S 1677: Provides that entities soliciting a recurring contribution to a political campaign, political committee, party committee, or not-for-profit or for-profit entity shall receive the affirmative consent of the contributor at the time of arrangement of the recurring contribution; provides for refund of recurring contributions; provides penalties for violations.

  
  STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 1677 2025-2026 Regular Sessions  IN SENATE January 13, 2025 ___________ Introduced by Sen. SKOUFIS -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Elections AN ACT to amend the election law, in relation to recurring contributions solicited by a candidate, political campaign, political committee, party committee, or not-for-profit or for-profit entity The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. The election law is amended by adding a new section 2 14-114-a to read as follows: 3 § 14-114-a. Recurring contributions. 1. Any candidate, political 4 campaign, political committee, party committee, not-for-profit entity, 5 or for-profit entity soliciting a recurring contribution to a political 6 campaign, political committee, or party committee shall receive the 7 affirmative consent of the contributor to make a recurring contribution 8 at the time of the initial contribution. 9 2. No solicitation of a contribution, whether electronically or by 10 paper, shall provide for recurring contributions as the default contrib- 11 ution. Passive action by the contributor, such as failing to uncheck a 12 pre-checked box authorizing a recurring contribution, shall not meet the 13 requirements of affirmative consent under this section. 14 3. All solicitations for contributions as described in subdivision one 15 of this section shall state that such contribution may be cancelled by 16 the contributor at any time. 17 4. Any candidate, political campaign, political committee, party 18 committee, not-for-profit entity, or for-profit entity accepting a 19 recurring contribution shall: 20 a. provide the contributor with a receipt for the initial contribution 21 and each recurring contribution that clearly and conspicuously discloses 22 all material terms of the contribution within twenty-four hours of the 23 initial contribution and each recurring contribution; EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [ ] is old law to be omitted. LBD04649-01-5 
 S. 1677 2 1 b. provide the contributor with all information needed to cancel 2 recurring contributions in each communication with the contributor with 3 respect to the recurring contribution and any solicitation for addi- 4 tional contributions; and 5 c. immediately cancel recurring contributions upon request of the 6 contributor. 7 5. Any entity that violates the provisions of this section shall 8 return the entire amount of contributions made, less the initial 9 installment of the contribution, and pay a civil fine equal to five 10 times the amount of the contribution to be refunded or one thousand 11 dollars, whichever is greater. 12 § 2. This act shall take effect immediately.