PRINTER'S NO. 641
No. 605 Session of 2001
INTRODUCED BY CONTI, KUKOVICH, MOWERY, WAUGH, BELL, MELLOW, SCHWARTZ, O'PAKE, EARLL, GERLACH, LOGAN AND BOSCOLA, MARCH 9, 2001
REFERRED TO STATE GOVERNMENT, MARCH 9, 2001
AN ACT 1 Amending the act of June 3, 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), entitled 2 "An act concerning elections, including general, municipal, 3 special and primary elections, the nomination of candidates, 4 primary and election expenses and election contests; creating 5 and defining membership of county boards of elections; 6 imposing duties upon the Secretary of the Commonwealth, 7 courts, county boards of elections, county commissioners; 8 imposing penalties for violation of the act, and codifying, 9 revising and consolidating the laws relating thereto; and 10 repealing certain acts and parts of acts relating to 11 elections," further defining "independent expenditure" and 12 adding definitions; and providing for organization of 13 political committees, for contributions, for independent 14 expenditures and for data base and public access. 15 The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania 16 hereby enacts as follows: 17 Section 1. Section 1621(e) and (l) of the act of June 3, 18 1937 (P.L.1333, No.320), known as the Pennsylvania Election 19 Code, amended or added October 4, 1978 (P.L.893, No.171) and 20 July 21, 1979 (P.L.189, No.63), are amended and the section is 21 amended by adding subsections to read: 22 Section 1621. Definitions.--As used in this article, the 23 following words have the following meanings:
1 * * * 2 (e) [The words "independent expenditure" shall mean an 3 expenditure by a person made for the purpose of influencing an 4 election without cooperation or consultation with any candidate 5 or any political committee authorized by that candidate and 6 which is not made in concert with or at the request or 7 suggestion of any candidate or political committee or agent 8 thereof.] 9 The words "independent expenditure" shall mean an expenditure 10 by a person for a communication expressly advocating the 11 election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate which is 12 not made with the cooperation or prior consent of, in 13 consultation or concert with or at the request or suggestion of 14 a candidate or any agent or authorized committee of the 15 candidate. Mere knowledge alone of the occurrence of an 16 expenditure shall not preclude it from being an independent 17 expenditure. For purposes of this definition: 18 (1) The word "agent" shall mean any person who has actual 19 oral or written authority, either express or implied, to make or 20 to authorize the making of expenditures on behalf of a 21 candidate, or shall mean any person who has been placed in a 22 position within the campaign organization where it would 23 reasonably appear that in the ordinary course of campaign 24 related activities he may authorize expenditures. 25 (2) The words "clearly identified candidate" shall mean that 26 the name of the candidate appears, a photograph or drawing of 27 the candidate appears or the identity of the candidate is 28 otherwise apparent by unambiguous reference. 29 (3) The words "expressly advocating" shall mean any 30 communication containing a message which supports or opposes any 20010S0605B0641 - 2 -
1 candidate, including, but not limited to, the name of the 2 candidate, a picture of the candidate or expressions such as 3 "vote for," "elect," "support," "vote against," "defeat" or 4 "reject." For purposes of this subsection, communications made 5 by an organization which the organization distributes beyond its 6 established membership shall be presumed to be expressly 7 advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified 8 candidate. 9 (4) The words "made with the cooperation or prior consent 10 of, in consultation or concert with or at the request or 11 suggestion of a candidate or any agent or authorized committee 12 of the candidate" shall mean any arrangement, coordination or 13 direction by the candidate or his agent prior to the 14 publication, distribution, display or broadcast of the 15 communication. An expenditure shall be presumed to be so made 16 when it is: 17 (i) Based on information about the candidate's plans, 18 projects or needs provided to the expending person by the 19 candidate or by the candidate's agents, with a view toward 20 having an expenditure made. 21 (ii) Made by or through any person who is or has been 22 authorized to raise or expend funds, who is or has been an 23 officer of an authorized committee, including a political party 24 committee, or who is or has been receiving any form of 25 compensation from the candidate, the candidate's committee or 26 agent. 27 * * * 28 (l) The words "Political Action Committee" shall mean any 29 political committee as defined in subsection (h) which receives 30 contributions and makes expenditures to, or on behalf of, any 20010S0605B0641 - 3 -
1 candidate other than a candidate's own authorized political 2 committees or the political committees of any State, county, 3 city, borough, township, ward or other regularly constituted 4 party committee of any political party or political body. A 5 political action committee which is established, maintained or 6 controlled by a sponsoring organization such as a corporation, 7 labor organization, membership association or trade association 8 shall include in its registered name the full name of its 9 sponsoring organization. 10 * * * 11 (n) The words "affiliate" or "affiliated committee" shall 12 include: 13 (1) Any committee established or authorized by a candidate 14 as part of his or her campaign for the same election for office. 15 (2) Any committee established, financed, maintained or 16 controlled by the same corporation, labor organization, person 17 or group of persons, including any parent, subsidiary, branch, 18 division, department or local unit thereof. Local units may 19 include, in appropriate cases, a franchisee, licensee or 20 regional association. 21 (o) The words "in-kind contribution" shall mean a 22 contribution of goods, services, property or any valuable thing 23 offered free or at less than the usual and normal charge for 24 such goods or services, but shall not include any legal or 25 accounting services rendered to or on behalf of any political 26 committee of a political party, an authorized committee of a 27 candidate or any other political committee, if such services are 28 solely for the purpose of ensuring compliance with this article. 29 Such legal or accounting services, however, shall be reported 30 pursuant to section 1631. 20010S0605B0641 - 4 -
1 Section 2. Section 1622 of the act is amended by adding a 2 subsection to read: 3 Section 1622. Organization of Political Committees; 4 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer; Records of Candidate and 5 Committees.-- 6 * * * 7 (e) A candidate shall not authorize or control more than one 8 candidate's political committee per office sought. 9 Section 3. Section 1628 of the act, amended February 13, 10 1998 (P.L.72, No.18), is amended to read: 11 Section 1628. Late Contributions and Independent 12 Expenditures.-- 13 Any candidate or political committee, authorized by a 14 candidate and created solely for the purpose of influencing an 15 election on behalf of that candidate, which receives any 16 contribution or pledge of five hundred dollars ($500) or more[, 17 and any person making an independent expenditure, as defined by 18 this act, of five hundred dollars ($500) or more] after the 19 final pre-election report has been deemed completed shall report 20 such contribution, pledge or expenditure to the appropriate 21 supervisor [by telegram or mailgram]. Such [telegram or 22 mailgram] report shall be sent by the candidate, chairman or 23 treasurer of the political committee within twenty-four (24) 24 hours of receipt of the contribution. It shall be the duty of 25 the supervisor to confirm the substance of such [telegram or 26 mailgram.] report. The report shall be made by telegram, 27 mailgram, overnight mail or facsimile transmission. Any 28 candidate in his own behalf, or chairman, treasurer or candidate 29 in behalf of the political committee or the candidate's campaign 30 committee may also comply with this section by appearing 20010S0605B0641 - 5 -
1 personally before such supervisor and reporting such late 2 contributions or pledges. 3 Section 4. The act is amended by adding sections to read: 4 Section 1628.1 Independent Expenditures.-- 5 (a) An expenditure not defined under section 1621 as an 6 independent expenditure shall be an in-kind contribution to the 7 candidate and an expenditure by the candidate, unless otherwise 8 exempted. 9 (b) The financing of the dissemination, distribution or 10 republication, in whole or in part, of any broadcast or any 11 written, graphic or other form of campaign materials prepared by 12 the candidate, his campaign committees or their authorized 13 agents shall be considered a contribution for the purpose of 14 contribution limitations and reporting responsibilities by the 15 person making the expenditure but shall not be considered an 16 expenditure by the candidate or his authorized committees unless 17 made with the cooperation or with the prior consent of, or in 18 consultation with, or at the request or suggestion of, a 19 candidate or any authorized agent or committee thereof. 20 (c) Every person who makes an independent expenditure 21 aggregating in excess of two hundred fifty dollars ($250) during 22 a calendar year in any election shall file a signed statement 23 and a copy of the material paid for with the independent 24 expenditure in accordance with the provisions of section 1631 25 within twenty-four (24) hours of making the expenditure. In 26 addition, the person who makes an independent expenditure shall 27 send a copy of the material submitted to each candidate for 28 whose benefit the expenditures were made in that race by 29 overnight mail, facsimile or courier service. 30 (d) The signed statement submitted by the person making the 20010S0605B0641 - 6 -
1 expenditure shall include the following information: 2 (1) The reporting person's name, mailing address, occupation 3 and name of employer, if any, or in the case of a separate 4 segregated committee, the name and address of the connected 5 organization. 6 (2) The name and mailing address of the person to whom the 7 expenditure was made. 8 (3) The amount, date and purpose of each expenditure. 9 (4) A statement which indicated whether the expenditure was 10 in support of or in opposition to a candidate, together with the 11 candidate's name and office sought. 12 (5) A notarized certification under penalty of perjury as to 13 whether the expenditure was made with the cooperation or prior 14 consent of, in consultation or concert with or at the request or 15 suggestion of any candidate or any authorized committee or agent 16 of any candidate. 17 (6) The identification of each person who made a 18 contribution in excess of two hundred dollars ($200) to the 19 person filing the report, which contribution was made for the 20 purpose of furthering the reported independent expenditure. 21 (e) Within twenty-four (24) hours of receipt of the material 22 described in subsection (d), each candidate for whose benefit 23 the expenditure was made shall file a statement under the 24 provisions of section 1631 if either of the following apply: 25 (1) the materials expressly advocate the election of his 26 candidacy; or 27 (2) the materials expressly advocate the defeat of his 28 opponent. 29 (f) The statement submitted by each candidate for whose 30 benefit the expenditure was made shall identify the date of the 20010S0605B0641 - 7 -
1 expenditure as provided for by the expending person and include 2 a notarized certification under penalty of perjury as to whether 3 the expenditure was made in cooperation, consultation or concert 4 with the person making the expenditure or at the request or 5 suggestion of the candidate or any authorized committee or agent 6 of the candidate. The statement shall be signed by each 7 candidate for whose benefit the expenditure was made. 8 (g) The statement submitted by a candidate shall identify 9 the date of the expenditure as provided for by the expending 10 person and include a notarized certification under penalty of 11 perjury as to whether the expenditure was made in cooperation, 12 consultation or concert with the person making the expenditure 13 or at the request or suggestion of the candidate or any 14 authorized committee or agent of the candidate. The statement 15 shall be signed by the candidate. 16 (h) No expenditure by an authorized committee of a candidate 17 on behalf of that candidate shall qualify as an independent 18 expenditure. 19 (i) (1) Any person who does not report an expenditure of 20 funds as required under subsection (e) commits a misdemeanor of 21 the first degree and shall, upon conviction, be subject to a 22 fine of not more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or to 23 imprisonment for up to ten (10) days, or both. 24 (2) A person shall not be deemed elected to a public office 25 under the laws of this Commonwealth, or enter upon the duties 26 thereof, or receive any salary or emoluments therefrom, if the 27 affidavit required in subsection (f) has not been submitted as 28 described. 29 (3) Any candidate who does not submit the affidavit as 30 required under subsection (f) commits a misdemeanor of the 20010S0605B0641 - 8 -
1 second degree and shall, upon conviction, be subject to a fine 2 of not more than five thousand dollars ($5,000) or to 3 imprisonment for up to five (5) days, or both. All actions 4 pursuant to enforcement of this subsection shall be initiated in 5 the Commonwealth Court. 6 Section 1634.2. Limitations on Contributions.-- 7 (a) Aggregate contributions, including in-kind 8 contributions, from any person to any candidate, his authorized 9 committee or agent shall not exceed two thousand dollars 10 ($2,000) for each election. Furthermore, for each election, no 11 candidate, his authorized committee or agent shall accept or 12 receive more than two thousand dollars ($2,000) in aggregate 13 contributions, including in-kind contributions, from any person. 14 (b) Aggregate contributions, including in-kind 15 contributions, from a single political action committee, its 16 affiliate or agent to any candidate, his authorized committee or 17 agent shall not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each 18 election. Furthermore, for each election, no candidate, his 19 authorized committee or agent shall accept or receive more than 20 ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in aggregate contributions, 21 including in-kind contributions, from a single political action 22 committee, its affiliate or agent. 23 (c) Aggregate contributions, including in-kind 24 contributions, from a single political action committee 25 registered with the Department of State in accordance with 26 section 1624, its affiliate or agent to any political action 27 committee registered with the Department of State in accordance 28 with section 1624, its affiliate or agent shall not exceed ten 29 thousand dollars ($10,000) in aggregate contributions for each 30 election. Furthermore, no political action committee registered 20010S0605B0641 - 9 -
1 with the Department of State in accordance with section 1624, 2 its affiliate or agent shall accept or receive more than ten 3 thousand dollars ($10,000) in aggregate contributions, including 4 in-kind contributions from a single political action committee 5 registered with the Department of State in accordance with 6 section 1624, its affiliate or agent for each election. 7 (d) Aggregate contributions from a single candidate's 8 political committee to any other single candidate's political 9 committee or any single political action committee shall not 10 exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000) for each election. 11 Furthermore, for each election, no single political action 12 committee or single candidate's political committee shall accept 13 or receive more than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) in aggregate 14 contributions from any single candidate's political committee. 15 (e) The provisions of this section are not applicable to any 16 contribution made for the purpose of influencing any election 17 for Federal office. 18 Section 5. Section 1639 of the act, added October 4, 1978 19 (P.L.893, No.171), is amended to read: 20 Section 1639. Powers and Duties of the Supervisor.--It shall 21 be the duty of the supervisor to: 22 (1) Furnish to the persons, subject to the provisions of 23 this act, a bookkeeping and reporting manual and the prescribed 24 forms for the making of the reports and statements required to 25 be filed under this article. 26 (2) Develop a filing system consistent with the purposes of 27 this article. 28 (3) [Make] Except as provided in section 1643(d), make the 29 reports and statements filed with him or her available for 30 public inspection and copying, commencing as soon as practicable 20010S0605B0641 - 10 -
1 but not later than the end of the second day following the day 2 during which it was received, and to provide copies of any such 3 report or parts thereof, as requested by any person, at the 4 expense of such person, at the rate not to exceed the actual 5 cost of reproduction. 6 (4) Preserve such reports and statements for a period of 7 five (5) years from the date of filing. 8 (5) Compile and maintain a current list of all statements 9 pertaining to each candidate and political committee. 10 (6) Make from time to time inquiries and field 11 investigations with respect to reports and statements filed 12 under the provisions of this article and with respect to alleged 13 failures to file any report or statement required under 14 provisions of this article. 15 (7) Report apparent violations of this article to the 16 appropriate law enforcement authorities. 17 (8) Collect any fines relating to the filing of late reports 18 and transmit all such fines collected to the appropriate fiscal 19 officer of the receiving supervisor. 20 (9) Inform each candidate or committee which has failed to 21 file of that fact. 22 (10) Publish a list of all those candidates and their 23 committees who have failed to file reports as required by this 24 act within six (6) days of their failure to comply. 25 Section 6. The act is amended by adding a section to read: 26 Section 1643. Computer Data Base, Filing Requirements and 27 Public Access.-- 28 (a) The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall establish a 29 computer data base which shall provide for the electronic 30 storage and retrieval of all reports and statements filed with 20010S0605B0641 - 11 -
1 the Secretary of the Commonwealth in accordance with sections 2 1626 and 1627. 3 (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), all reports and 4 statements filed with the Secretary of the Commonwealth in 5 accordance with sections 1626 and 1627 shall be filed 6 electronically via computer diskette, modem or other means of 7 electronic transfer in a form prescribed by the Secretary of the 8 Commonwealth through regulation. Any report or statement filed 9 via computer diskette, modem or other means of electronic 10 transfer shall be accompanied by a paper copy of the statement 11 or report. 12 (c) Any political committee or candidate that receives, 13 expends or incurs liabilities totaling less than five thousand 14 dollars ($5,000) per election may file with the Secretary of the 15 Commonwealth reports or statements required by sections 1626 and 16 1627: 17 (1) via computer diskette, modem or other means of 18 electronic transfer in a form prescribed by the Secretary of the 19 Commonwealth through regulation and accompanied by a paper copy; 20 or 21 (2) on paper forms designed by the Secretary of the 22 Commonwealth. 23 (d) (1) The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall make 24 available for public inspection and copying paper copies of 25 reports and statements filed electronically commencing as soon 26 as practicable, but not later than the end of the second day 27 following the day during which it was received and provide 28 copies of any such report or parts thereof, as requested by any 29 person, at the expense of such person, at the rate not to exceed 30 the actual cost of reproduction. 20010S0605B0641 - 12 -
1 (2) The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall make reports and 2 statements filed electronically with the Secretary of the 3 Commonwealth available to the public by electronic means 4 commencing as soon as possible, but not later than the end of 5 the seventh calendar day following the day during which it was 6 received. In doing so, the Secretary of the Commonwealth shall 7 provide the data via a computer terminal in the Department of 8 State and, upon request, via diskette, modem or other means of 9 electronic transfer, at a reasonable cost, not to exceed actual 10 costs to the Department of State. 11 (e) The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall not require the 12 viewer to provide any information or identification as a 13 condition of viewing any report or statement. 14 (f) The Secretary of the Commonwealth may, by regulation, 15 provide for: 16 (1) The inclusion of additional reports and statements in 17 the computer data base, which shall be made available to the 18 public in accordance with subsection (d). 19 (2) The creation of data streams of contributor names, 20 contributions, expenditures or other information, which shall be 21 made available to the public in accordance with subsection (d). 22 Section 7. The Secretary of the Commonwealth shall 23 promulgate regulations necessary for the implementation of this 24 act. 25 Section 8. The provisions of this act are severable. If any 26 provision of this act or its application to any person or 27 circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity shall not affect 28 other provisions or applications of this act which can be given 29 effect without the invalid provision or application. 30 Section 9. This act shall take effect as follows: 20010S0605B0641 - 13 -
1 (1) The amendment or addition of sections 1639 and 1643 2 shall take effect January 1, 2002. 3 (2) The remainder of this act shall take effect in 60 4 days. A31L25MRD/20010S0605B0641 - 14 -