Relates to security expenses for candidates for and holders of elective office

S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
        ________________________________________________________________________

                                          10886

                                  I N  A S S E M B L Y

                                      April 8, 2026
                                       ___________

        Introduced by M. of A. WALKER -- read once and referred to the Committee
          on Election Law

        AN  ACT  to amend the election law, in relation to security expenses for
          candidates for and holders of elective office

          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 14-131
     2  to read as follows:
     3    § 14-131. USE OF CAMPAIGN FUNDS FOR SECURITY EXPENSES.    1.  CONTRIB-
     4  UTIONS  RECEIVED BY A CANDIDATE OR A POLITICAL COMMITTEE MAY BE EXPENDED
     5  FOR ANY SECURITY EXPENSE INCURRED TO ADDRESS ONGOING DANGERS AND THREATS
     6  TO SUCH CANDIDATE, THE CAMPAIGN STAFF FOR SUCH CANDIDATE, OR THE  CANDI-
     7  DATE'S  IMMEDIATE FAMILY RELATED TO THE STATUS OR ACTIVITIES AS A CANDI-
     8  DATE FOR ELECTIVE OFFICE OR HOLDER OF ELECTIVE OFFICE.
     9    2. SECURITY EXPENSES AUTHORIZED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL NOT:
    10    (A) BE PAID FROM PUBLIC MATCHING FUNDS PROVIDED PURSUANT TO TITLE  TWO
    11  OF THIS ARTICLE;
    12    (B) BE USED TO PURCHASE FIREARMS OR AMMUNITION; OR
    13    (C)  BE  DIRECTED TO ANY FAMILY MEMBER OF A CANDIDATE OR OFFICE HOLDER
    14  OR ENTITY OWNED OR CONTROLLED BY SUCH  CANDIDATE  OR  OFFICE  HOLDER  OR
    15  FAMILY MEMBER THEREOF.
    16    3.  ANY  CANDIDATE  OR  OFFICE  HOLDER MAY DETERMINE THAT THE SECURITY
    17  EXPENSE IS REASONABLE AND SHALL NOT REQUIRE A FINDING OR EVIDENCE  OF  A
    18  SPECIFIC DANGER OR THREAT OR VERIFICATION BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
    19    4.  ANY  SECURITY  EXPENSE  INCURRED PURSUANT TO THIS SECTION SHALL BE
    20  INCLUDED IN THE STATEMENTS REQUIRED TO BE FILED PURSUANT TO  THIS  ARTI-
    21  CLE.
    22    5.  THE  STATE  BOARD  OF  ELECTIONS  MAY ISSUE ADVISORY OPINIONS UPON
    23  REQUEST REGARDING THE ELIGIBILITY OF USE OF CONTRIBUTIONS  FOR  SECURITY
    24  EXPENDITURES.
    25    6. AS USED IN THIS SECTION:
    26    (A)  "SECURITY EXPENSE" MEANS ANY PURCHASE, INSTALLATION, MAINTENANCE,
    27  AND UPGRADE OF SECURITY MEASURES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO:

         EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                              [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                   LBD15421-01-6
        A. 10886                            2

     1    (I) NON-STRUCTURAL SECURITY DEVICES, SUCH AS SECURITY HARDWARE, LOCKS,
     2  ALARM SYSTEMS, MOTION DETECTORS, AND SECURITY CAMERA SYSTEMS;
     3    (II)  STRUCTURAL  SECURITY  DEVICES,  SUCH AS WIRING, LIGHTING, GATES,
     4  DOORS, AND FENCING INTENDED SOLELY TO PROVIDE SECURITY; SECURITY PERSON-
     5  NEL AND SERVICES THAT ARE BONA FIDE, LEGITIMATE, AND PROFESSIONAL;
     6    (III) CYBERSECURITY SOFTWARE, DEVICES, AND SERVICES; AND
     7    (IV) MONITORING AND OTHER SERVICES,  INCLUDING  MAINTENANCE,  DIRECTLY
     8  ASSOCIATED WITH SUCH NON-STRUCTURAL AND STRUCTURAL SECURITY DEVICES.
     9    (B) "IMMEDIATE FAMILY" MEANS A SPOUSE, REGISTERED DOMESTIC PARTNER, OR
    10  ANY  MINOR  CHILD  RESIDING  IN THE HOUSEHOLD OF THE CANDIDATE OR OFFICE
    11  HOLDER.
    12    7. THE STATE BOARD OF ELECTIONS IS AUTHORIZED TO PROMULGATE ANY  RULES
    13  OR REGULATIONS NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THIS SECTION.
    14    §  2.  This  act  shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall
    15  have become a law.