L.L. 2004/060

Enactment date: 12/15/2004

Int. No. 371-A

By Council Members Perkins, Barron, Gonzalez and Stewart

A Local Law to amend the charter and the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to application of contribution limits of the New York City Campaign Finance Program to all candidates for the offices of mayor, public advocate, comptroller, borough president, and member of the city council, and prohibiting candidates from accepting contributions, loans or security for such loans from corporations.

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Declaration of Legislative Intent and Findings.

The New York City Campaign Finance Act, adopted by the New York City Council in 1988, has succeeded in enhancing competition for elective municipal offices, limiting campaign contributions and expenditures to reasonable levels, and vastly increasing public information about the sources and uses of campaign funds.

The Council finds that amendments to the New York City Campaign Finance Act and the charter of the City of New York, will further the goals of this landmark legislation. By imposing the same contribution provisions of the Campaign Finance Act to those candidates for municipal office who elect not to participate in the Campaign Finance Program, without extending to such candidates the public financing provisions or the provisions limiting expenditures, the Council seeks to further strengthen the reform program that has been recognized as a national model. By ending the disparity in contribution limits faced by participating candidates opposed by non-participating candidates, these amendments further reduce the opportunity for wealthy special interests to exercise or appear to exercise undue influence over local elected officials in New York City.

This local law will also extend the existing ban on contributions from corporations to non-participating candidates, thus eliminating further disparities between participating and non-participating candidates and promoting a governmental interest in emphasizing contributions from individuals.

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[Consolidated provisions are not included in this Appendix A]

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§ 15. If any provision of this bill or any other provision of this local law, or any amendments thereto, shall be held invalid or ineffective in whole or in part or inapplicable to any person or situation, such holding shall not affect, impair or invalidate any portion of or the remainder of this local law, and all other provisions thereof shall nevertheless be separately and fully effective and the application of any such provision to other persons or situations shall not be affected.

§ 16. Sections 3 of this local law shall not have any effect on any adjustments made prior to the effective date of this law pursuant to subdivision 7 of section 3-703 of the administrative code.

§ 17. This local law shall become effective immediately.