Relates to the disposition of campaign funds raised by an elected official who has been convicted of a crime committed while in public office or has been impeached and has been convicted, or has resigned public office following findings by either the attorney general or a committee of the legislature that the official has violated the law.
Summary
This bill amends New York election law to restrict how campaign funds may be used by certain former elected officials who leave office under serious misconduct circumstances. Specifically, it applies to an elected official who was convicted of a crime committed while in office, impeached and convicted, or who resigned after findings by the attorney general or a legislative committee that the official violated the law. Under the bill, such a person may not use campaign funds raised while holding that office to support any candidate for public office or any issue in a New York campaign.
The bill also requires those campaign funds to be disposed of within two years of conviction or resignation. Permitted disposal methods include prorated refunds to contributors, donations to qualified 501(c)(3) charities, donations to SUNY or CUNY, or transfer to the state general fund. The measure preserves the ability of the former officeholder to raise and spend money through a new political account that did not exist while they held office, unless another legal penalty bars that activity. It also clarifies that authorized committees may not use campaign funds for personal use in these circumstances.
Impact
The bill would expand Election Law section 14-132 by adding a new category of disqualified former officeholders and by imposing mandatory rules for the disposition of their campaign funds. It would affect elected officials, their authorized political committees, contributors, and recipient institutions such as charities, SUNY, CUNY, and the state general fund. The measure reinforces existing restrictions on personal use of campaign funds and adds a specific post-conviction/post-resignation framework for handling leftover funds tied to misconduct in office.
Sentiment
The available record shows no committee transcript or recorded votes, so there is no documented floor debate or roll-call sentiment to assess. Based on the bill’s text and caption, the measure appears to be framed as an ethics and accountability reform aimed at preventing misuse of campaign resources after official misconduct. The overall posture of the bill is punitive toward officials who have been found to have violated the law, while still allowing lawful political activity through separate accounts.
Contention
The main points of contention likely concern due process, the scope of officials covered, and the treatment of campaign funds already raised. The bill reaches not only officials convicted of crimes or impeached and convicted, but also those who resigned after findings by the attorney general or a legislative committee, which could raise concerns about how those findings are made and whether they should trigger financial penalties. Another possible issue is the mandatory disposition of funds within two years and the choice among refunds, charitable donations, educational institutions, or the state general fund, which may be viewed differently by reform advocates, donors, and affected officeholders.