Chapter 220
2019 -- H 6241 SUBSTITUTE A
Enacted 07/15/2019

A N   A C T
RELATING TO ELECTIONS - DECLARATIONS OF CANDIDACY

Introduced By: Representative Arthur J. Corvese
Date Introduced: June 21, 2019

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
     SECTION 1. Section 17-25-8 of the General Laws in Chapter 17-25 entitled "Rhode
Island Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting" is hereby amended to read as
follows:
     17-25-8. Appointment of campaign treasurer by candidate -- Filings.
     (a) Each candidate in an election shall file a "notice of organization" with the board of
elections and appoint one campaign treasurer before receiving any contribution or expending any
money in furtherance or aid of the candidate's candidacy. The "notice of organization" shall
include the name and address of the candidate, the campaign treasurer, and the committee being
established. The candidate shall declare the office being sought and shall comply with the
financial statement requirement of § 36-14-16(c).
     (b) A candidate may appoint deputy campaign treasurers as required. The candidate shall
file the names and addresses of deputy campaign treasurers with the board of elections.
     (c) A candidate may remove a campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer. In the
case of the death, resignation, or removal of a campaign treasurer, the candidate shall appoint a
successor as soon as practicable and shall file his or her name and address with the board of
elections within ten (10) days. A candidate may serve as his or her own campaign treasurer, and
upon failure to designate a treasurer, the candidate shall be designated his or her own treasurer by
the board of elections.
     SECTION 2. Section 36-14-16 of the General Laws in Chapter 36-14 entitled "Code of
Ethics" is hereby amended to read as follows:
     36-14-16. Financial statement to be filed.
     (a) On or before the last Friday in April of each year, the following officials and
employees subject to this code of ethics shall file with the commission a financial statement
complying with the requirements of this chapter.:
     (1) All state elected officials;
     (2) All state-appointed officials;
     (3) All state-appointed officials and employees who hold a major decision-making
position in a state agency;
     (4) All municipal elected officials; and
     (5) All municipal-appointed officials whose official duties and responsibilities include
exercising decision-making authority over the expenditure of more than fifty thousand dollars
($50,000) in public funds in any fiscal or calendar year, and expressly including solicitors and
assistant solicitors, police chiefs, fire chiefs, superintendents of schools, principals,
superintendents and administrators of charter schools, board members of charter schools,
principals, superintendents and administrators of state schools, board members of state schools,
building inspectors, members of planning boards, zoning boards, licensing boards and tax appeal
boards. This subsection shall also include all municipal-appointed officials whose official duties
and responsibilities include nominating, appointing, or hiring any persons that who will receive
compensation of more than fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) in public funds in any fiscal or
calendar year.
     (b) In the case of state- and municipal-appointed officials on and after January 1, 1988,
the appointee shall file the financial statement within thirty (30) days after the date of his or her
appointment or the date he or she qualifies for the office; provided, however, that in the case of
the appointment of officials that who require senate confirmation, the appointee shall file the
financial statement with the appropriate senate committee prior to the institution of those
confirmation proceedings.
     (c) Within thirty (30) days after the filing deadline, or within thirty (30) days after filing a
notice of organization or compliance with § 17-25-8, every person who is a candidate for an
office as an elected officer, except those candidates for moderator and clerk of a voting district of
the cities and towns, shall file the financial statement as required by this chapter. Filings of
candidates for general office shall include information as required in subdivision § 36-14-
17(b)(2). The commission shall grant an extension for good cause shown of not more than fifteen
(15) days, provided a request for the extension is received prior to the filing deadline for the
financial statement.
     (d) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, at least thirty (30) days before the
deadline date for the filing of a financial statement by each individual required to file, the
commission shall mail to the individual a copy of the financial statement form. In the case of
candidates other than those covered by subsection (f) of this section, the forms shall be mailed
within ten (10) days after the filing deadline date. In the case of appointed officers covered by this
section, the forms shall be mailed within seven (7) days after the date of the appointment.
     (e) If a person has filed a financial statement as required by one subsection of this section
covering the preceding calendar year, he or she is not required to file a financial statement as
required by another subsection if, before the deadline for filing under the other subsection, he or
she notifies the commission in writing that he or she has already filed a financial statement under
the subsection specified.
     (f) A person required to file a financial statement under subsection (a) of this section may
request the commission to grant an extension of time of not more than sixty (60) days for filing
the statement. The commission shall grant the extension of not more than sixty (60) days if the
request is received prior to the filing deadline or if a timely filing or request for extension is
prevented because of physical or mental incapacity. Not more than one extension may be given to
a person in one year except for good cause shown.
     (g) The deadline for filing any statement required by this section is 5:00 P.M. of the last
day designated in the pertinent subsection of this section for filing the statement. When the last
day of filing falls on a Saturday or Sunday or an official state holiday, the deadline for filing is
extended to 5:00 P.M. of the next day which is not a Saturday or Sunday or holiday. Any
statement required by any provision of this section to be filed within a specified time period shall
be deemed to be timely filed if it is placed in the United States post office or in the hands of a
common or contract carrier properly addressed to the appropriate authority within the time limits
applicable to the statement. The postmark or receipt mark (if received by a common or contract
carrier) will be prima facie evidence of the date that the statement was deposited with the post
office or carrier. The person filing the statement may show by competent evidence that the actual
date of posting was to the contrary.
     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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LC002890/SUB A
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