2016 -- H 7147

========

LC003699

========

     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

____________

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - CAMPAIGN FINANCE

     Introduced By: Representatives Edwards, Canario, Messier, Hearn, and Newberry

     Date Introduced: January 13, 2016

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Section 17-25-7 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-25 entitled "Rhode

Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting" is hereby amended to read as

follows:

     17-25-7. Contents of reports to be filed by treasurers of candidates and committees.

-- (a) Each campaign treasurer of a candidate, each state and municipal committee of a political

party, and each political action committee shall keep accurate records and make a full report,

upon a form prescribed by the board of elections, of all contributions received and expenditures

made by it in excess of a total of one hundred dollars ($100) from any one source within a

calendar year, in furtherance of the nomination, election, or defeat of any candidate or the

approval or rejection of any question submitted to the voters, or at any financial town meeting,

financial town referendum, or other election at which amendments to a city or town charter are

proposed, during the period from the date of the last report, or in the case of the initial report,

beginning on the date of the appointment of the campaign treasurer for state and municipal

committees and political action committees and on the date a person becomes a "candidate" as

defined in § 17-25-3(2) for individual candidates. The report shall contain the name, address and

place of employment of each person or source from whom the contributions and expenditures in

excess of one hundred dollars ($100) were received or made and the amount contributed or

expended by each person or source. The report shall be filed with the board of elections on the

dates designated in § 17-25-11. The campaign treasurer of the candidate, or committee reporting,

shall certify to the correctness of each report. This Notwithstanding any other provisions

contained in this title, this subsection shall apply to any person or entity advocating the approval

or rejection of any question presented to voters at any financial town meeting, financial town

referendum or other election at which amendments to a city or town charter are proposed, which

shall file reports of contributions or expenditures every seven (7) days if the total of the money so

expended exceeds one hundred dollars ($100) in a calendar year. notwithstanding any other

provisions contained in this title. As used in this subsection, the word "entity" means any political

action committee, political party committee, authorized campaign committee of a candidate or

officer holder, corporation, whether for profit, not-for-profit, or exempt nonprofit pursuant to 26

U.S.C.§501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, domestic corporation or foreign corporation, as

defined in §7-1.2-106, financial institution, cooperative, association, receivership, partnership,

committee, union, charity, trust, holding company, firm, joint stock company, public utility, sole

proprietorship, limited partnership, or any other entity recognized by the laws of the United States

and/or the state of Rhode Island.

     (b) Each state and municipal committee of a political party shall also file with the board

of elections, not later than March 1 of each year, an annual report setting forth in the aggregate all

contributions received and all expenditures made during the previous calendar year, whether or

not these expenditures were made, incurred, or authorized in furtherance of the election or defeat

of any candidate. The treasurer of the committee or organization reporting shall certify to the

correctness of each report.

      (c) Any report filed pursuant to the provisions of this section shall include contributions

received from any "testimonial affair", as defined in § 17-25-3, held since the date of the most

recent report filed.

     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

========

LC003699

========

LC003699 - Page 2 of 3

EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - CAMPAIGN FINANCE

***

     This act would clarify the definition of the term "entity" for purposes of campaign

finance as it pertains to advocating for the approval or rejection of any question presented to

voters at a financial town meeting, financial town referendum, or local election involving charter

amendments. The act would include business entities, political action committees, persons and

exempt nonprofits in the definition of an "entity".

     This act would take effect upon passage.

========

LC003699

========

LC003699 - Page 3 of 3