2015 -- H 5920

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LC002158

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND

EXPENDITURES REPORTING

     Introduced By: Representatives Hearn, Marcello, Serpa, Fellela, and Nunes

     Date Introduced: March 18, 2015

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Chapter 17-25 of the General Laws entitled "Rhode Island Campaign

Contributions and Expenditures Reporting" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following

section:

     17-25-11.2. Requirements for appointment of a treasurer or deputy treasurer -

Examination and certification of accounts. -- (a) Appointment of treasurer or deputy treasurer.

Whenever a campaign account containing campaign funds received and expended by a candidate,

office holder, or treasurer, subject to the provisions of this chapter, receives or expends at least

twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) in any year, the account shall require the appointment of a

treasurer or deputy treasurer, who shall be a person other than the candidate. For such accounts, a

candidate may remain as either a treasurer or deputy treasurer on his or her campaign account;

provided, the treasurer or deputy treasurer who is not the candidate shall examine all campaign

account records and shall certify to the substantial accuracy of the campaign finance report at the

time of filing with the board of elections, on a form to be prepared by the board of elections.

     (b) Applicability to political action committees. The provisions of this section as to

examination and certification shall be applicable to political action committees.

     (c) Effective date. The provisions of this section shall take effect on January 1, 2016.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect on January 1, 2016.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND

EXPENDITURES REPORTING

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     This act would require appointment of a treasurer or deputy treasurer other than the

candidate, once a campaign account reaches or expends at least twenty-five thousand dollars

($25,000) in any year. This act also requires the treasurer or deputy treasurer to examine and

certify the substantial accuracy of campaign finance reports filed with the board of elections. The

examination and certification provisions would also apply to political action committees.

     This act would take effect on January 1, 2016.

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LC002158

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