Political disbursements by corporations and cooperative associations and the scope of regulated activity under the campaign finance law

, Case No. 08-205 (2010).

This bill deletes the current prohibition on disbursements by corporations and cooperatives. The bill provides, however, that before a corporation or cooperative may make a disbursement or incur an obligation to make a disbursement for the purpose of influencing an election for state or local office, the corporation or cooperative must file with its registration statement and maintain on file with the appropriate filing officer or agency: 1) a copy of a document that is satisfactory to the Government Accountability Board, reflecting action taken not more than two years previous to the time that any disbursement is made or any obligation to make a disbursement is incurred, demonstrating that the corporation or cooperative has received the approval of a majority of its voting shares or members who are entitled to elect the board of directors for the corporation or cooperative to make disbursements and incur obligations to make disbursements for the purpose of influencing an election for state or local office; or 2) a statement that the corporation or cooperative has no shareholders or members.

Currently, individuals who accept contributions, organizations that make or accept contributions, and individuals who or organizations that incur obligations or make disbursements for the purpose of influencing an election for state or local office are generally required to register with the appropriate filing officer and to file financial reports with that officer, regardless of whether they act in conjunction with or independently of any candidate who is supported or opposed.

With certain exceptions, this bill imposes registration and reporting requirements, in addition, upon any individual who and organization that, within 60 days of an election and by means of communications media, makes any communication that includes a reference to a candidate at that election, an office to be filled at that election, or a political party. The bill also requires an individual who or organization that becomes subject to a registration requirement by making such a communication to report, upon registration, the information that would have been required to be reported if the individual or organization had been registered with respect to any obligation incurred or disbursement made for the purpose of making such a communication prior to registration. The bill, however, does not require registration and reporting if the communication is made by a corporation, cooperative, or nonpolitical voluntary association and is limited to the corporation's, cooperative's, or association's members, shareholders, or subscribers.

The change in the scope of reportable activity under the bill also applies to contribution and disbursement limitations and restrictions by causing reportable "contributions," "obligations," and "disbursements" to include the cost of all reportable communications.

Violators of registration and reporting requirements or the prohibition created by the bill are subject to a forfeiture of not more than $500 for each violation. In addition, any person who is delinquent in filing a report is subject to a forfeiture of not more than $50 or 1 percent of the annual salary of the office for which a candidate is being supported or opposed, whichever is greater, for each day of delinquency.

Intentional violators of the registration requirements or the prohibition created by the bill are guilty of a Class I felony and may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than three years and six months, or both. Persons who intentionally file false reports or statements are guilty of a Class I felony if the violation exceeds $100 in amount or value and may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, if the violation does not exceed $100 in amount or value.

The bill also provides that no owner, officer, employee, or agent of a corporation or cooperative may cause or authorize the corporation or cooperative to make a disbursement or to incur an obligation that is prohibited under the bill. Under the bill, if an owner, officer, employee, or agent causes or authorizes a violation, action must be brought against the owner, officer, employee, or agent personally and the corporation or cooperative is not financially liable for the violation. In addition, no corporation or cooperative is permitted to reimburse an owner, officer, employee, or agent for any financial liability incurred by the owner, officer, employee, or agent.