SB 718

This bill makes the following changes related to campaign finance, as

recommended by the Ethics Commission:

1. Expands the definition of “conduit” to mean an entity that receives a

contribution, deposits the contribution in the entity's account, and then releases the

contribution to any committee at the direction of the contributor. Under current law,

the release of the contribution must be to a candidate committee, legislative

campaign committee, political party, or political action committee.

2. Provides that only a committee required to register and file with the Ethics

Commission must pay the $100 filing fee. Under current law, committees that are

required to register and file with a local filing officer must also pay the filing fee.

3. Provides that a campaign finance report contain an itemized statement of

all loans made to a committee. Current law does not require a committee to provide

an itemized statement on any loan that is $20 or less.

4. Increases the calendar year threshold for filing a statement of limited

activity to $2,500. Current law allows a committee, for campaign finance purposes,

to file a statement of limited activity if the committee does not anticipate accepting

or making contributions, making disbursements, or incurring obligations in an

aggregate amount exceeding $2,000 in a calendar year. Current law also exempts

such a committee from filing campaign finance reports for the applicable calendar

year. The bill clarifies the procedure for claiming that exemption.

5. Modifies the reporting requirement for late contributions so that

contributions received during the period beginning on the day that is 14 days prior

to a primary or election and ending on the day of the primary or election must be

reported within 72 hours of receipt. Current law requires a contribution received

later than 15 days prior to a primary or election to be reported within 72 hours of

receipt.

6. Clarifies the reporting requirements for a person who spends $2,500 or more

on express advocacy within 60 days from the date of a primary or election.

7. Modifies the periods during which the contribution limits apply. For

example, for a candidate seeking reelection at the general election to the office that

the candidate holds, the limits apply from the January 1 immediately after the

candidate is elected to his or her current term to the December 31 immediately after

a successor is elected or the incumbent is reelected. For a candidate seeking

reelection at the spring election to the office that the candidate holds, the limits apply

from the July 1 immediately after the candidate is elected to his or her current term

of office to the June 30 immediately after a successor is elected or the incumbent is

reelected. Current law merely states that for an individual who is a candidate for

an office that the individual holds the limits apply during the term of that office.

8. Eliminates the requirement that a committee report any donation to a

charitable organization or the common school fund no later than five days after