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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | September 21, 2023 11:14 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Craig T. Staats |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Closing a Loophole that Allows Political Candidates and Political Committees to Avoid Complying with a Provision of Campaign Finance Law that Ensures Transparency |
Please join me in co-sponsoring legislation to close a loophole that allows political candidates and political committees to avoid complying with a provision of campaign finance law that ensures transparency. Under current law, candidates and political committees must maintain records relating to expenditures of more than $25 and must make the vouchers available to any person who requests to inspect and copy them. If the candidate or committee fails to comply with this requirement, the Department of State has publicly stated that its role is limited to receiving requests and making demands for vouchers. This means there is no recourse to force recalcitrant candidates and political committees to comply with this requirement. To close this gap in the current law, my legislation would empower the Department of State to compel compliance through the issuance of administrative penalty to candidates of up to $500 for each day that the candidate or the political committee fails to make the vouchers available for inspection. Further, the Department of State would be required to refer the matter to the Attorney General for investigation. I look forward to working with you on this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1733