BILL NUMBER: S1934

SPONSOR: RANZENHOFER
 
TITLE OF BILL:

An act to amend the election law, in relation to contribution limits for
parties appointed to public positions

 
PURPOSE:

To bar contributions from persons appointed to public boards and author-
ities and their families from making political donations.

 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:

Section 1 amends the Election Law to add a new section 14115. This
section provides that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no
person, relative of such person, as defined in the section, or company
in which such person has a ten percent or more interest, who is or has
during the past two years been appointed to a position on any state or
local board or authority within the state may make any political
              

contribution to any state constituted party or committee or any candi-
date or candidate committee for any office of the state, municipal or
other local government.

Section 2 Effective date.

 
JUSTIFICATION:

For many years, some persons who have been appointed to public boards or
authorities have made substantial political donations both before and
after their appointment. Persons appointed to public boards and authori-
ties often receive significant payment for serving on these boards and
authorities, and often control how and to whom large sums of public
money are spent. There are rules requiring disclosure of conflicts of
interest, but there remains the perception of possible impropriety when
persons appointed to these powerful positions donate, either personally
or through their families and businesses, to those who appointed them or
who may be affiliated with the appointing persons. The Governor has an
executive order that applies only to his office, but it does not hold
the same permanence as a law, and does not apply broadly to all boards
and authorities and other elected offices.

The simple and clear ban provided for in this bill is an unambiguous
rule that all parties can understand and allows all parties to avoid
criticism or the appearance of impropriety.

 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:

2018 - S.8037 -- ELECTIONS

 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:

None.

 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act will take effect 180 days after it shall have become law.