Resolution Information
RESOLUTION TEXT +-
Referred to: The Laws and Rules, Governmental Services Committee (Chairman
Roberts and Legislators Donaldson, Haynes, Heppner, and James Maloney)
Legislators Brian Woltman and Kathy Nolan offer the following:
WHEREAS, by Resolution No. 24 dated February 13, 2018, the Ulster
County Legislature established a policy to prohibit the use of public funds to place
the likeness or name of elected officials on public service announcements, noncommercial and non-political advertising by Ulster County; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 24 does not provide officials with clear standards
of enforcement, leaving officials to make judgments on a subjective basis; and
WHEREAS, Resolution No. 24 potentially conflicts with State of New York
Public Officers Law §73-b which provides:
1. As used in this section:
(a) “Political subdivision” shall mean a county, city, town, village or district within the state.
(b) “Public authority” shall mean a public authority or public benefit corporation created by or
existing under any law of the state, at least one of whose members is appointed by the governor
(including any subsidiaries of such public authority or public benefit corporation), other than an
interstate or international authority or public benefit corporation.
(c) “Appear” or “appears” shall mean to appear by likeness, picture or voice.
(d) “Candidate” shall have the meaning set forth in section 14-100 of the election law .
2. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary,
(a) no elected government official or candidate for elected local, state or federal office shall
knowingly appear in any advertisement or promotion, including public or community service
announcements, published or broadcast through any print or electronic media (including
television, radio and internet) by any private or commercial entity or any other entity that
publishes such advertisement for a fee, if the advertisement or promotion is paid for or produced in
whole or in part with funds of the state, a political subdivision thereof or a public authority.
(b) No person shall knowingly use the funds of the state, a political subdivision thereof or public
authority to pay for or produce, in whole or in part, any advertisement or promotion that is
prohibited by paragraph (a) of this subdivision. This prohibition shall not apply to otherwise
lawful expenditures of public campaign funds specifically provided for under state, federal or local
law.
3. Any person who violates the provisions of this section shall be liable for a civil penalty of not
less than one thousand dollars nor more than five thousand dollars. The penalties prescribed by
this subdivision may be recovered in a civil action brought by the attorney general.
; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, Resolution No. 24 of 2018 is hereby REPEALED, effective
immediately; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that in order to be in compliance with state law, elected officers
of the County of Ulster immediately recommence following Section 73-b of the
Public Officers Law,
and move its adoption.
ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:
AYES: NOES:
Postponed in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on August 13,
2018
Postponed in Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on September 17,
2018
Passed Committee: Laws and Rules, Governmental Services on ____________.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
NONE
Current Text: PDF
Updated: February 4, 2019
Votes on this Resolution
yes no abstained no voteCommittee Vote To Postpone Resolution No. 324.1
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