Bill Text: NY A04996 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires certain employees of charitable organizations to complete a course of instruction in the law and ethics of fundraising.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2020-01-08 - referred to governmental operations [A04996 Detail]
Download: New_York-2019-A04996-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW YORK ________________________________________________________________________ 4996 2019-2020 Regular Sessions IN ASSEMBLY February 6, 2019 ___________ Introduced by M. of A. GALEF, JAFFEE, D'URSO, MONTESANO, FRIEND, SEAWRIGHT -- read once and referred to the Committee on Governmental Operations AN ACT to amend the executive law, in relation to requiring certain employees of charitable organizations to complete a course of instruc- tion in the law and ethics of fundraising The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assem- bly, do enact as follows: 1 Section 1. Section 171-a of the executive law is amended by adding a 2 new subdivision 13 to read as follows: 3 13. "Acceptable course." Any classroom training or distance learning 4 course of instruction approved by the attorney general, in relation to 5 the law and ethics of fundraising and philanthropy in a manner that 6 shall include, but not be limited to, prohibited activities pursuant to 7 section one hundred seventy-two of this article, such as false state- 8 ments, fraudulent or illegal acts, false advertising, false solicita- 9 tion, and illegal contracting. Universities and colleges statewide, and 10 professional trade associations that establish professional standards 11 and provide training and resources for individuals engaging in profes- 12 sional fundraising, may offer an acceptable course and shall provide 13 documentation of completion to those who complete the course. 14 § 2. Section 172 of the executive law is amended by adding a new 15 subdivision 4-a to read as follows: 16 4-a. Any charitable organization, including any charitable organiza- 17 tion required to be registered pursuant to article eight of the estates, 18 powers and trusts law, required to register pursuant to this section, 19 and seventy-five percent of whose employees are responsible for the 20 hiring, training, or supervision of employees engaged in the fundraising 21 activities of the organization, group association, partnership or corpo- 22 ration, shall require any individual or individuals under which it 23 intends to solicit contributions named in accordance with paragraph (a) EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets [] is old law to be omitted. LBD06124-01-9A. 4996 2 1 of subdivision one of this section to complete an acceptable course of 2 instruction in the law and ethics of fundraising approved by the attor- 3 ney general within twelve months of completing such registration and at 4 least once in any five-year period of registration thereafter. Such 5 individuals shall provide documentation of such completion at the 6 request of the attorney general. The attorney general shall monitor 7 compliance with such mandated training and reporting on an ongoing 8 basis. 9 § 3. Section 173 of the executive law is amended by adding a new 10 subdivision 1-a to read as follows: 11 1-a. Any professional fundraiser or fundraising counsel required to 12 register pursuant to this section, including an organization, group, 13 association, partnership, corporation, or any combination thereof 14 required to register pursuant to this section, and seventy-five percent 15 of whose employees are responsible for the hiring, training, or super- 16 vision of employees engaged in the fundraising activities of the organ- 17 ization, group association, partnership or corporation, shall require 18 any individual or individuals under which it intends to solicit contrib- 19 utions to complete an acceptable course of instruction in the law and 20 ethics of fundraising approved by the attorney general within twelve 21 months of completing such registration and at least once in any five- 22 year period of registration thereafter. Such individuals or entities 23 shall verify on their re-registration form that they have completed such 24 course and shall provide documentation of such completion at the request 25 of the attorney general. The attorney general shall monitor compliance 26 with such mandated training and reporting on an ongoing basis. 27 § 4. Section 173-b of the executive law is amended by adding a new 28 subdivision 1-a to read as follows: 29 1-a. Any professional fundraiser, professional solicitor, or fundrais- 30 ing counsel which is an organization, group, association, partnership, 31 corporation, or any combination thereof required to register pursuant to 32 this section, and seventy-five percent of whose employees are responsi- 33 ble for the hiring, training, or supervision of employees engaged in the 34 fundraising activities of the organization, group association, partner- 35 ship or corporation, shall require any individual or individuals under 36 which it intends to solicit contributions to complete an acceptable 37 course of instruction in the law and ethics of fundraising approved by 38 the attorney general within twelve months of completing such registra- 39 tion and at least once in any five-year period of registration thereaft- 40 er. The attorney general shall monitor compliance with such mandated 41 training and reporting on an ongoing basis. 42 § 5. This act shall take effect on the one hundred twentieth day after 43 it shall have become a law. Effective immediately, the addition, amend- 44 ment and/or repeal of any rule or regulation necessary for the implemen- 45 tation of this act on its effective date are authorized to be made and 46 completed on or before such effective date.
