general  campaign  finance fund, established pursuant to section ninety-
    29  two-t of the state finance law, an amount equal to forty dollars  multi-
    30  plied by the number of designations.
    31    (3)  For  purposes  of this subsection, the income tax liability of an
    32  individual for any taxable year is the amount of tax imposed under  this
    33  article  reduced  by  the  sum  of  the  credits (as shown in his or her
    34  return) allowable under this article.
    35    (4) The department shall include a place on every personal income  tax
    36  return  form to be filed by an individual for a tax year beginning on or
    37  after January first, two thousand twenty, for such taxpayer to make  the
    38  designations  described in paragraph one of this subsection. Such return
    39  form shall contain a concise explanation of the purpose of such optional
    40  designations.
    41    § 9.  Section 16-120 of the election law, as added  by  section  5  of
    42  part  E  of  chapter  399  of  the  laws  of 2011, is amended to read as
    43  follows:
    44    § 16-120. Enforcement proceedings. 1. The supreme court or  a  justice
    45  thereof, in a proceeding instituted by the state board of elections, may
    46  impose  a  civil penalty, as provided for in subdivisions one and two of
    47  section 14-126 of this chapter and as provided for in subdivision one of
    48  section 14-211 of this chapter.
    49    2. Upon proof that a violation of article fourteen of this chapter, as
    50  provided in subdivision one of this section, has occurred, the court may
    51  impose a civil penalty, pursuant to subdivisions one and two of  section
    52  14-126 of this chapter and pursuant to subdivision one of section 14-211
    53  of this chapter, after considering, among other factors, the severity of
    54  the violation or violations, whether the subject of the violation made a
    55  good  faith  effort  to correct the violation and whether the subject of
    56  the violation has a history of similar  violations.  All  such  determi-

        A. 11299--A                        14
     1  nations  shall  be  made on a fair and equitable basis without regard to
     2  the status of the candidate or political committee.
     3    3.  The supreme court or a justice thereof, in a proceeding to recover
     4  public funds instituted pursuant to subdivision two of section 14-211 of
     5  this chapter, may order the recovery of such public funds.
     6    § 10. Severability. If any clause, sentence,  subdivision,  paragraph,
     7  section  or part of title II of article 14 of the election law, as added
     8  by section five of this act be adjudged by any court of competent juris-
     9  diction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invali-
    10  date the remainder thereof, but shall be confined in  its  operation  to
    11  the  clause,  sentence,  subdivision, paragraph, section or part thereof
    12  directly involved in the controversy in which such judgment  shall  have
    13  been rendered.
    14    §  11.  This act shall take effect immediately; provided, however, all
    15  affected candidates will be eligible to participate in voluntary  public
    16  financing  beginning  with the 2020 election and provided, further, this
    17  act shall expire June 1, 2023 when upon such date the provisions of this
    18  act shall be deemed repealed.
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