Committee on Governmental Operations, State & Federal Legislation

This bill would prohibit a public servant who is a candidate for elective office from appearing or otherwise participating in any third-party public communications, including social media posts, using governmental resources during the 90-day period prior to an election.

This bill would prohibit a public servant who is a candidate for elective office from appearing or otherwise participating in any third-party public communications, including social media posts, using governmental resources during the 90-day period prior to an election.

This bill would require any public servant that uses or authorizes the use of governmental funds or resources for a third-party public communication to report certain information regarding such communication to the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) within 60 days. Third-party public communications would include any content posted on an internet website, digital application, or social media platform where the author of the content is not a public servant or city agency, or the author is not clearly identified as a public servant or city agency. On a quarterly basis during an election year and twice a year during a non-election year, DORIS would be required to report to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council, and post on the NYC Open Data portal, all information reported to it regarding the third-party public communications.

This bill would require any public servant that uses or authorizes the use of governmental funds or resources for a third-party public communication to report certain information regarding such communication to the Department of Records and Information Services (DORIS) within 60 days. Third-party public communications would include any content posted on an internet website, digital application, or social media platform where the author of the content is not a public servant or city agency, or the author is not clearly identified as a public servant or city agency. On a quarterly basis during an election year and twice a year during a non-election year, DORIS would be required to report to the Mayor and the Speaker of the Council, and post on the NYC Open Data portal, all information reported to it regarding the third-party public communications.

This bill would prohibit any public servant from using or authorizing the use of governmental funds or resources for third-party public communications unless the communication includes a disclosure. Third-party public communications would include any content posted on an internet website, digital application, or social media platform where the author of the content is not a public servant or agency, or the author is not clearly identified as a public servant or agency. Required disclosures would need to include the language “Paid Partnership with” followed by “the City of New York” or the name of the associated agency. This bill would make an intentional or knowing violation of this requirement by a public servant punishable as a misdemeanor. The Campaign Finance Board and the Conflicts of Interest Board would also have the power to investigate potential violations and assess civil penalties.

This bill would prohibit any public servant from using or authorizing the use of governmental funds or resources for third-party public communications unless the communication includes a disclosure. Third-party public communications would include any content posted on an internet website, digital application, or social media platform where the author of the content is not a public servant or agency, or the author is not clearly identified as a public servant or agency. Required disclosures would need to include the language “Paid Partnership with” followed by “the City of New York” or the name of the associated agency. This bill would make an intentional or knowing violation of this requirement by a public servant punishable as a misdemeanor. The Campaign Finance Board and the Conflicts of Interest Board would also have the power to investigate potential violations and assess civil penalties.

This bill would require in-message “paid for by” disclosures in content posted on internet websites, digital applications, and social media platforms whenever such content is (i) paid for by a campaign or (ii) in support of or in opposition to a candidate or ballot measure and paid for by an independent spender that is required to report its expenditures to the Campaign Finance Board (CFB). The CFB would also be required to issue guidance regarding the disclosure, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements applicable to content posted on internet websites, digital applications, and social media platforms, including content posted by paid third parties.

This bill would require in-message “paid for by” disclosures in content posted on internet websites, digital applications, and social media platforms whenever such content is (i) paid for by a campaign or (ii) in support of or in opposition to a candidate or ballot measure and paid for by an independent spender that is required to report its expenditures to the Campaign Finance Board (CFB). The CFB would also be required to issue guidance regarding the disclosure, recordkeeping, and reporting requirements applicable to content posted on internet websites, digital applications, and social media platforms, including content posted by paid third parties.