Bill Text: NJ A489 | 2016-2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Provides local governments may limit political contributions by business entities performing or seeking to perform public contracts; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [A489 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2016-A489-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
217th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2016 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID C. RUSSO
District 40 (Bergen, Essex, Morris and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Provides local governments may limit political contributions by business entities performing or seeking to perform public contracts; limits contributions by county and municipal political party committees.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.
An Act concerning local government regulation of political contributions by certain business entities and limiting contributions by county and municipal political party committees, supplementing P.L. , c. (C. ) and repealing section 13 thereof, and amending P.L.1993, c.65.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. (New section) The provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (Senate No.2 of 2004, enacted on June 16, 2004), or any other law, shall not be construed to supersede or preempt any ordinance, resolution or regulation of a unit of local government that limits political contributions by business entities performing or seeking to perform government contracts. Any ordinance, resolution or regulation in effect on the effective date of that act shall remain in effect and those adopted after that effective date shall be valid and enforceable.
2. Section 18 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3) is amended to read as follows:
18. a. No individual, other than an individual who is a candidate, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, or any group shall: (1) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election, or (2) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election per candidate, or (3) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee shall knowingly accept from an individual, other than an individual who is a candidate, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, or any group any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, or their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election per candidate, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $1,500 per election.
b. (1) No political committee or continuing political committee shall: (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer, or the joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, shall knowingly accept from any political committee or continuing political committee any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election.
(2) [The limitation upon the knowing acceptance by a candidate, campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any contribution of money or other thing of value from a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall also be applicable to the knowing acceptance of any such contribution from the county committee of a political party by a candidate or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate for any elective public office in another county or, in the case of a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature, in a legislative district in which, according to the federal decennial census upon the basis of which legislative districts shall have been established, less than 20% of the population resides within the county of that county committee. In addition, all contributor reporting requirements and other restrictions and regulations applicable to a contribution of money or other thing of value by a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) shall likewise be applicable to the making or payment of such a contribution by such a county committee.
The limitation upon the knowing acceptance by a candidate, campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any contribution of money or other thing of value from a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, except that the amount of any contribution of money or other thing of value shall be in an amount which in the aggregate does not exceed $25,000, shall also be applicable to the knowing acceptance of any such contribution from the county committee of a political party by a candidate, or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate, for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature in a legislative district in which, according to the federal decennial census upon the basis of which legislative districts shall have been established, at least 20% but less than 40% of the population resides within the county of that county committee. In addition, all contributor reporting requirements and other restrictions and regulations applicable to a contribution of money or other thing of value by a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) shall likewise be applicable to the making or payment of such a contribution by such a county committee.]
(a) No county committee of a political party, other than the county committee of the county in which the candidate or candidates reside, shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate committee, a joint candidates committee or both which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election. No candidate committee, joint candidates committee or both shall knowingly accept from a county committee of a political party, other than the county committee of the county in which the candidate or candidates reside, a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election.
(b) No county committee of a political party shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a political committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election. No political committee shall knowingly accept from a county committee of a political party a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election.
(c) No county committee of a political party shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a continuing political committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year. No continuing political committee shall knowingly accept from a county committee of a political party a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year.
(d) No county committee of a political party shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a legislative leadership committee, or to the State committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year. No legislative leadership committee and no State committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from a county committee of a political party a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year.
(e) No county committee of a political party shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to another county committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year. No county committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from another county committee of a political party a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year.
(f) No county committee of a political party shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a municipal committee of a political party, other than a municipal committee of a municipality located in the same county as the county committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year. No municipal committee of a political party, other than a municipal committee of a municipality located in the same county as the county committee, shall knowingly accept from that county committee a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year.
(3) (a) No municipal committee of a political party, other than a municipal committee in the county in which the candidate or candidates reside, shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate committee, a joint candidates committee or both, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election. No candidate committee, joint candidates committee or both shall knowingly accept from a municipal committee of a political party, other than a municipal committee in the county in which the candidate or candidates reside, a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election.
(b) No municipal committee of a political party shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a political committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election. No political committee shall knowingly accept from a municipal committee of a political party a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election.
(c) No municipal committee of a political party shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a continuing political committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year. No continuing political committee shall knowingly accept from a municipal committee of a political party a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year.
(d) No municipal committee of a political party shall make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a legislative leadership committee or to the State committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year. No legislative leadership committee and no State committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from a municipal committee of a political party a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year.
(e) No municipal committee of a political party shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to another municipal committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year. No municipal committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from another municipal committee of a political party a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year.
(f) No municipal committee of a political party shall pay or make a contribution of money or other thing of value to a county committee of a political party, other than the county committee of the county in which the municipality is located, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year. No county committee of a political party, other than the county committee of the county in which the municipality is located, shall knowingly accept from a municipal committee a contribution of money or other thing of value, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year.
(4) With respect to the limitations in [this paragraph] paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, the Legislature finds and declares that:
(a) Persons or organizations making contributions to the county committee of a political party or a municipal committee of a political party have a right to expect that their money will be used, for the most part, to support candidates for elective office who will most directly represent the interest of that county or municipality;
(b) The practice of allowing a county committee or municipal committee to use funds raised with this expectation to make unlimited contributions to candidates for the [Legislature] public office or to political committees or other county or municipal committees who may have a limited, or even nonexistent, connection with or interest in that county or municipality serves to undermine public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process;
(c) Furthermore, the risk of actual or perceived corruption is raised by the potential for contributors to circumvent limits on contributions to candidates by funneling money to candidates through county or municipal committees;
(d) The State has a compelling interest in preventing the actuality or appearance of corruption and in protecting public confidence in democratic institutions by limiting the amounts which a county committee or municipal committee may contribute to [legislative] candidates [whose districts are not located in close proximity to that county] for public office in different parts of the State, to political committees or to other county and municipal political party committees; and
(e) It is, therefore, reasonable for the State to promote this compelling interest by limiting the amount a county committee or municipal committee may give to a [legislative] candidate [based upon the degree to which the population of the legislative district overlaps with the population of that county] for public office in different parts of the State, political committees or other county and municipal political party committees.
c. (1) No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of the Governor, shall knowingly accept from another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election.
(2) No candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, shall knowingly accept from other candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing committee, $5,000 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee, $5,000 per election.
(3) No candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, shall knowingly accept from a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per election.
(4) Expenditures by a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature or to an office of a political subdivision of the State, or by the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of such a candidate, which are made in furtherance of the nomination or election, respectively, of another candidate for the same office in the same legislative district or the same political subdivision shall not be construed to be subject to any limitation under this subsection; for the purposes of this sentence, the offices of member of the State Senate and member of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be the same office.
d. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to impose any limitation on contributions by a candidate, or by a corporation, 100% of the stock in which is owned by a candidate or the candidate's spouse, child, parent or sibling residing in the same household, to that candidate's campaign.
e. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given to or by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution to or by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.
(cf: P.L.1993, c.65, s.18)
3. Section 19 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.4) is amended to read as follows:
19. a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, no individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group, shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of any legislative leadership committee, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $25,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $25,000 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party or campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of any legislative leadership committee shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $25,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $25,000 per year from that candidate.
Adjustments to the limits established in this paragraph which have been made by the Election Law Enforcement Commission, pursuant to section 22 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-7.2), prior to the effective date of P.L.2001, c.384 are rescinded. The limits established in this paragraph shall remain as stated in this paragraph until subsequently adjusted by the commission in the manner prescribed by section 22 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-7.2).
(2) No national committee of a political party shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party which in the aggregate exceeds $50,000 per year, and no campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from the national committee of a political party any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $50,000 per year.
b. No individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group, shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to any county committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $25,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $25,000 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a county committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $25,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $25,000 per year from that candidate.
c. No individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to any municipal committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $5,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $5,000 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a municipal committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $5,000 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, $5,000 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate, $5,000 per year from that candidate.
[No county committee of a political party in any county shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a municipal committee of a political party in a municipality not located in that county which in the aggregate exceeds the amount of aggregate contributions which, under this subsection, a continuing political committee is permitted to pay or make to a municipal committee of a political party. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a municipal committee of a political party in any municipality shall knowingly accept from any county committee of a political party in any county other than the county in which the municipality is located any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds the amount of contributions permitted to be so paid or made under that subsection.]
d. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.
(cf: P.L.2001, c.384, s.2)
4. Section 13 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Senate, No.2 of 2004, enacted June 16, 2004) is repealed.
5. This act shall take effect
immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that the provisions of P.L. , c. (C. ) (Senate, No.2 of 2004, enacted June 16, 2004), or any other law, should not be construed to supersede or preempt any ordinance, resolution or regulation of a local government unit that limits political contributions by business entities performing or seeking to perform contracts for those units. Any ordinance, resolution or regulation in effect on the effective date of that act would remain in effect and those adopted after the effective date would be valid and enforceable.
This bill also establishes limits on the amount of money and other thing of value that a county committee of a political party and a municipal committee of a political party can give per election or per year to candidates and certain political committees. Specifically, the bill limits a county committee of a political party:
1) other than the county committee of the county in which the candidate or candidates resides, from giving to a candidate committee, a joint candidates committee or both a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election;
2) from giving to a political committee a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election;
3) from giving to a continuing political committee a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year;
4) from giving to a legislative leadership committee or the State committee of a political party a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year;
5) from giving to another county committee a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year; and
6) from giving to a municipal committee of a political party, other than the municipal committee of a municipality located in the same county as the county committee, a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year.
In regard to a municipal committee of a political party, the bill limits a committee:
1) other than a municipal committee of the county in which the candidate or candidates reside, from giving to a candidate committee, a joint candidates committee or both a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election;
2) from giving to a political committee a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per election;
3) from giving to a continuing political committee a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year;
4) from giving to a legislative leadership committee or the State committee of a political party a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $25,000 per year;
5) from giving to another municipal committee a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year; and
6) from giving to a county committee of a political party, other than the county committee of the county in which the municipality is located, a contribution, which in the aggregate exceeds $7,200 per year.
The bill repeals section 13 of P.L. , c. (C. )(Senate, No.2 of 2004, enacted June 16, 2004).
