Political disbursements and obligations by corporations, cooperative associations, and labor organizations and the scope of regulated activity and reporting of certain activity under the campaign finance law

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

The bill also requires a special report by any campaign finance registrant who makes or incurs an obligation to make a mass communication that becomes reportable under the bill within 60 days of a primary or other election in an amount greater than $500 cumulatively since the date of the registrant's last report. The special report must be made within 24 hours after the date that disbursements or obligations that exceed $500 cumulatively are made or incurred and must include the information that would otherwise be reported on the registrant's next regular report in the form prescribed by Government Accountability Board.

Under current law, violators of registration and reporting requirements are subject to a forfeiture (civil penalty) 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 and persons who intentionally file false reports or statements may be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both, if the violation involves less than $100 in amount or value, and may be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned for not more than three years and six months, or both, if the violation involves more than $100 in amount or value.