2019 -- H 5727

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LC001111

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO ELECTIONS - PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

     

     Introduced By: Representatives Tanzi, Craven, Fogarty, Bennett, and Barros

     Date Introduced: February 27, 2019

     Referred To: House Judiciary

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 17-4 of the General Laws entitled "Federal Elective Officers" is

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hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     17-4-13. Disclosure of federal income tax returns.

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     (a) Not later than fifty (50) days before a general presidential election all candidates for

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president or vice president shall:

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     (1) File with the state board of elections a copy of their federal income tax returns as

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defined in 26 U.S.C. ยง 6103(b)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, for at least the five (5)

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most recent taxable years for which a return has been filed with the Internal Revenue Service; and

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     (2) Provide written consent to the state board of elections in such form as shall be

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prescribed by the state board of elections for the public disclosure of such returns pursuant to this

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section.

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     (b) Federal income tax returns filed with the state board of elections pursuant to this

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section shall be made publicly available on the board's website no later than seven (7) days after

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such filed income tax returns have been filed subject to redaction as authorized by subsection (c)

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of this section.

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     (c) Prior to making any federal income tax returns public, the state board of elections

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shall redact such information contained in the returns as deemed needed in consultation with the

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state tax administrator and state director of revenue as deemed needed.

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     (d) Presidential candidates who fail to comply with the disclosure regulations of this

 

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section shall not appear on the official general election ballot.

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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 - PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES

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     This act would require all candidates for United States President and Vice President file

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copies of their last five (5) years of federal income tax returns with the state board of elections no

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later than fifty (50) days prior to the general election. The board would redact the returns as

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needed and would post the returns on its website.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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