S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
       ________________________________________________________________________
                                         2925
                              2013-2014 Regular Sessions
                                 I N  A S S E M B L Y
                                   January 22, 2013
                                      ___________
       Introduced by M. of A. WRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee
         on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions
       AN  ACT  to amend the public authorities law, in relation to prohibiting
         the use of authority funds and property to influence the outcome of an
         election
         THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND  ASSEM-
       BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
    1    Section  1.  The  public  authorities  law  is amended by adding a new
    2  section 2890-a to read as follows:
    3    S 2890-A.  USE OF AUTHORITY FUNDS AND PROPERTY PROHIBITED FOR  CERTAIN
    4  PURPOSES.  NO MEMBER OF AN AUTHORITY OR COMMISSION, HERETOFORE AND HERE-
    5  AFTER  CONTINUED  OR  CREATED  BY  THIS  CHAPTER, OR OFFICER OR EMPLOYEE
    6  THEREOF, SHALL USE OR AUTHORIZE THE USE OF AUTHORITY FUNDS  OR  PROPERTY
    7  FOR THE PURPOSE OF INFLUENCING THE VOTE OR POLITICAL ACTION OF ANY CITI-
    8  ZEN  OR  AUTHORITY  EMPLOYEE  IN  RELATION  TO NOMINATION OR ELECTION TO
    9  PUBLIC OR PARTY OFFICE, OR THE OUTCOME OF ANY CONSTITUTIONAL  AMENDMENT,
   10  PROPOSITION  OR  OTHER QUESTION SUBMITTED TO THE VOTERS AT ANY ELECTION.
   11  NOTHING HEREIN SHALL, HOWEVER, RESTRICT THE RIGHT OF  THE  AUTHORITY  OR
   12  COMMISSION  TO  SELL ADVERTISING SPACE IF SUCH SPACE IS CUSTOMARILY SOLD
   13  FOR ADVERTISING PURPOSES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, NOR RESTRICT  THE  RIGHT
   14  OF  THE  AUTHORITY  TO  RENT PHYSICAL SPACE IF SUCH SPACE IS CUSTOMARILY
   15  RENTED OR TO MAKE SPACE AVAILABLE AT NO COST IF SUCH SPACE IS  CUSTOMAR-
   16  ILY  MADE  AVAILABLE AT NO COST. NOTHING HEREIN SHALL GIVE THE AUTHORITY
   17  THE RIGHT TO PREVENT LAWFUL PUBLIC ASSEMBLY  ON  AUTHORITY  PROPERTY  IF
   18  SUCH  PROPERTY  OR  PORTION THEREOF IS CUSTOMARILY OPEN TO THE PUBLIC OR
   19  QUALIFIES AS PUBLIC FORUM SPACE.
   20    S 2.   This act shall take effect  on  the  first  of  September  next
   21  succeeding the date on which it shall have become a law.
        EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                             [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                                  LBD00741-01-3