HB656 Alabama 2010 Session

Sponsors

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Fair Campaign Practices Act, political action committee, treasurer required to maintain records of expenditures greater than amount allowed by federal law, candidates required to timely file statement of economic interests with Ethics Commission, fines, Secs. 17-5-2, 17-5-3, 17-5-4, 17-5-8 am'd.; Act 2009-751, 2009 Reg. Sess. am'd.

Description

Under existing law, the Fair Campaign Practices Act governs the giving and making of campaign contributions or expenditures.

Also under existing law, the treasurer of a political action committee is required to maintain a record of expenditures over $100.

This bill would require the treasurer of a political action committee to maintain records of expenditures greater than the amount allowed by federal law.

This bill would require a candidate to file a statement of Economic Interests with the State Ethics Commission. This bill would impose a fine for failure to timely file.

This bill would require the Ethics Commission to provide a candidate a receipt as proof of filing.

Under existing law, principal campaign committees and political action committees must file reports of contributions and expenditures.

This bill would require timely filing by an unopposed candidate's political campaign committee.

This bill would exempt nonpublic political party positions from this filing requirement.

Under existing law, an annual report filed by the principal campaign committee, political action committee, and elected officials requires, among other things, the identity of each person who has contributed, loaned, or made an expenditure over $100.

This bill would require the annual reports to identify contributors, loans, and expenditures that are greater than the amount allowed by federal law. This bill would impose a fine on a candidate who failed to timely file a finance report.

To amend Sections 17-5-2, 17-5-3, 17-5-4, and 17-5-8, as last amended by Act 2009-751 of the 2009 Regular Session (Acts 2009, p. 2273), of the Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the Fair Campaign Practices Act; to provide that candidates timely file the appropriate ethics forms with the State Ethics Commission upon becoming a candidate; to provide that each candidate must file a finance report with the Secretary of State or local election officials, as applicable, whether or not the candidate has opposition; to provide for fines for the failure to timely file a finance report; and to provide for the failure to timely file a campaign finance or Ethics Commission report by a candidate.

Subjects

Elections