Text: SSB03073 Text: SSB03075 Text: SSB03000 - SSB03099 Text: SSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
PAG LIN 1 1 Section 1. Section 56.2, subsection 5, Code 2001, is 1 2 amended to read as follows: 1 3 5. "Candidate's committee" means the committee designated 1 4 by the candidate for a state, county, city, or school office 1 5 to receive contributions in excess offiveseven hundred fifty 1 6 dollars in the aggregate, expend funds in excess offiveseven 1 7 hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate, or incur indebtedness 1 8 on behalf of the candidate in excess offiveseven hundred 1 9 fifty dollars in the aggregate in any calendar year. 1 10 Sec. 2. Section 56.2, subsection 18, Code 2001, is amended 1 11 to read as follows: 1 12 18. "Political committee" means either of the following: 1 13 a. A committee, but not a candidate's committee, that 1 14 accepts contributions in excess offiveseven hundred fifty 1 15 dollars in the aggregate, makes expenditures in excess offive1 16 seven hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate, or incurs 1 17 indebtedness in excess offiveseven hundred fifty dollars in 1 18 the aggregate in any one calendar year to expressly advocate 1 19 the nomination, election, or defeat of a candidate for public 1 20 office, or to expressly advocate the passage or defeat of a 1 21 ballot issue. 1 22 b. An association, lodge, society, cooperative, union, 1 23 fraternity, sorority, educational institution, civic 1 24 organization, labor organization, religious organization, or 1 25 professional organization that accepts contributions in excess 1 26 offiveseven hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate, makes 1 27 expenditures in excess offiveseven hundred fifty dollars in 1 28 the aggregate, or incurs indebtedness in excess offiveseven 1 29 hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate in any one calendar 1 30 year to expressly advocate the nomination, election, or defeat 1 31 of a candidate for public office, or to expressly advocate the 1 32 passage or defeat of a ballot issue. 1 33 Sec. 3. Section 56.4, Code 2001, is amended by striking 1 34 the section and inserting in lieu thereof the following: 1 35 56.4 REPORTS FILED WITH BOARD. 2 1 1. All statements and reports required to be filed under 2 2 this chapter shall be filed with the board. The board shall 2 3 provide copies of all statements and reports filed under this 2 4 chapter for a county, city, school, or other political 2 5 subdivision with the commissioner responsible under section 2 6 47.2. 2 7 2. The board shall retain filed statements and reports for 2 8 at least five years from the date of the election in which the 2 9 committee is involved, or at least five years from the 2 10 certified date of dissolution of the committee, whichever date 2 11 is later. 2 12 3. The commissioner shall retain statements and reports 2 13 provided by the board for a county, city, school, or other 2 14 political subdivision for at least three years from the date 2 15 of the election in which the committee is involved. However, 2 16 statements and reports provided by the board for county 2 17 statutory political committees shall be retained for five 2 18 years from the date of the election in which the committee is 2 19 involved. 2 20 4. Political committees expressly advocating the 2 21 nomination, election, or defeat of candidates for both federal 2 22 office and any elected office created by law or the 2 23 Constitution of the State of Iowa shall file statements and 2 24 reports with the board in addition to any federal reports 2 25 required to be filed with the board. However, a political 2 26 committee that is registered and filing full disclosure 2 27 reports of all financial activities with the federal election 2 28 commission may file verified statements as provided in section 2 29 56.5. 2 30 Sec. 4. Section 56.5, subsection 2, paragraph f, Code 2 31 2001, is amended to read as follows: 2 32 f. A signed statement by the treasurer of the committee 2 33 and the candidate, in the case of a candidate's committee, 2 34 which shall verify that they are aware of the requirement to 2 35 file disclosure reports if the committee, the committee 3 1 officers, the candidate, or both the committee officers and 3 2 the candidate receive contributions in excess offiveseven 3 3 hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate, make expenditures in 3 4 excess offiveseven hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate, 3 5 or incur indebtedness in excess offiveseven hundred fifty 3 6 dollars in the aggregate in a calendar year to expressly 3 7 advocate the nomination, election, or defeat of any candidate 3 8 for public office. In the case of political committees, 3 9 statements shall be made by the treasurer of the committee and 3 10 the chairperson. 3 11 Sec. 5. Section 56.5, subsection 5, Code 2001, is amended 3 12 to read as follows: 3 13 5. A committee or organization not organized as a 3 14 committee under this section which makes a contribution to a 3 15 candidate's committee or political committee organized in Iowa 3 16 shall disclose each contribution to the board. A committee or 3 17 organization not organized as a committee under this section 3 18 which is not registered and filing full disclosure reports of 3 19 all financial activities with the federal election commission 3 20 or another state's disclosure commission shall register and 3 21 file full disclosure reports with the board pursuant to this 3 22 chapter, and shall either appoint an eligible Iowa elector as 3 23 committee or organization treasurer, or shall maintain all 3 24 committee funds in an account in a financial institution 3 25 located in Iowa. A committee which is currently filing a 3 26 disclosure report in another jurisdiction shall either file a 3 27 statement of organization under subsections 1 and 2 and file 3 28 disclosure reports, the same as those required of committees 3 29 organized only in Iowa, under section 56.6, or shall file one 3 30 copy of a verified statement with the board and a second copy 3 31 with the treasurer of the committee receiving the 3 32 contribution. The form shall be completed and filed at the 3 33 time the contribution is made. The verified statement shall 3 34 be on forms prescribed by the board and shall attest that the 3 35 committee is filing reports with the federal election 4 1 commission or in a jurisdiction with reporting requirements 4 2 which are substantially similar to those of this chapter, and 4 3 that the contribution is made from an account which does not 4 4 accept contributions which would be in violation of section 4 5 56.15. The form shall include the complete name, address, and 4 6 telephone number of the contributing committee, the state or 4 7 federal jurisdiction under which it is registered or operates, 4 8 the identification of any parent entity or other affiliates or 4 9 sponsors, its purpose, the name,and address, and signatureof 4 10 an Iowa resident authorized to receive service of original 4 11 notice and the name and address of the receiving committee, 4 12 the amount of the cash or in-kind contribution, and the date 4 13 the contribution was made. 4 14 Sec. 6. Section 56.5A, subsection 1, Code 2001, is amended 4 15 to read as follows: 4 16 1. Each candidate for state, county, city, or school 4 17 office shall organize one, and only one, candidate's committee 4 18 for a specific office sought when the candidate receives 4 19 contributions in excess offiveseven hundred fifty dollars in 4 20 the aggregate, makes expenditures in excess offiveseven 4 21 hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate, or incurs indebtedness 4 22 in excess offiveseven hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate 4 23 in a calendar year. 4 24 Sec. 7. Section 56.6, subsection 1, paragraph a, Code 4 25 2001, is amended to read as follows: 4 26 a. Each treasurer of a committee shall file with the board 4 27or commissionerdisclosure reports of contributions received 4 28 and disbursed on forms prescribed by rules as provided by 4 29 chapter 17A. The reports from all committees, except those 4 30 committees for municipal and school elective offices and for 4 31 local ballot issues, shall be filed on the nineteenth day or 4 32 mailed bearing a United States postal service postmark dated 4 33 on or before the nineteenth day of January, May, July, and 4 34 October of each year. The May, July, and October reports 4 35 shall be current as of five days prior to the filing deadline. 5 1 The January report shall be the annual report covering 5 2 activity through December 31. However, a state, county, or 5 3 city statutory political committee is not required to file the 5 4 May and July reports for a year in which no primary or general 5 5 election is held at the respective state, county, or city 5 6 level. A candidate's committee, other than for municipal and 5 7 school elective offices, for a year in which the candidate is 5 8 not standing for election, is not required to file the May, 5 9 July, and October reports. Reports for committees for a 5 10 ballot issue placed before the voters of the entire state 5 11 shall be filed at the January, May, July, and October 5 12 deadlines. 5 13 Sec. 8. Section 56.6, subsection 2, Code 2001, is amended 5 14 to read as follows: 5 15 2. If any committee, after having filed a statement of 5 16 organization or one or more disclosure reports, dissolves or 5 17 determines that it shall no longer receive contributions or 5 18 make disbursements, the treasurer of the committee shall 5 19 notify the boardor the commissionerwithin thirty days 5 20 following such dissolution by filing a dissolution report on 5 21 forms prescribed by the board. Moneys refunded in accordance 5 22 with a dissolution statement shall be considered a 5 23 disbursement or expense but the names of persons receiving 5 24 refunds need not be released or reported unless the 5 25 contributors' names were required to be reported when the 5 26 contribution was received. 5 27 Sec. 9. Section 56.13, Code 2001, is amended to read as 5 28 follows: 5 29 56.13 INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES. 5 30 1. Action involving a contribution or expenditurewhich5 31 that must be reported under this chapter andwhichthat is 5 32 taken by any person, candidate's committee, or political 5 33 committee on behalf of a candidate, if known and approved by 5 34 the candidate, shall be deemed action by the candidate and 5 35 reported by the candidate's committee. It shall be presumed 6 1 that a candidate approves the action if the candidate had 6 2 knowledge of it and failed to file a statement of disavowal 6 3 with thecommissioner orboard and take corrective action 6 4 within seventy-two hours of the action. A person, candidate's 6 5 committee, or political committee taking such action 6 6 independently of that candidate's committee shall notify that 6 7 candidate's committee in writing within twenty-four hours of 6 8 taking the action. The notification shall provide that 6 9 candidate's committee with the cost of the promotion at fair 6 10 market value. A copy of the notification shall be sent to the 6 11 board. 6 12 Any person who makes expenditures or incurs indebtedness, 6 13 other than incidental expenses incurred in performing 6 14 volunteer work, to expressly advocate the nomination, 6 15 election, or defeat of a candidate for public office shall 6 16 notify the appropriate committee and provide necessary 6 17 information for disclosure reports. 6 18 2. If a person, other than a political committee, makes 6 19 one or more expenditures in excess offiveseven hundred fifty 6 20 dollars in the aggregate, or incurs indebtedness in excess of 6 21fiveseven hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate, in any one 6 22 calendar year to expressly advocate the passage or defeat of a 6 23 ballot issue, the person shall file a statement of activity 6 24 within ten days of taking the action exceeding the threshold. 6 25 The statement shall contain information identifying the person 6 26 filing the statement, identifying the ballot issue, and 6 27 indicating the position urged by the person with regard to the 6 28 ballot issue. The person shall file reports indicating the 6 29 dates on which the expenditures or incurrence of indebtedness 6 30 took place; a description of the nature of the action taken 6 31 which resulted in the expenditures or debt; and the cost of 6 32 the promotion at fair market value. For a local ballot issue, 6 33 the reports shall be filed five days prior to any election in 6 34 which the ballot issue appears and on the first day of the 6 35 month following the election, as well as on the nineteenth day 7 1 of January, May, and July of each year in which the ballot 7 2 issue appears on the ballot and on the nineteenth day of 7 3 January and October of each year in which the ballot issue 7 4 does not appear on the ballot. For a statewide ballot issue, 7 5 reports shall be filed on the nineteenth day of January, May, 7 6 and July of each year. The reports shall be current to five 7 7 days prior to the filing deadline, and are considered timely 7 8 filed if mailed bearing a United States postal service 7 9 postmark on or before the due date. Filing obligations shall 7 10 cease when the person files a statement of discontinuation 7 11 indicating that the person's financial activity to expressly 7 12 advocate the passage or defeat of the ballot issue has ceased. 7 13 Statements and reports shall be filed withthe commissioner7 14responsible under section 47.2 for conducting the election at7 15which the issue is voted upon, except that reports on a7 16statewide ballot issue shall be filed withthe board. 7 17 3. A person taking action involving the making of an 7 18 expenditure or incurrence of indebtedness to expressly 7 19 advocate the passage or defeat of a ballot issue independently 7 20 of a political committee shall, within seventy-two hours of 7 21 taking the action, notify in writing any political committee 7 22whichthat advocates the same position with regard to the 7 23 ballot issue as the person taking the action. The 7 24 notification shall provide the political committee with the 7 25 cost of the promotion at fair market value. A copy of the 7 26 notification shall be sent to the board. It shall be presumed 7 27 that a benefited committee approves the action if the 7 28 committee fails to file a statement of disavowal with the 7 29commissioner orboard and takes corrective action within ten 7 30 days of the action. Action approved by a committee shall be 7 31 reported as a contribution by the committee. 7 32 4. This section shall not be construed to require 7 33 duplicate reporting of anything reported under this chapter by 7 34 a political committee except that actionswhichthat 7 35 constitute contributions in kind shall be reported by the 8 1 benefited committee. This section shall not be construed to 8 2 require reporting of action by any personwhichthat does not 8 3 constitute a contribution. 8 4 Sec. 10. Section 68B.2, subsection 5, Code 2001, is 8 5 amended to read as follows: 8 6 5. "Candidate's committee" means the committee designated 8 7 by a candidate for a state, county, city, or school office, as 8 8 provided under chapter 56, to receive contributions in excess 8 9 offiveseven hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate, expend 8 10 funds in excess offiveseven hundred fifty dollars in the 8 11 aggregate, or incur indebtedness on behalf of the candidate in 8 12 excess offiveseven hundred fifty dollars in the aggregate in 8 13 any calendar year. 8 14 EXPLANATION 8 15 This bill amends provisions of Code chapters 56 and 68B 8 16 relating to campaign finance law. 8 17 The bill amends a number of Code sections to raise the 8 18 current statutory reporting threshold of $500 to $750. Code 8 19 section 56.5 provides that unless a candidate's or political 8 20 committee has already formally organized, they are deemed to 8 21 have organized once the committee passes this financial 8 22 threshold. Every committee must file a statement of 8 23 organization within 10 days of organization. Code sections 8 24 43.18, 43.67, 44.3, 45.3, and 56.5A also notify candidates 8 25 that they must file an organization statement once they cross 8 26 the financial reporting threshold. 8 27 The bill also rewrites Code section 56.4, which provides 8 28 for a five-year document retention period for reports filed 8 29 with the board, provides that the board is the primary filing 8 30 point for all campaign reports, and provides that the board 8 31 will send copies of reports for political subdivisions to the 8 32 appropriate county auditor as the local commissioner of 8 33 elections. In relation to this change, the bill amends 8 34 several Code sections to remove references to filing documents 8 35 with these commissioners. Current Code language requires 9 1 filing with the board only for state campaigns, and provides 9 2 for a three-year retention period. 9 3 Finally, the bill removes the signature requirement from 9 4 Code section 56.5 for committees not organized in Iowa that 9 5 make a contribution to a committee organized in Iowa. 9 6 LSB 5345DP 79 9 7 jj/sh/8
Text: SSB03073 Text: SSB03075 Text: SSB03000 - SSB03099 Text: SSB Index Bills and Amendments: General Index Bill History: General Index
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