N.Y. Legislative Law § 1-a: Legislative declaration

§ 1-a. Legislative declaration. The legislature hereby declares that

the operation of responsible democratic government requires that the

fullest opportunity be afforded to the people to petition their

government for the redress of grievances and to express freely to

appropriate officials their opinions on legislation and governmental

operations; and that, to preserve and maintain the integrity of the

governmental decision-making process in this state, it is necessary that

the identity, expenditures and activities of persons and organizations

retained, employed or designated to influence the passage or defeat of

any legislation by either house of the legislature or the approval, or

veto, of any legislation by the governor and attempts to influence the

adoption or rejection of any rule or regulation having the force and

effect of law or the outcome of any rate making proceeding by a state

agency, and the attempts to influence the passage or defeat of any local

law, ordinance, or regulation be publicly and regularly disclosed.