BILL NUMBER: S564
SPONSOR: KRUEGER
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the election law, in relation to special restrictions on
campaign contributions for district attorney candidates
 
SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS:
Section 1 creates a new section of the election law, 14-114a, which
charges the Board of Elections with building a database of lawyers and
law firms who practice criminal defense law in New York State and caps
their contributions to candidates for district attorney at $320.
Section 2 sets the effective date
 
JUSTIFICATION:
District Attorneys are uniquely charged with the power to curtail an
individual's liberty. In order to do this job with the trust of the
public, a District Attorney must be free of even the implication of
corruption.
This bill will ensure that candidates for District Attorney are severely
limited in accepting campaign donations from the lawyers and law firms
who represent criminal defendants. Based on the New York City Campaign
Finance Board's model for borough-wide office, this bill will ensure
that defendants with deep pockets aren't afforded inappropriate access
to District Attorneys that all other New Yorkers lack.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
2023-24: S.591/No Same As Elections Comm.
2021-22: S.941/A.64 Quart Elections comm.
2019-20: S.2967/A.1340 Quart Elections comm.
2017-18: S.6946/A.8728 Quart Elections comm.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
Immediately