Bill Text: VA HB1719 | 2019 | Regular Session | Chaptered


Bill Title: Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006; applicability to certain candidates for town offices.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-03 - Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0825) [HB1719 Detail]

Download: Virginia-2019-HB1719-Chaptered.html

CHAPTER 825
An Act to amend and reenact §§24.2-945 and 24.2-947.1 of the Code of Virginia, relating to Campaign Finance Disclosure Act of 2006; applicability to certain candidates for town offices.
[H 1719]
Approved April 3, 2019

 

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That §§24.2-945 and 24.2-947.1 of the Code of Virginia are amended and reenacted as follows:

§24.2-945. Elections to which chapter applicable; chapter exclusive.

A. The provisions of this chapter shall apply to all elections held in Virginia, including referenda, and to nominating conventions, mass meetings, and other methods to nominate a political party candidate for public office, except nominations and elections for (i) members of the United States Congress, (ii) President and Vice President of the United States, (iii) town office in a town with a population of less than 25,000, (iv) directors of soil and water conservation districts, or (v) political party committees.

The provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to a candidate for a town office in a town with a population of less than 25,000 if (a) such candidate accepts contributions or makes expenditures in excess of $25,000 within the candidate's election cycle, as set forth in §24.2-947, or (b) the governing body of any such town with a population of less than 25,000 may provide provides, by ordinance, that the such provisions of this chapter shall be applicable to elections for town offices in the town so apply.

B. This chapter shall constitute the exclusive and entire campaign finance disclosure law of the Commonwealth, and elections to which the chapter applies shall not be subject to further regulation by local law.

§24.2-947.1. Statement of organization.

A. Any individual seeking or campaigning for an office of the Commonwealth or one of its governmental units in a party nomination process or general, primary, or special election, shall file a statement of organization within 10 days of meeting any one of the following conditions:

1. Acceptance of a contribution;

2. Expenditure of any funds;

3. The payment of a filing fee for any party nomination method;

4. The filing of a candidate statement of qualification pursuant to §24.2-501; or

5. The appointment of a campaign treasurer, designation of a campaign committee, or designation of a campaign depository; or

6. In the case of a candidate for a town office in a town with a population of less than 25,000 that has not otherwise adopted the provisions of this chapter by ordinance, acceptance of a contribution or expenditure of funds that brings the total amount of contributions accepted or funds expended to more than $25,000 within the candidate's election cycle, as set forth in §24.2-947.

B. Candidates for statewide office shall file the statement with the State Board. Candidates for the General Assembly shall file the statement with the State Board and a copy of the statement with the general registrar of the locality of the candidate's residence. Candidates for local or constitutional office shall file the statement with the general registrar and, if the statement indicates that the candidate committee will be filing electronically, a copy with the State Board.

C. The statement of organization shall include the following information:

1. The full name and residence address of the candidate;

2. The full name and mailing address for the campaign committee;

3. The full name, residence address, and daytime phone number of the treasurer;

4. The office being sought and district, if any, for the office;

5. The recognized political party affiliation of the candidate for statewide office or the General Assembly. In the absence of any political party affiliation, independent shall be used;

6. The name of the financial institution for his campaign depository; and

7. Such other information as shall be required by the State Board except that the account number for a designated depository account shall not be required.

D. In the case of any candidate who seeks election for successive terms in the same office, the statement of organization filed by the candidate shall continue in effect for such successive elections, but the candidate shall file notice of any changes in the information provided on the form within 10 days of the change with the State Board, general registrar, or both, as appropriate.

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