2016 -- H 7147

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LC003699

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2016

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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:

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

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

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follows:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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and/or the state of Rhode Island.

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

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

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

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

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

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correctness of each report.

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

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

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recent report filed.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - CAMPAIGN FINANCE

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

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

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

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

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exempt nonprofits in the definition of an "entity".

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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