General Assembly		Raised Bill No. 1126
January Session, 2015		LCO No. 5653
		*05653_______GAE*
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION AND ELECTIONS
Introduced by:
(GAE)

AN ACT CONCERNING REVISIONS TO CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAWS.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:

Section 1. Section 9-601 of the general statutes is amended by adding subdivision (32) as follows (Effective from passage):

(NEW) (32) "Independent expenditure political committee" means a political committee, as defined in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subdivision (3) of this section, that may make independent expenditures and is prohibited from making any contribution, except as provided in subsection (f) of section 9-613, as amended by this act, subsection (f) of section 9-615, as amended by this act, subsection (a) of section 9-618, as amended by this act, and subsection (a) of section 9-619, as amended by this act.

Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 9-601a of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) As used in this chapter and chapter 157, "contribution" means:

(1) Any gift, subscription, loan, advance, payment or deposit of money or anything of value, made to promote the success or defeat of any [candidate] person seeking the nomination for election, or election or for the purpose of aiding or promoting the success or defeat of any referendum question or the success or defeat of any political party;

(2) A written contract, promise or agreement to make a contribution for any such purpose;

(3) The payment by any person, other than a candidate or treasurer, of compensation for the personal services of any other person which are rendered without charge to a committee or candidate for any such purpose;

(4) An expenditure that is not an independent expenditure; or

(5) Funds received by a committee which are transferred from another committee or other source for any such purpose.

Sec. 3. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-601b of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) As used in this chapter and chapter 157, the term "expenditure" means:

(1) Any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit or gift of money or anything of value, when made to promote the success or defeat of any [candidate] person seeking the nomination for election, or election [, of any person] or for the purpose of aiding or promoting the success or defeat of any referendum question or the success or defeat of any political party;

(2) Any communication that (A) refers to one or more clearly identified candidates, and (B) is broadcast by radio, television, other than on a public access channel, or by satellite communication or via the Internet, or as a paid-for telephone communication, or appears in a newspaper, magazine or on a billboard, or is sent by mail; or

(3) The transfer of funds by a committee to another committee.

(b) The term "expenditure" does not mean:

(1) A loan of money, made in the ordinary course of business, by a state or national bank;

(2) A communication made by any corporation, organization or association solely to its members, owners, stockholders, executive or administrative personnel, or their families;

(3) Nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns by any corporation, organization or association aimed at its members, owners, stockholders, executive or administrative personnel, or their families;

(4) Uncompensated services provided by individuals volunteering their time on behalf of a party committee, political committee, slate committee or candidate committee, including any services provided for the benefit of nonparticipating and participating candidates under the Citizens' Election Program and any unreimbursed travel expenses made by an individual who volunteers the individual's personal services to any such committee. For purposes of this subdivision, an individual is a volunteer if such individual is not receiving compensation for such services regardless of whether such individual received compensation in the past or may receive compensation for similar services that may be performed in the future;

(5) Any news story, commentary or editorial distributed through the facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine or other periodical, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political party, committee or candidate;

(6) The use of real or personal property, a portion or all of the cost of invitations and the cost of food or beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual to a candidate, including a nonparticipating or participating candidate under the Citizens' Election Program, or to a party, political or slate committee, in rendering voluntary personal services at the individual's residential premises or a community room in the individual's residence facility, to the extent that the cumulative value of the invitations, food or beverages provided by an individual on behalf of any candidate or committee does not exceed four hundred dollars with respect to any single event or does not exceed eight hundred dollars for any such event hosted by two or more individuals, provided at least one such individual owns or resides at the residential premises, and further provided the cumulative value of the invitations, food or beverages provided by an individual on behalf of any such candidate or committee does not exceed eight hundred dollars with respect to a calendar year or single election, as the case may be;

(7) A communication described in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of this section that includes speech or expression [made] (A) made prior to the ninety-day period preceding the date of a primary or an election at which the clearly identified candidate or candidates are seeking nomination to public office or position, [that is] including a communication made for the purpose of influencing any legislative or administrative action, as defined in section 1-91, or executive action, [or] (B) made during a legislative session for the purpose of influencing legislative action, or (C) that constitutes a candidate debate or that solely promotes any such debate and is made by or on behalf of the person sponsoring the debate;

(8) An organization expenditure by a party committee, legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee;

(9) A commercial advertisement that refers to an owner, director or officer of a business entity who is also a candidate and that had previously been broadcast or appeared when the owner, director or officer was not a candidate;

(10) A communication containing an endorsement on behalf of a candidate for nomination or election to the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney General, state senator or state representative, from a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney General, state senator or state representative, shall not be an expenditure attributable to the endorsing candidate, if the candidate making the endorsement is unopposed at the time of the communication;

(11) A communication that is sent by mail to addresses in the district for which a candidate being endorsed by another candidate pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision is seeking nomination or election to the office of state senator or state representative, containing an endorsement on behalf of such candidate for such nomination or election, from a candidate for the office of state senator or state representative, shall not be an expenditure attributable to the endorsing candidate, if the candidate making the endorsement is not seeking election to the office of state senator or state representative for a district that contains any geographical area shared by the district for the office to which the endorsed candidate is seeking nomination or election;

(12) Campaign training events provided to multiple individuals by a legislative caucus committee and any associated materials, provided the cumulative value of such events and materials does not exceed six thousand dollars in the aggregate for a calendar year;

(13) A lawful communication by any charitable organization which is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended;

(14) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment provided by a party committee, legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee that serve as headquarters for or are used by such party committee, legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee; or

(15) An expense or expenses incurred by a human being acting alone in an amount that is two hundred dollars or less, in the aggregate, that benefits a candidate for a single election.

Sec. 4. Section 9-601c of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) (1) As used in this chapter and chapter 157, [the term] "independent expenditure" means an expenditure, as defined in section 9-601b, as amended by this act, that is made without the consent, coordination [, or consultation of,] or consultation of a candidate or agent of [the] a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee.

(2) "Independent expenditure" does not include an expenditure made by a person for the production, dissemination, distribution or publication, in whole or in substantial part, of any broadcast or any video, audio, written, graphic or other form of political advertising or campaign communication prepared by (A) any candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, or (B) any consultant or other agent acting on behalf of any candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, and that is used in support of such candidate or committee or in opposition to any candidate.

(b) As used in this section, "coordinated spender," with respect to any candidate or candidate committee, means:

(1) Any person directly or indirectly formed, controlled or established in the current election cycle by, at the request or suggestion of, or with the encouragement of, such candidate, candidate committee or any agent thereof, including with the express or tacit approval of such candidate, candidate committee or any agent thereof;

(2) (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, any person on whose behalf during an election cycle such candidate, candidate committee or any agent thereof solicits funds or engages in fundraising activity, including by providing to such person the name of any potential donor or other list to be used by such person in engaging in fundraising activity, regardless of whether such person pays fair market value for any such name or list provided; or

(B) If any funds raised by any candidate, candidate committee or agent thereof are (i) segregated from all other accounts controlled by the person on whose behalf such candidate, candidate committee or agent thereof solicits such funds, and (ii) are not used to make (I) independent expenditures that benefit such candidate or candidate committee, or (II) contributions or covered transfers to any other person who later makes independent expenditures, contributions or covered transfers that benefit such candidate or candidate committee, such person shall not be considered a coordinated spender under subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section;

(3) Any person established, directed or managed by any person who, during the current election cycle (A) was employed or retained as a political, media or fundraising advisor or consultant for such candidate or candidate committee or any entity directly or indirectly controlled by such candidate or candidate committee, or (B) held a formal position with a title for such candidate or candidate committee; or

(4) (A) Any person established, directed or managed by any member of the family of such candidate or, in the case of a person that is a political committee, that has received contributions in excess of two thousand dollars, in the aggregate, from one or more members of the immediate family, as defined in subsection (d) of this section, of such candidate in any election cycle; or

(B) Any person or any officer or agent of such person that has had more than incidental discussion regarding any campaign advertising, message, strategy, policy, polling, allocation of resources, fundraising or campaign operations of such candidate or candidate committee with any member of the family of such candidate or, in the case of a person that is a political committee, that has received contributions in excess of two thousand dollars, in the aggregate, from one or more members of the immediate family, as defined in subsection (d) of this section, of such candidate in any election cycle.

(c) As used in this section, "member of the immediate family" means a spouse and any child, parent, grandparent, brother, half-brother, sister or half-sister of the candidate and the spouses of such persons.

(d) (1) For purposes of this section, if the person who makes an expenditure is a coordinated spender with respect to a candidate or candidate committee, such person shall be deemed to have made the expenditure with the consent, coordination or consultation of, or at the request or suggestion of, such candidate or candidate committee.

(2) For purposes of this section, a payment shall not be considered to be made by a person with the consent, coordination or consultation of, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or candidate committee solely on the grounds that such person or any agent of such person engaged in discussion with such candidate or candidate committee or any agent thereof regarding such person's position on a legislative or policy matter, including urging such candidate or candidate committee to adopt such person's position, provided there is no discussion between such person and such candidate, candidate committee or agent thereof regarding any campaign advertising, message, strategy, policy, polling, allocation of resources, fundraising or campaign operations of such candidate or candidate committee.

[(b)] (e) When the State Elections Enforcement Commission evaluates an expenditure to determine whether such expenditure is an independent expenditure, there shall be a rebuttable presumption that the following expenditures are not independent expenditures:

(1) An expenditure made by a person in cooperation, consultation or in concert with, at the request, suggestion or direction of, or pursuant to a general or particular understanding with (A) a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, or (B) a consultant or other agent acting on behalf of a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee;

[(2) An expenditure made by a person for the production, dissemination, distribution or publication, in whole or in substantial part, of any broadcast or any written, graphic or other form of political advertising or campaign communication prepared by (A) a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, or (B) a consultant or other agent acting on behalf of a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee;]

[(3)] (2) An expenditure made by a person based on information about a candidate's, political committee's, or party committee's plans, projects or needs, provided by (A) a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, or (B) a consultant or other agent acting on behalf of a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, with the intent that such expenditure be made;

[(4)] (3) An expenditure made by an individual who, in the same election cycle, is serving or has served as the campaign chairperson, treasurer or deputy treasurer of a candidate committee, political committee or party committee benefiting from such expenditure, or in any other executive or policymaking position, including as a member, employee, fundraiser, consultant or other agent, of a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee;

[(5)] (4) An expenditure made by a person or an entity on or after January first in the year of an election in which a candidate is seeking public office that benefits such candidate when such person or entity has hired an individual as an employee or consultant and such individual was an employee of or consultant to [such candidate's candidate committee or such candidate's opponent's candidate committee during any part of the eighteen-month period preceding such expenditure] such candidate or the candidate committee of such candidate or the candidate committee of such candidate's opponent during the current election cycle;

[(6)] (5) An expenditure made by a person for fundraising activities (A) with or for a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, or a consultant or other agent acting on behalf of a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, or (B) for the solicitation or receipt of contributions on behalf of a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, or a consultant or other agent acting on behalf of a candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee;

[(7)] (6) An expenditure made by a person based on information about a candidate's campaign plans, projects or needs, that is directly or indirectly provided by a candidate, the candidate's candidate committee, a political committee or a party committee, or a consultant or other agent acting on behalf of such candidate, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, to the person making the expenditure or such person's agent, with an express or tacit understanding that such person is considering making the expenditure;

[(8)] (7) An expenditure made by a person for a communication that clearly identifies a candidate during an election campaign, if the person making the expenditure, or such person's agent, has informed the candidate who benefits from the expenditure, that candidate's candidate committee, a political committee or a party committee, or a consultant or other agent acting on behalf of the benefiting candidate or candidate committee, political committee, or party committee, concerning the communication's contents, or of the intended audience, timing, location or mode or frequency of dissemination. As used in this subdivision, a communication clearly identifies a candidate when that communication contains the name, nickname, initials, photograph or drawing of the candidate or an unambiguous reference to that candidate, which includes, but is not limited to, a reference that can only mean that candidate; and

[(9)] (8) An expenditure made by a person or an entity for consultant or creative services, including, but not limited to, services related to communications strategy or design or campaign strategy or to engage a campaign-related vendor, to be used to promote or oppose a candidate's election to office if the provider of such services is or has provided consultant or creative services to such candidate, such candidate's candidate committee or an agent of such candidate committee, or to any opposing candidate's candidate committee or an agent of such candidate committee after January first of the year in which the expenditure occurs. For purposes of this subdivision, communications strategy or design does not include the costs of printing or costs for the use of a medium for the purpose of communications. For purposes of this subdivision, campaign-related vendor includes, but is not limited to, a vendor that provides the following services: Polling, mail design, mail strategy, political strategy, general campaign advice or telephone banking.

[(c) When the State Elections Enforcement Commission evaluates an expenditure to determine whether an expenditure by entity is an independent expenditure, the following shall not be presumed to constitute evidence of consent, coordination or consultation within the meaning of subsection (a) of this section: (1) Participation by a candidate or an agent of the candidate in an event sponsored by the entity, unless such event promotes the success of the candidate's candidacy or the defeat of the candidate's opponent, or unless the event is during the period that is forty-five days prior to the primary for which the candidate is seeking nomination for election or election to office; (2) membership of the candidate or agent of the candidate in the entity, unless the candidate or agent of the candidate holds an executive or policymaking position within the entity after the candidate becomes a candidate; or (3) financial support for, or solicitation or fundraising on behalf of the entity by a candidate or an agent of the candidate, unless the entity has made or obligated to make independent expenditures in support of such candidate in the election or primary for which the candidate is a candidate.]

[(d)] (f) When the State Elections Enforcement Commission evaluates an expenditure to determine whether such expenditure is an independent expenditure, the commission shall consider, as an effective rebuttal to the presumptions provided in subsection [(b)] (e) of this section, the establishment by the person making the expenditure of a firewall policy designed and implemented to prohibit the flow of information between (1) employees, consultants or other individuals providing services to the person paying for the expenditure, and (2) the candidate or agents of the candidate.

Sec. 5. Section 9-601d of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) Any person, as defined in section 9-601, as amended by this act, may, unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, including, but not limited to, any provision of this chapter or chapter 157, make unlimited independent expenditures, as defined in section 9-601c, as amended by this act, and accept unlimited covered transfers, as defined in [said] section 9-601, as amended by this act. Except as provided pursuant to this section, any such person who makes or obligates to make an independent expenditure or expenditures in excess of one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, shall file statements according to the same schedule and in the same manner as is required of a treasurer of a [candidate] political committee pursuant to section 9-608, as amended by this act. Such statements shall be filed on the forms described in subsections (c) and (d) of this section.

(b) Any person who makes or obligates to make an independent expenditure or expenditures in an election or primary for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney General, state senator or state representative, which exceed one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, [during a primary campaign or a general election campaign, as defined in section 9-700,] during the period beginning on or after July first in the year of a regular election and ending the day following the primary or election for which any such independent expenditure is made or incurred shall file, electronically, a long-form and a short-form report of such independent expenditure or expenditures with the State Elections Enforcement Commission pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this section. The person that makes or obligates to make such independent expenditure or expenditures shall file such reports not later than twenty-four hours after (1) making any such payment, or (2) obligating to make any such payment, with respect to the primary or election. If any such person makes or incurs a subsequent independent expenditure, such person shall report such expenditure pursuant to subsection (d) of this section. Such reports shall be filed under penalty of false statement.

(c) The independent expenditure long-form report shall identify: (1) The name of the person making or obligating to make such expenditure or expenditures; (2) the tax exempt status, Federal Employee Identification Number and Federal Election Commission Identification Number of such person, if applicable; (3) the mailing street address of such person; (4) the principal business address of the person, if different from the mailing street address; (5) the address, telephone number and electronic mail address of the agent for service of process in this state of such person; (6) the date of the primary or election or referendum question for which the independent expenditure or expenditures were made or obligated to be made; (7) the name of any candidate who, or the text of any referendum question that, was the subject of any independent expenditure, [or expenditures and whether the independent expenditure or expenditures were] whether such independent expenditure was in support of or in opposition to such candidate or referendum question and all other information required under subsection (d) for such expenditure; and (8) the name, telephone number and electronic mail address for the individual filing such report. Such individual filing such report shall affirm that the expenditure reported is an independent expenditure under penalty of false statement.

(d) As part of any filing made pursuant to subsection (c) of this section and for each subsequent independent expenditure made or obligated to be made by a person with respect to the primary or election for which a long-form report pursuant to subsection (c) of this section has been filed on behalf of such person, an individual shall file [, electronically,] a short-form report for each such independent expenditure. [, not later than twenty-four hours after such person makes a payment for an independent expenditure or obligates to make such an independent expenditure.] Such short-form report shall identify: (1) The name of the person making or obligating to make such independent expenditure; (2) the amount of the independent expenditure; (3) whether the independent expenditure was in support of or in opposition to a candidate or referendum question and the name of such candidate or text of such referendum question; (4) a brief description of the expenditure made, including the type of communication, based on categories determined by the State Elections Enforcement Commission, and the allocation of such expenditure in support of or in opposition to each candidate, if such expenditure was made in support of or in opposition to more than one candidate; [and] (5) the name, telephone number and electronic mail address for the individual filing such report; and (6) any other information that the State Elections Enforcement Commission may require to facilitate compliance with the provisions of this chapter or chapter 157. Such individual filing such report shall affirm that the expenditure reported is an independent expenditure under penalty of false statement.

(e) No person reporting an independent expenditure pursuant to the provisions of subsection (c) or (d) of this section shall be required to file a statement pursuant to section 9-608, as amended by this act, for such independent expenditure.

(f) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, as part of any statement filed pursuant to this section, if a person who makes or obligates to make an independent expenditure (A) has received a covered transfer during the twelve-month period prior to a primary or election, as applicable to the reported expenditure, [for an office that a candidate described in subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of this section is seeking,] and (B) such independent expenditure is made or obligated to be made on or after the date that is one hundred eighty days prior to such primary or election, such person shall disclose the source and the amount of any such covered transfer such person received that is in an amount that is five thousand dollars or more, in the aggregate, during the twelve-month period prior to such primary or election, as applicable to the reported expenditure.

(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply to any person who discloses the source and amount of a covered transfer described in subdivision (1) of this subsection as part of any report to the Federal Election Commission or the Internal Revenue Service, provided such person includes a copy of, or information sufficient to find, any such report as part of the report of each applicable independent expenditure pursuant to this section. If a source and amount of a covered transfer is not included as part of any such report, the maker of the expenditure shall disclose the source and amount of such covered transfer pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, if applicable.

(g) (1) A person may, unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, including, but not limited to, any provision of this chapter or chapter 157, establish a dedicated independent expenditure account, for the purpose of engaging in independent expenditures, that is segregated from all other accounts controlled by such person. Such dedicated independent expenditure account may receive covered transfers directly from persons other than the person establishing the dedicated account and may not receive transfers from another account controlled by the person establishing the dedicated account, except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection. If an independent expenditure is made from such segregated account, any report required pursuant to this section or disclaimer required pursuant to section 9-621, as amended by this act, may include only those persons who made covered transfers directly to the dedicated independent expenditure account.

(2) If a person who has made a covered transfer to another account controlled by the person establishing a dedicated independent expenditure account requests that such covered transfer be used for the purposes of making an independent expenditure from the dedicated independent expenditure account, the amount of such covered transfer may be transferred to the dedicated independent expenditure account and shall be treated as a covered transfer directly to the dedicated independent expenditure account.

(h) Any person may file a complaint with the commission upon the belief that (1) any such independent expenditure report or statement is false, or (2) any person who is required to file an independent expenditure report under this subsection has failed to do so. The commission shall make a prompt determination on such a complaint.

(i) (1) If a person fails to file a report in accordance with the provisions of this section for an independent expenditure or expenditures made or obligated to be made more than ninety days before the day of a primary or election, the person shall be subject to a civil penalty, imposed by the State Elections Enforcement Commission, of not more than ten thousand dollars. If a person fails to file a report required in accordance with the provisions of this section for an independent expenditure or expenditures made or obligated to be made ninety days or less before the day of a primary or election, such person shall be subject to a civil penalty, imposed by the State Elections Enforcement Commission, of not more than twenty thousand dollars or twice the amount of any unreported expenditure, whichever is greater.

(2) If any such failure is knowing and wilful, the person responsible for the failure shall also be fined not more than fifty thousand dollars or ten times the amount of any unreported expenditure, whichever is greater, and the commission may refer the matter to the office of the Chief State's Attorney.

Sec. 6. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-603 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) Statements filed by party committees, political committees formed to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question proposing a constitutional convention, constitutional amendment or revision of the Constitution, individual lobbyists, [and] those political committees and candidate committees formed to aid or promote the success or defeat of any candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney General, judge of probate and members of the General Assembly and those persons making independent expenditures in excess of one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, for any such candidates or referendum questions pursuant to section 9-610d, as amended by this act, shall be filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. A political committee formed for a slate of candidates in a primary for the office of justice of the peace shall file statements with the town clerk of the municipality in which the primary is to be held.

(b) Statements filed by political committees formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question to be voted upon by the electors of a single municipality, [and] those political committees or candidate committees formed to aid or promote the success or defeat of any candidate for public office, other than those enumerated in subsection (a) of this section, or the position of town committee member and those persons making any independent expenditure or expenditures in excess of one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, for any such candidates or referendum questions pursuant to section 9-601d, as amended by this act, shall be filed only with the town clerk of the municipality in which the election or referendum is to be held. Each unsalaried town clerk shall be entitled to receive ten cents from the town for the filing of each such statement.

Sec. 7. Subsections (b) to (d), inclusive, of section 9-605 of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(b) The registration statement shall include: (1) The name and address of the committee; (2) a statement of the purpose of the committee; (3) the name and address of its treasurer, and deputy treasurer if applicable; (4) the name, address and position of its chairman, and other principal officers if applicable; (5) the name and address of the depository institution for its funds; (6) the name of each person, other than an individual, that is a member of the committee; (7) the name and party affiliation of each candidate whom the committee is supporting and the office or position sought by each candidate; (8) if the committee is supporting the entire ticket of any party, a statement to that effect and the name of the party; (9) if the committee is supporting or opposing any referendum question, a brief statement identifying the substance of the question; (10) if the committee is established by a business entity or organization or by an individual acting as the agent of another person, the name of the [entity or organization] entity, organization or other person; (11) if the committee is established by an organization, whether it will receive its funds from the organization's treasury or from voluntary contributions; (12) if the committee or the person establishing the committee through an individual agent files reports with the Federal Elections Commission or any out-of-state agency, a statement to that effect including the name of the agency; (13) a statement indicating whether the committee is established for a single primary, election or referendum or for ongoing political activities; (14) if the committee is established or controlled by a lobbyist, a statement to that effect and the name of the lobbyist; (15) the name and address of the person making the initial contribution or disbursement, if any, to the committee; and (16) any information that the State Elections Enforcement Commission requires to facilitate compliance with the provisions of this chapter or chapter 157. If no such initial contribution or disbursement has been made at the time of the filing of such statement, the treasurer of the committee shall, not later than forty-eight hours after receipt of such contribution or disbursement, file a report with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The report shall be in the same form as statements filed under section 9-608, as amended by this act.

(c) The treasurer of each political committee shall report any addition to or change in information previously submitted in a statement of organization to the proper authority not later than ten days after the addition or change, provided if an officer of the committee has changed, such amended statement shall be filed by the chairperson of the committee.

(d) A group of two or more individuals who have joined solely to promote the success or defeat of a referendum question or to form an independent expenditure political committee shall not be required to file as a political committee, make such designations in accordance with subsections (a) and (b) of this section or file statements pursuant to section 9-608, [if] as amended by this act, provided the group does not receive [or expend] any contribution or contributions or make or incur any expenditure or expenditures in excess of one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, for the entire campaign. If the group receives [funds] contributions or makes or incurs expenditures exceeding one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, the group shall complete the statement of organization and file as a political committee not later than (1) three business days thereafter for a group formed solely to promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, or (2) ten business days thereafter for an independent expenditure political committee. The group shall provide the designated treasurer with all information required for completion of the statements for filing as required by section 9-608, as amended by this act.

Sec. 8. Subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 9-607 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(g) (1) As used in this subsection, (A) "the lawful purposes of the committee" means: (i) For a candidate committee or exploratory committee, the promoting of the nomination or election of the candidate who established the committee, except that after a political party nominates candidates for election to the offices of Governor and Lieutenant Governor, whose names shall be so placed on the ballot in the election that an elector will cast a single vote for both candidates, as prescribed in section 9-181, a candidate committee established by either such candidate may also promote the election of the other such candidate; (ii) for a political committee, the promoting of a political party, including party building activities, the success or defeat of candidates for nomination and election to public office or position subject to the requirements of this chapter, or the success or defeat of referendum questions, provided a political committee formed for a single referendum question shall not promote the success or defeat of any candidate, and provided further a legislative leadership committee or a legislative caucus committee may expend funds to defray costs for conducting legislative or constituency-related business which are not reimbursed or paid by the state; [and] (iii) for a party committee, the promoting of the party, party building activities, the candidates of the party and continuing operating costs of the party; and (iv) for an independent expenditure political committee, the promoting of a political party, the success or defeat of any candidate for nomination or election to public office or position subject to the requirements of this chapter, or the success or defeat of any referendum question, provided an independent expenditure political committee shall act entirely independently of any candidate or agent thereof, candidate committee, political committee or party committee, and (B) "immediate family" means a spouse or dependent child of a candidate who resides in the candidate's household.

Sec. 9. Subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of section 9-608 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(c) (1) Each statement filed under subsection (a), (e) or (f) of this section shall include, but not be limited to: (A) An itemized accounting of each contribution, if any, including the full name and complete address of each contributor and the amount of the contribution and, for an independent expenditure political committee, if any contributor is a recipient of a covered transfer or transfers amounting to twenty-five thousand dollars or more, in the aggregate, the name of any person or persons who made the covered transfer or transfers to such recipient during the twelve-month period prior to the primary or election, as applicable; (B) an itemized accounting of each expenditure, if any, including the full name and complete address of each payee, including secondary payees whenever the primary or principal payee is known to include charges which the primary payee has already paid or will pay directly to another person, vendor or entity, the amount and the purpose of the expenditure, the candidate supported or opposed by the expenditure, whether the expenditure is made independently of the candidate supported or is an in-kind contribution to the candidate, and a statement of the balance on hand or deficit, as the case may be; (C) an itemized accounting of each expense incurred but not paid, provided if the expense is incurred by use of a credit card, the accounting shall include secondary payees, and the amount owed to each such payee; (D) the name and address of any person who is the guarantor of a loan to, or the cosigner of a note with, the candidate on whose behalf the committee was formed, or the treasurer in the case of a party committee or a political committee or who has advanced a security deposit to a telephone company, as defined in section 16-1, for telecommunications service for a committee; (E) for each business entity or person purchasing advertising space in a program for a fund-raising affair or on signs at a fund-raising affair, the name and address of the business entity or the name and address of the person, and the amount and aggregate amounts of such purchases; (F) for each individual who contributes in excess of one hundred dollars but not more than one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, to the extent known, the principal occupation of such individual and the name of the individual's employer, if any; (G) for each individual who contributes in excess of one thousand dollars in the aggregate, the principal occupation of such individual and the name of the individual's employer, if any; (H) for each itemized contribution made by a lobbyist, the spouse of a lobbyist or any dependent child of a lobbyist who resides in the lobbyist's household, a statement to that effect; and (I) for each individual who contributes in excess of four hundred dollars in the aggregate to or for the benefit of any candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or election to the office of chief executive officer or a slate or town committee financing the nomination or election or a candidate for chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, a statement indicating whether the individual or a business with which he is associated has a contract with said municipality that is valued at more than five thousand dollars. Each treasurer shall include in such statement (i) an itemized accounting of the receipts and expenditures relative to any testimonial affair held under the provisions of section 9-609 or any other fund-raising affair, which is referred to in subsection (b) of section 9-601a, and (ii) the date, location and a description of the affair, except that a treasurer shall not be required to include the name of any individual who has purchased items at a fund-raising affair or food at a town fair, county fair or similar mass gathering, if the cumulative value of items purchased by such individual does not exceed one hundred dollars, or the name of any individual who has donated food or beverages for a meeting. A treasurer shall not be required to report or retain any receipts or expenditures related to any de minimis donations described in subdivision (17) of subsection (b) of section 9-601a.

Sec. 10. Section 9-611 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, for the benefit of, or pursuant to the authorization or request of, a candidate or a committee supporting or opposing any candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary, or any candidate's campaign for election, to the office of (1) Governor, in excess of three thousand five hundred dollars; (2) Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney General, in excess of two thousand dollars; (3) chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, in excess of one thousand dollars; (4) state senator or probate judge, in excess of one thousand dollars; or (5) state representative or any other office of a municipality not previously included in this subsection, in excess of two hundred fifty dollars. The limits imposed by this subsection shall be applied separately to primaries and elections.

(b) (1) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, an exploratory committee, in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars, if the candidate establishing the exploratory committee certifies on the statement of organization for the exploratory committee pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-604 that the candidate will not be a candidate for the office of state representative. No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, any exploratory committee, in excess of two hundred fifty dollars, if the candidate establishing the exploratory committee does not so certify.

(2) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, a political committee formed by a slate of candidates in a primary for the office of justice of the peace, in excess of two hundred fifty dollars.

[(c) No individual shall make contributions to such candidates or committees which in the aggregate exceed thirty thousand dollars for any single election and primary preliminary to such election.]

[(d)] (c) No individual shall make a contribution to any candidate or committee, other than a contribution in kind, in excess of one hundred dollars except by personal check or credit card of that individual.

[(e)] (d) No individual who is less than eighteen years of age shall make a contribution or contributions, in excess of thirty dollars to, for the benefit of, or pursuant to the authorization or request of: (1) A candidate or a committee supporting or opposing any candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary to any office; (2) a candidate or a committee supporting or opposing any candidate's campaign for election to any office; (3) an exploratory committee; (4) any other political committee in any calendar year; or (5) a party committee in any calendar year. Notwithstanding any provision of subdivision (2) of section 9-7b, any individual who is less than eighteen years of age who violates any provision of this subsection shall not be subject to the provisions of subdivision (2) of section 9-7b.

Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 9-612 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions in any one calendar year in excess of ten thousand dollars to the state central committee of any party, or for the benefit of such committee pursuant to its authorization or request; or two thousand dollars to a town committee of any political party, or for the benefit of such committee pursuant to its authorization or request; or two thousand dollars to a legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee, or one thousand dollars to any other political committee other than (1) a political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, (2) an exploratory committee, (3) a political committee established by an organization, or for the benefit of such committee pursuant to its authorization or request, [or] (4) a political committee formed by a slate of candidates in a primary for the office of justice of the peace of the same town, or (5) an independent expenditure political committee.

Sec. 12. Section 9-613 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) No business entity shall make any contributions or expenditures to, or for the benefit of, any candidate's campaign for election to any public office or position subject to this chapter or for nomination at a primary for any such office or position, or to promote the defeat of any candidate for any such office or position. No business entity shall make any other [contributions or expenditures] contributions, including coordinated expenditures, as described in section 9-601c, as amended by this act, to promote the success or defeat of any political party, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. No business entity shall establish more than one political committee. A political committee shall be deemed to have been established by a business entity if the initial disbursement or contribution to the committee is made under subsection (b) of this section or by an officer, director, owner, limited or general partner or holder of stock constituting five per cent or more of the total outstanding stock of any class of the business entity.

(b) A business entity may make reasonable and necessary transfers or disbursements to or for the benefit of a political committee established by such business entity, for the administration of, or solicitation of contributions to, such political committee. Nonmonetary contributions by a business entity which are incidental in nature and are directly attributable to the administration of such political committee shall be exempt from the reporting requirements of this chapter.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not preclude a business entity from making contributions or expenditures to promote the success or defeat of a referendum question.

(d) [A] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a political committee organized by a business entity shall not make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, any candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or any candidate's campaign for election to the office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five thousand dollars; (2) Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney General, in excess of three thousand dollars; (3) state senator, probate judge or chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars; (4) state representative, in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars; or (5) any other office of a municipality not included in subdivision (3) of this subsection, in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars. The limits imposed by this subsection shall apply separately to primaries and elections and contributions by any such committee to candidates designated in this subsection shall not exceed one hundred thousand dollars in the aggregate for any single election and primary preliminary thereto. Contributions to such committees shall also be subject to the provisions of section 9-618, as amended by this act, in the case of committees formed for ongoing political activity or section 9-619, as amended by this act, in the case of committees formed for a single election or primary.

(e) [No] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, no political committee organized by a business entity shall make a contribution or contributions to (1) a state central committee of a political party, in excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars in any calendar year, (2) a town committee of any political party, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars in any calendar year, (3) an exploratory committee in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars, or (4) any other kind of political committee, in excess of two thousand dollars in any calendar year.

(f) No independent expenditure political committee organized by a business entity may make any contribution, unless the recipient of such contribution is another independent expenditure political committee.

[(f)] (g) As used in this subsection, "investment services" means investment legal services, investment banking services, investment advisory services, underwriting services, financial advisory services or brokerage firm services. No political committee established by a firm which provides investment services and to which the State Treasurer pays compensation, expenses or fees or issues a contract shall make a contribution to, or solicit contributions on behalf of, an exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a candidate for nomination or election to the office of State Treasurer during the term of office of the State Treasurer who does business with such firm.

[(g)] (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a corporation, cooperative association, limited partnership, professional association, limited liability company or limited liability partnership, whether formed in this state or any other, [acting alone,] may make independent expenditures or contributions to independent expenditure political committees.

Sec. 13. Section 9-614 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) An organization may make [contributions or] contributions, including coordinated expenditures, other than those made to promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, only by first forming its own political committee. The political committee shall then be authorized to receive funds exclusively from the organization's treasury or from voluntary contributions made by its members, but not both, from another political committee or, from a candidate committee distributing a surplus and (1) to make contributions or expenditures to, or for the benefit of, a candidate's campaign or a political party, or (2) to make contributions to another political committee. No organization shall form more than one political committee. A political committee shall be deemed to have been established by an organization if the initial contribution to the committee is made by the organization's treasury or an officer or director of the organization.

(b) A political committee established by an organization may elect to alter the manner in which it is funded if it complies with the requirements of this subsection. The committee chairperson shall notify the repository with which the committee's most recent statement of organization is filed, in writing, of the committee's intent to alter its manner of funding. Within fifteen days after the date of receipt of such notification, the treasurer of such political committee shall return any funds remaining in the account of the committee to the organization's treasury after payment of each outstanding liability. Within seven days after the distribution and payments have been made, the treasurer shall file a statement with the same repository itemizing each such distribution and payment. Upon such filing, the treasurer may receive voluntary contributions from any member of the organization which established such committee subject to the limitations imposed in subsection (b) of section 9-612.

(c) The chairperson of each political committee established by an organization on or after July 1, 1985, shall designate the manner in which the committee shall be funded in the committee's statement of organization.

(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, an organization [, acting alone,] may make independent expenditures and contributions to independent expenditure political committees.

Sec. 14. Section 9-615 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) No political committee established by an organization shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, any candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or for election to the office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five thousand dollars; (2) Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney General, in excess of three thousand dollars; (3) chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars; (4) state senator or probate judge, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars; (5) state representative, in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars; or (6) any other office of a municipality not previously included in this subsection, in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars.

(b) No such committee shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, an exploratory committee, in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars. Any such committee may make unlimited contributions to a political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question.

(c) The limits imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall apply separately to primaries and elections and no such committee shall make contributions to the candidates designated in this section which in the aggregate exceed fifty thousand dollars for any single election and primary preliminary thereto.

(d) [No] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, no political committee established by an organization shall make contributions in any one calendar year to, or for the benefit of, (1) the state central committee of a political party, in excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars; (2) a town committee, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars; or (3) any political committee, other than an exploratory committee or a committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, in excess of two thousand dollars.

(e) Contributions to a political committee established by an organization for the purpose of making contributions, including coordinated expenditures, shall be subject to the provisions of section 9-618, as amended by this act, in the case of a committee formed for ongoing political activity or section 9-619, as amended by this act, in the case of a committee formed for a single election or primary.

(f) No independent expenditure political committee established by an organization may make any contribution, unless the recipient of such contribution is another independent expenditure political committee.

Sec. 15. Subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of section 9-617 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(2) No state central committee shall make a contribution or contributions in any one calendar year to, or for the benefit of (A) a legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee, in excess of ten thousand dollars, or (B) any other political committee, other than an exploratory committee or a committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question or an independent expenditure political committee, in excess of two thousand five hundred dollars. No state central committee shall make contributions in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory committee.

Sec. 16. Subsection (a) of section 9-618 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) A political committee organized for ongoing political activities may make unlimited contributions to, or for the benefit of, any national committee of a political party; or a committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office. Except as provided in subdivision (3) of subsection (d) of this section, no such political committee shall make a contribution or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to another political committee in any calendar year. No political committee organized for ongoing political activities shall make a contribution in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory committee. If such an ongoing committee is established by an organization or a business entity, its contributions shall be subject to the limits imposed by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this act. A political committee organized for ongoing political activities may make [contributions] donations to a charitable organization which is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as from time to time amended, or make memorial [contributions] donations. No independent expenditure political committee organized for ongoing political activities may make any contribution, unless the recipient of such contribution is another independent expenditure political committee.

Sec. 17. Subsection (a) of section 9-619 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) No political committee established for a single primary or election shall make contributions to a national committee, or a committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office. If such a political committee is established by an organization or a business entity, its contributions shall also be subject to the limitations imposed by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this act. Except as provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, no political committee formed for a single election or primary shall, with respect to such election or primary make a contribution or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to another political committee, provided no such political committee shall make a contribution in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory committee. No independent expenditure political committee established for a single primary or election may make any contribution, unless the recipient of such contribution is another independent expenditure political committee.

Sec. 18. Subsection (j) of section 9-621 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(j) [(1) Except as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection, if] If any person whose name is included on a disclaimer of a communication pursuant to the provisions of this section, as a person who made a covered transfer to the maker of the communication, is also a recipient of a covered transfer, the maker of the communication, as part of any report filed pursuant to section 9-601d, as amended by this act, or 9-608, as amended by this act, associated with the making of such communication, shall include the names of the five persons who made the top five largest aggregate covered transfers to such recipient during the twelve-month period [immediately prior to the primary or election, as applicable] prior to the covered transfer to the recipient and the amount of such covered transfer.

[(2) The name of any person who made a covered transfer to a tax-exempt organization recognized under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, that has not had its tax exempt status revoked, shall not be disclosed pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection.

(3) The name of any person who made a covered transfer to a person whose name is included on a disclaimer pursuant to the provisions of this section shall not be disclosed pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection if the recipient of such covered transfer accepts covered transfers from at least one hundred different sources, provided no such source accounts for ten per cent or more of the total amount of covered transfers accepted by the recipient during the twelve-month period immediately prior to the primary or election, as applicable.]

Sec. 19. Subsection (a) of section 9-703 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) Each candidate for nomination or election to the office of state senator or state representative in 2008, or thereafter, or the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer in 2010, or thereafter, shall file an affidavit with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The affidavit shall include a written certification that the candidate either intends to abide by the expenditure limits under the Citizens' Election Program set forth in subsection (c) of section 9-702, or does not intend to abide by said limits. If the candidate intends to abide by said limits, the affidavit shall also include written certifications (1) that the treasurer of the candidate committee for said candidate shall expend any moneys received from the Citizens' Election Fund in accordance with the provisions of subsection (g) of section 9-607, as amended by this act, and regulations adopted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission under subsection (e) of section 9-706, (2) that the candidate shall repay to the fund any such moneys that are not expended in accordance with subsection (g) of section 9-607, as amended by this act, and said regulations, (3) that the candidate and the treasurer shall comply with the provisions of subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 9-711, and (4) stating the candidate's status as a major party, minor party or petitioning party candidate and, in the case of a major party or minor party candidate, the name of such party. The written certification described in subdivision (3) of this subsection shall be made by both the candidate and the treasurer of the candidate committee for said candidate. A candidate for nomination or election to any such office shall file such affidavit not later than four o'clock p.m. on the twenty-fifth day before the day of a primary, if applicable, or on [the fortieth day before the day of the election for such office] August fifteenth in the year in which the election for such office is held, except that in the case of a special election for the office of state senator or state representative, the candidate shall file such affidavit not later than four o'clock p.m. on the twenty-fifth day before the day of such special election. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a candidate who is not required to form a candidate committee pursuant to subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 9-604, files a certification with the commission pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-603 and does not intend to participate in the Citizens' Election Program shall not be required to file such affidavit of intent not to abide by the expenditure limits of said program. Any such candidate shall be referred to as a nonparticipating candidate, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section.

Sec. 20. Section 9-452 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

[All] (a) Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section for participants in the Citizens' Election Program under chapter 157, minor parties nominating candidates for any elective office shall make such nominations and certify and file a list of such nominations, as required by this section, not later than the sixty-second day prior to the day of the election at which such candidates are to be voted for. A list of nominees in printed or typewritten form that includes each candidate's name as authorized by each candidate to appear on the ballot, the signature of each candidate, the full street address of each candidate and the title and district of the office for which each candidate is nominated shall be certified by the presiding officer of the committee, meeting or other authority making such nomination and shall be filed by such presiding officer with the Secretary of the State, in the case of state or district office or the municipal office of state representative, state senator or judge of probate, or with the clerk of the municipality, in the case of municipal office, not later than the sixty-second day prior to the day of the election. The registrars of voters of such municipality shall promptly verify and correct the names on any such list filed with him, or the names of nominees forwarded to the clerk of the municipality by the Secretary of the State, in accordance with the registry list of such municipality and endorse the same as having been so verified and corrected. For purposes of this section, a list of nominations shall be deemed to be filed when it is received by the Secretary or clerk, as appropriate.

(b) For any participant in the Citizens' Election Program under chapter 157 seeking the state office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer or the state or district office or the municipal office of state senator or state representative, a candidacy shall be filed not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-third day preceding the second Tuesday in August in the year in which the election for such office is held.

Sec. 21. Subsection (a) of section 9-453i of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(a) [Each] (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection for participants in the Citizens' Election Program under chapter 157, each page of a nominating petition proposing a candidate for an office to be filled at a regular election shall be submitted to the appropriate town clerk or to the Secretary of the State not later than four o'clock p.m. on the ninetieth day preceding the day of the regular election.

(2) For any participant in the Citizens' Election Program under chapter 157 seeking the state office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer or the state or district office or the municipal office of state senator or state representative, a candidacy shall be filed not later than four o'clock p.m. on the sixty-third day preceding the second Tuesday in August in the year in which the election for such office is held.

Sec. 22. Subsection (d) of section 9-705 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(d) For elections held in 2014, and thereafter, the amount of the grants in subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than January 15, [2014] 2018, and quadrennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2010, and ending on December thirty-first in the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made.

Sec. 23. Subsection (h) of section 9-705 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(h) For elections held in 2010, and thereafter, the amount of the grants in subsections (e), (f) and (g) of this section shall be adjusted by the State Elections Enforcement Commission not later than January 15, [2010] 2018, and biennially thereafter, in accordance with any change in the consumer price index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the period beginning on January 1, 2008, and ending on December thirty-first in the year preceding the year in which said adjustment is to be made.

Sec. 24. Subsection (j) of section 9-705 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(j) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section:

(1) The initial grant that a qualified candidate committee for a candidate is eligible to receive under subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section shall be reduced by the amount of any personal funds that the candidate provides for the candidate's campaign for nomination or election pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-710;

(2) If a participating candidate is nominated at a primary and does not expend the entire grant for the primary campaign authorized under subsection (a), (b), (e) or (f) of this section, the amount of the grant for the general election campaign shall be reduced by the total amount of any such unexpended primary campaign grant and moneys;

(3) If a participating candidate who is nominated for election does not have any opponent in the general election campaign, the amount of the general election campaign grant for which the qualified candidate committee for said candidate shall be eligible shall be [thirty] twenty per cent of the applicable amount set forth in subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of this section. For purposes of this subdivision, a participating candidate shall be deemed to have an opponent if (A) a major party has properly endorsed any other candidate and made the requisite filing with the Secretary of the State within the time specified in section 9-391 or 9-400, as applicable, (B) any candidate of any other major party has received not less than fifteen per cent of the vote of convention delegates and has complied with the filing requirements set forth in section 9-400, or (C) any candidate of any other major party has circulated a petition and obtained the required number of signatures for filing a candidacy for nomination and has either qualified for the primary or been deemed the party's nominee;

(4) If the only opponent or opponents of a participating candidate who is nominated for election to an office are eligible minor party candidates or eligible petitioning party candidates and no such eligible minor party candidate's or eligible petitioning party candidate's candidate committee has received a total amount of contributions of any type that is equal to or greater than the amount of the qualifying contributions that a candidate for such office is required to receive under section 9-704 to be eligible for grants from the Citizens' Election Fund, the amount of the general election campaign grant for such participating candidate shall be sixty per cent of the applicable amount set forth in this section; and

(5) The amount of the primary grant or general election campaign grant for a qualified candidate committee shall be reduced, pursuant to the provisions of this subdivision, if such candidate committee has control and custody over lawn signs from any prior election or primary in the following applicable amount: (A) Five hundred or more lawn signs for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer, (B) one hundred or more lawn signs for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state senator, or (C) fifty or more lawn signs for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state representative. If such qualified candidate committee has custody and control over lawn signs in the applicable amount, as described in this subdivision, the grant from the fund for the primary campaign or general election campaign, as applicable, for such qualified candidate committee shall be reduced as follows: (i) Two thousand five hundred dollars for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, Secretary of the State or State Treasurer, (ii) five hundred dollars for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state senator, or (iii) two hundred fifty dollars for the qualified candidate committee of a candidate for the office of state representative. In no event shall such a reduction be made both to a qualified candidate committee's primary campaign grant and to such candidate committee's general election grant. No reduction in either the primary campaign or general election campaign for a qualified candidate committee's grant shall be taken for any lawn sign that is not in the custody or control of the qualified candidate committee. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to apply to any item other than lawn signs.

Sec. 25. Subdivision (5) of subsection (a) of section 9-7b of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage):

(5) (A) To inspect or audit at any reasonable time and upon reasonable notice the accounts or records of any treasurer or principal treasurer, except as provided for in subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, as required by chapter 155 or 157 and to audit any such election, primary or referendum held within the state; provided, (i) (I) not later than [two months preceding the day of an election at which a candidate is seeking election] three months after the notification described in subparagraph (C) of this subdivision, the commission shall complete any audit it has initiated in the absence of a complaint that involves a committee of the same candidate from a previous election, and (II) during the two-month period preceding the day of an election at which a candidate is seeking election, the commission shall not initiate an audit in the absence of a complaint that involves a committee of the same candidate from a previous election, and (ii) the commission shall not audit any caucus, as defined in subdivision (1) of section 9-372. (B) When conducting an audit after an election or primary, the commission shall randomly audit not more than fifty per cent of candidate committees, which shall be selected through the process of a lottery conducted by the commission, except that the commissioner shall (i) audit all candidate committees for candidates for a state-wide office, and (ii) not audit the candidate committee of (I) any candidate for state senator, judge of probate or state representative whose candidate committee was audited at the preceding election or primary for the same such office, or (II) any candidate for a municipal office, as defined in section 9-372, other than that of state senator, judge of probate or state representative, whose candidate committee was audited at the preceding election or primary for the same such office. (C) The commission shall notify, in writing, any committee of a candidate for an office in the general election, or of any candidate who had a primary for nomination to any such office not later than May thirty-first of the year immediately following such election. In no case shall the commission audit any such candidate committee that the commission fails to provide notice to in accordance with this subparagraph;

Sec. 26. Subdivision (8) of subsection (b) of section 9-706-2 of the regulations of Connecticut state agencies is repealed. (Effective from passage)

This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following sections:
Section 1	from passage	9-601
Sec. 2	from passage	9-601a(a)
Sec. 3	from passage	9-601b(a) and (b)
Sec. 4	from passage	9-601c
Sec. 5	from passage	9-601d
Sec. 6	from passage	9-603(a) and (b)
Sec. 7	from passage	9-605(b) to (d)
Sec. 8	from passage	9-607(g)(1)
Sec. 9	from passage	9-608(c)(1)
Sec. 10	from passage	9-611
Sec. 11	from passage	9-612(a)
Sec. 12	from passage	9-613
Sec. 13	from passage	9-614
Sec. 14	from passage	9-615
Sec. 15	from passage	9-617(b)(2)
Sec. 16	from passage	9-618(a)
Sec. 17	from passage	9-619(a)
Sec. 18	from passage	9-621(j)
Sec. 19	from passage	9-703(a)
Sec. 20	from passage	9-452
Sec. 21	from passage	9-453i(a)
Sec. 22	from passage	9-705(d)
Sec. 23	from passage	9-705(h)
Sec. 24	from passage	9-705(j)
Sec. 25	from passage	9-7b(a)(5)
Sec. 26	from passage	Repealer section

Statement of Purpose:

To increase disclosure with respect to independent expenditures, to clarify distinctions between coordinated and independent spending, enhancing enforcement of campaign finance laws and to conform statutes to rulings by the United States Supreme Court and the Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not underlined.]