Connecticut 2021 Regular Session

Connecticut House Bill HB06663 Compare Versions

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7-General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 6663
4+LCO No. 4980 1 of 14
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6+General Assembly Raised Bill No. 6663
87 January Session, 2021
8+LCO No. 4980
9+
10+
11+Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION
12+AND ELECTIONS
13+
14+
15+Introduced by:
16+(GAE)
17+
918
1019
1120
1221 AN ACT REVISING CERTAIN CAMPAIGN FINANCE STATUTES.
1322 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
1423 Assembly convened:
1524
1625 Section 1. Section 9-611 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
1726 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 2
1827 (a) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, for 3
1928 the benefit of, or pursuant to the authorization or request of, a candidate 4
2029 or a committee supporting or opposing any candidate's campaign for 5
2130 nomination at a primary, or any candidate's campaign for election, to 6
2231 the office of (1) Governor, in excess of three thousand five hundred 7
2332 dollars; (2) Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, 8
2433 Comptroller or Attorney General, in excess of two thousand dollars; (3) 9
2534 chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, in excess of one 10
2635 thousand dollars; (4) state senator or probate judge, in excess of one 11
2736 thousand dollars; or (5) state representative or any other office of a 12
2837 municipality not previously included in this subsection, in excess of two 13
2938 hundred fifty dollars. The limits imposed by this subsection shall be 14
3039 applied separately to primaries and elections. 15
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3142 (b) (1) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or 16
3243 for the benefit of, an exploratory committee, in excess of three hundred 17
3344 seventy-five dollars, if the candidate establishing the exploratory 18
34-committee certifies on the statement of organization for the exploratory 19 Substitute Bill No. 6663
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45+committee certifies on the statement of organization for the exploratory 19
4146 committee pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-604 that the candidate 20
4247 will not be a candidate for the office of state representative. No 21
4348 individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for the 22
4449 benefit of, any exploratory committee, in excess of two hundred fifty 23
4550 dollars, if the candidate establishing the exploratory committee does not 24
4651 so certify. 25
4752 (2) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for 26
4853 the benefit of, a political committee formed by a slate of candidates in a 27
4954 primary for the office of justice of the peace, in excess of two hundred 28
5055 fifty dollars. 29
5156 [(c) No individual shall make contributions to such candidates or 30
5257 committees which in the aggregate exceed thirty thousand dollars for 31
5358 any single election and primary preliminary to such election.] 32
5459 [(d)] (c) No individual shall make a contribution to any candidate or 33
5560 committee, other than a contribution in kind, in excess of one hundred 34
5661 dollars except by personal check or credit card of that individual. 35
5762 [(e)] (d) No individual who is less than eighteen years of age shall 36
5863 make a contribution or contributions, in excess of thirty dollars to, for 37
5964 the benefit of, or pursuant to the authorization or request of: (1) A 38
6065 candidate or a committee supporting or opposing any candidate's 39
6166 campaign for nomination at a primary to any office; (2) a candidate or a 40
6267 committee supporting or opposing any candidate's campaign for 41
6368 election to any office; (3) an exploratory committee; (4) any other 42
6469 political committee in any calendar year; or (5) a party committee in any 43
6570 calendar year. Notwithstanding any provision of subdivision (2) of 44
6671 section 9-7b, any individual who is less than eighteen years of age who 45
6772 violates any provision of this subsection shall not be subject to the 46
6873 provisions of subdivision (2) of section 9-7b. 47
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6976 Sec. 2. Section 9-601 of the general statutes is amended by adding 48
7077 subdivision (32) as follows (Effective October 1, 2021): 49
71-(NEW) (32) "Independent expenditure political committee" means a 50 Substitute Bill No. 6663
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78+(NEW) (32) "Independent expenditure political committee" means a 50
7879 political committee that makes only (A) independent expenditures, and 51
7980 (B) contributions to other independent expenditure political 52
8081 committees. 53
8182 Sec. 3. Subdivision (3) of section 9-601 of the general statutes is 54
8283 repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 55
8384 1, 2021): 56
8485 (3) "Political committee" means (A) a committee organized by a 57
8586 business entity or organization, (B) persons other than individuals, or 58
8687 two or more individuals organized or acting jointly conducting their 59
8788 activities in or outside the state, (C) an exploratory committee, (D) a 60
8889 committee established by or on behalf of a slate of candidates in a 61
8990 primary for the office of justice of the peace, but does not mean a 62
9091 candidate committee or a party committee, (E) a legislative caucus 63
9192 committee, [or] (F) a legislative leadership committee, or (G) an 64
9293 independent expenditure political committee. 65
9394 Sec. 4. Subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 9-607 of the general 66
9495 statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 67
9596 (Effective October 1, 2021): 68
9697 (g) (1) As used in this subsection, (A) "the lawful purposes of the 69
9798 committee" means: (i) For a candidate committee or exploratory 70
9899 committee, the promoting of the nomination or election of the candidate 71
99100 who established the committee, except that after a political party 72
100101 nominates candidates for election to the offices of Governor and 73
101102 Lieutenant Governor, whose names shall be so placed on the ballot in 74
102103 the election that an elector will cast a single vote for both candidates, as 75
103104 prescribed in section 9-181, a candidate committee established by either 76
104105 such candidate may also promote the election of the other such 77
105106 candidate; (ii) for a political committee, other than an independent 78
106107 expenditure political committee described in subparagraph (A)(iv) of 79
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107110 this subdivision, the promoting of (I) a political party, including party 80
108111 building activities, (II) the success or defeat of candidates for 81
109-nomination [and] or election to public office or position subject to the 82 Substitute Bill No. 6663
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112+nomination [and] or election to public office or position subject to the 82
116113 requirements of this chapter, or (III) the success or defeat of referendum 83
117114 questions, provided a political committee formed for a single 84
118115 referendum question shall not promote the success or defeat of any 85
119116 candidate, and provided further a legislative leadership committee or a 86
120117 legislative caucus committee may expend funds to defray costs for 87
121118 conducting legislative or constituency-related business which are not 88
122119 reimbursed or paid by the state; [and] (iii) for a party committee, the 89
123120 promoting of the party, party building activities, the candidates of the 90
124121 party and continuing operating costs of the party; and (iv) for an 91
125122 independent expenditure political committee, the promoting of (I) a 92
126123 political party, (II) the success or defeat of candidates for nomination or 93
127124 election to public office or position subject to the requirements of this 94
128125 chapter, or (III) the success or defeat of referendum questions, provided 95
129126 an independent expenditure political committee shall act entirely 96
130127 independently of a candidate, candidate committee, party committee or 97
131128 political committee that is not an independent expenditure political 98
132129 committee, or any agent of such candidate or committee, and (B) 99
133130 "immediate family" means a spouse or dependent child of a candidate 100
134131 who resides in the candidate's household. 101
135132 Sec. 5. Subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 102
136133 9-608 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted 103
137134 in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 104
138135 (C) (i) Each political committee formed solely to aid or promote the 105
139136 success or defeat of any referendum question, which does not receive 106
140137 contributions from a business entity or an organization, shall distribute 107
141138 its surplus to a party committee, to a political committee organized for 108
142139 ongoing political activities, to a national committee of a political party, 109
143140 to all contributors to the committee on a prorated basis of contribution, 110
144141 to state or municipal governments or agencies or to any organization 111
145142 which is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the 112
146143 Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 113
144+LCO No. 4980 5 of 14
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147146 internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time 114
148-amended. 115 Substitute Bill No. 6663
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147+amended. 115
155148 (ii) Each political committee formed solely to aid or promote the 116
156149 success or defeat of any referendum question, which receives 117
157150 contributions from a business entity or an organization, and each 118
158151 independent expenditure political committee other than an 119
159152 independent expenditure political committee formed for ongoing 120
160153 political activities, shall distribute its surplus to all contributors to the 121
161154 committee on a prorated basis of contribution, to state or municipal 122
162155 governments or agencies, or to any organization which is tax-exempt 123
163156 under said provisions of the Internal Revenue Code. 124
164157 (iii) Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a committee 125
165158 formed for a single referendum shall not be required to expend its 126
166159 surplus not later than ninety days after the referendum and may 127
167160 continue in existence if a substantially similar referendum question on 128
168161 the same issue will be submitted to the electorate within six months after 129
169162 the first referendum. If two or more substantially similar referenda on 130
170163 the same issue are submitted to the electorate, each no more than six 131
171164 months apart, the committee shall expend such surplus within ninety 132
172165 days following the date of the last such referendum; 133
173166 Sec. 6. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-612 of the general statutes 134
174167 are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 135
175168 October 1, 2021): 136
176169 (a) (1) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions in any 137
177170 one calendar year in excess of ten thousand dollars to the state central 138
178171 committee of any party, or for the benefit of such committee pursuant 139
179172 to its authorization or request; or two thousand dollars to a town 140
180173 committee of any political party, or for the benefit of such committee 141
181174 pursuant to its authorization or request; or two thousand dollars to a 142
182175 legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee; [,] or 143
183176 one thousand dollars to any other political committee other than [(1)] 144
184177 (A) a political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or 145
185178 defeat of a referendum question, [(2)] (B) an exploratory committee, [(3)] 146
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186181 (C) a political committee established by an organization, or for the 147
187-benefit of such committee pursuant to its authorization or request, [or 148 Substitute Bill No. 6663
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182+benefit of such committee pursuant to its authorization or request, [or 148
194183 (4)] (D) a political committee formed by a slate of candidates in a 149
195184 primary for the office of justice of the peace of the same town, or (E) an 150
196185 independent expenditure political committee. 151
197186 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 152
198187 subsection and unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, an 153
199188 individual may make contributions to an independent expenditure 154
200189 political committee. 155
201190 (b) (1) No individual shall make a contribution to a political 156
202191 committee established by an organization which receives its funds from 157
203192 the organization's treasury. With respect to a political committee 158
204193 established by an organization which has complied with the provisions 159
205194 of subsection (b) or (c) of section 9-614, as amended by this act, and has 160
206195 elected to receive contributions, no individual other than a member of 161
207196 the organization may make contributions to the committee, in which 162
208197 case the individual may contribute not more than seven hundred fifty 163
209198 dollars in any one calendar year to such committee or for the benefit of 164
210199 such committee pursuant to its authorization or request. 165
211200 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 166
212201 subsection and unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, an 167
213202 individual may make contributions to an independent expenditure 168
214203 political committee established by an organization. 169
215204 Sec. 7. Section 9-613 of the general statutes is repealed and the 170
216205 following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 171
217-(a) [No] A business entity shall not make any contributions or 172
218-expenditures (1) to, or for the benefit of, any candidate's campaign (A) 173
219-for election to any public office or position subject to this chapter, or (B) 174
220-for nomination at a primary for any such office or position, or (2) to 175
221-promote the defeat of any candidate for any such office or position. [No] 176
222-A business entity shall not make any other contributions or 177
223-expenditures to promote the success or defeat of any political party. [, 178
224-except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. No] A business 179 Substitute Bill No. 6663
206+(a) [No] Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a 172
207+business entity shall not make any contributions or expenditures (1) to, 173
208+or for the benefit of, any candidate's campaign (A) for election to any 174
209+public office or position subject to this chapter, or (B) for nomination at 175
210+a primary for any such office or position, or (2) to promote the defeat of 176
211+any candidate for any such office or position. [No] A business entity 177
212+shall not make any other contributions or expenditures to promote the 178
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215+success or defeat of any political party. [, except as provided in 179
216+subsection (b) of this section. No] A business entity shall not establish 180
217+more than one political committee. A political committee shall be 181
218+deemed to have been established by a business entity if the initial 182
219+disbursement or contribution to the committee is made under 183
220+subsection (b) of this section or by an officer, director, owner, limited or 184
221+general partner or holder of stock constituting five per cent or more of 185
222+the total outstanding stock of any class of the business entity. 186
223+(b) A business entity may make reasonable and necessary transfers or 187
224+disbursements to or for the benefit of a political committee established 188
225+by such business entity, for the administration of, or solicitation of 189
226+contributions to, such political committee. Nonmonetary contributions 190
227+by a business entity which are incidental in nature and are directly 191
228+attributable to the administration of such political committee shall be 192
229+exempt from the reporting requirements of this chapter. 193
230+(c) The provisions of this section shall not preclude a business entity 194
231+from making contributions or expenditures to promote the success or 195
232+defeat of a referendum question. 196
233+(d) [A] Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a political 197
234+committee organized by a business entity shall not make a contribution 198
235+or contributions to or for the benefit of any candidate's campaign for 199
236+nomination at a primary or any candidate's campaign for election to the 200
237+office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five thousand dollars; (2) Lieutenant 201
238+Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney 202
239+General, in excess of three thousand dollars; (3) state senator, probate 203
240+judge or chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, in excess of 204
241+one thousand five hundred dollars; (4) state representative, in excess of 205
242+seven hundred fifty dollars; or (5) any other office of a municipality not 206
243+included in subdivision (3) of this subsection, in excess of three hundred 207
244+seventy-five dollars. The limits imposed by this subsection shall apply 208
245+separately to primaries and elections and contributions by any such 209
246+committee to candidates designated in this subsection shall not exceed 210
247+one hundred thousand dollars in the aggregate for any single election 211
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250+and primary preliminary thereto. Contributions to such committees 212
251+shall also be subject to the provisions of section 9-618, as amended by 213
252+this act, in the case of committees formed for ongoing political activity 214
253+or section 9-619, as amended by this act, in the case of committees 215
254+formed for a single election or primary. 216
255+(e) [No] Except as provided in subsection (g) of this section, a political 217
256+committee organized by a business entity shall not make a contribution 218
257+or contributions to (1) a state central committee of a political party, in 219
258+excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars in any calendar year, (2) 220
259+a town committee of any political party, in excess of one thousand five 221
260+hundred dollars in any calendar year, (3) an exploratory committee in 222
261+excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars, or (4) any other kind of 223
262+political committee, in excess of two thousand dollars in any calendar 224
263+year. 225
264+(f) As used in this subsection, "investment services" means 226
265+investment legal services, investment banking services, investment 227
266+advisory services, underwriting services, financial advisory services or 228
267+brokerage firm services. [No] A political committee established by a 229
268+firm which provides investment services and to which the State 230
269+Treasurer pays compensation, expenses or fees or issues a contract shall 231
270+not make a contribution to, or solicit contributions on behalf of, an 232
271+exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a 233
272+candidate for nomination or election to the office of State Treasurer 234
273+during the term of office of the State Treasurer who does business with 235
274+such firm. 236
275+(g) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of [this section, a corporation, 237
276+cooperative association, limited partnership, professional association, 238
277+limited liability company or limited liability partnership, whether 239
278+formed in this state or any other, acting alone,] subsections (a) to (f), 240
279+inclusive, of this section, a business entity may make independent 241
280+expenditures. 242
281+(2) An independent expenditure political committee organized by a 243
282+business entity shall not make any contribution unless such contribution 244
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231-entity shall not establish more than one political committee. A political 180
232-committee shall be deemed to have been established by a business entity 181
233-if the initial disbursement or contribution to the committee is made 182
234-under subsection (b) of this section or by an officer, director, owner, 183
235-limited or general partner or holder of stock constituting five per cent or 184
236-more of the total outstanding stock of any class of the business entity. 185
237-(b) A business entity may make reasonable and necessary transfers or 186
238-disbursements to or for the benefit of a political committee established 187
239-by such business entity, for the administration of, or solicitation of 188
240-contributions to, such political committee. Nonmonetary contributions 189
241-by a business entity which are incidental in nature and are directly 190
242-attributable to the administration of such political committee shall be 191
243-exempt from the reporting requirements of this chapter. 192
244-(c) The provisions of this section shall not preclude a business entity 193
245-from making contributions or expenditures to promote the success or 194
246-defeat of a referendum question. 195
247-(d) A political committee organized by a business entity shall not 196
248-make a contribution or contributions to or for the benefit of any 197
249-candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or any candidate's 198
250-campaign for election to the office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five 199
251-thousand dollars; (2) Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, 200
252-Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney General, in excess of three thousand 201
253-dollars; (3) state senator, probate judge or chief executive officer of a 202
254-town, city or borough, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars; 203
255-(4) state representative, in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars; or (5) 204
256-any other office of a municipality not included in subdivision (3) of this 205
257-subsection, in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars. The limits 206
258-imposed by this subsection shall apply separately to primaries and 207
259-elections and contributions by any such committee to candidates 208
260-designated in this subsection shall not exceed one hundred thousand 209
261-dollars in the aggregate for any single election and primary preliminary 210
262-thereto. Contributions to such committees shall also be subject to the 211
263-provisions of section 9-618, as amended by this act, in the case of 212 Substitute Bill No. 6663
285+is to another independent expenditure political committee. 245
286+Sec. 8. Section 9-614 of the general statutes is repealed and the 246
287+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 247
288+An organization may make contributions or expenditures, other than 248
289+[those made to promote] for the purposes of promoting the success or 249
290+defeat of a referendum question, only by first forming its own political 250
291+committee. [The] Unless such political committee is an independent 251
292+expenditure political committee, the political committee shall then be 252
293+authorized to (1) receive funds (A) exclusively from the organization's 253
294+treasury or from voluntary contributions made by its members, but not 254
295+both, (B) from another political committee, or [,] (C) from a candidate 255
296+committee distributing a surplus, and [(1) to] (2) make (A) contributions 256
297+or expenditures to, or for the benefit of, a candidate's campaign or a 257
298+political party, or [(2) to make] (B) contributions to another political 258
299+committee. [No] An organization shall not form more than one political 259
300+committee. A political committee shall be deemed to have been 260
301+established by an organization if the initial contribution to the 261
302+committee is made by the organization's treasury or an officer or 262
303+director of the organization. 263
304+(b) A political committee established by an organization may elect to 264
305+alter the manner in which it is funded if it complies with the 265
306+requirements of this subsection. The committee chairperson shall notify 266
307+the repository with which the committee's most recent statement of 267
308+organization is filed, in writing, of the committee's intent to alter its 268
309+manner of funding. [Within] Not later than fifteen days after the date of 269
310+receipt of such notification, the treasurer of such political committee 270
311+shall return any funds remaining in the account of the committee to the 271
312+organization's treasury after payment of each outstanding liability. 272
313+[Within] Not later than seven days after the distribution and payments 273
314+have been made, the treasurer shall file a statement with the same 274
315+repository itemizing each such distribution and payment. Upon such 275
316+filing, the treasurer may receive voluntary contributions from any 276
317+member of the organization which established such committee subject 277
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320+to the limitations imposed in subsection (b) of section 9-612, as amended 278
321+by this act. 279
322+(c) The chairperson of each political committee established by an 280
323+organization on or after July 1, 1985, shall designate the manner in 281
324+which the committee shall be funded in the committee's statement of 282
325+organization. 283
326+(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of [this section, an organization, 284
327+acting alone,] subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of this section, an 285
328+organization may make independent expenditures and contributions to 286
329+an independent expenditure political committee. 287
330+Sec. 9. Section 9-615 of the general statutes is repealed and the 288
331+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 289
332+(a) [No] A political committee established by an organization shall 290
333+not make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, any 291
334+candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or for election to the 292
335+office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five thousand dollars; (2) Lieutenant 293
336+Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney 294
337+General, in excess of three thousand dollars; (3) chief executive officer 295
338+of a town, city or borough, in excess of one thousand five hundred 296
339+dollars; (4) state senator or probate judge, in excess of one thousand five 297
340+hundred dollars; (5) state representative, in excess of seven hundred 298
341+fifty dollars; or (6) any other office of a municipality not previously 299
342+included in this subsection, in excess of three hundred seventy-five 300
343+dollars. 301
344+(b) [No] Any such committee shall not make a contribution or 302
345+contributions to, or for the benefit of, an exploratory committee, in 303
346+excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars. Any such committee may 304
347+make unlimited contributions to a political committee formed solely to 305
348+aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question. 306
349+(c) The limits imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall apply 307
350+separately to primaries and elections and no such committee shall make 308
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353+contributions to the candidates designated in this section which in the 309
354+aggregate exceed fifty thousand dollars for any single election and 310
355+primary preliminary thereto. 311
356+(d) [No] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a political 312
357+committee established by an organization shall not make contributions 313
358+in any one calendar year to, or for the benefit of, (1) the state central 314
359+committee of a political party, in excess of seven thousand five hundred 315
360+dollars; (2) a town committee, in excess of one thousand five hundred 316
361+dollars; or (3) any political committee, other than an exploratory 317
362+committee or a committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 318
363+or defeat of a referendum question, in excess of two thousand dollars. 319
364+(e) Contributions to a political committee established by an 320
365+organization for the purpose of making contributions shall be subject to 321
366+the provisions of section 9-618, as amended by this act, in the case of a 322
367+committee formed for ongoing political activity or section 9-619, as 323
368+amended by this act, in the case of a committee formed for a single 324
369+election or primary. 325
370+(f) An independent expenditure political committee established by an 326
371+organization shall not make any contribution unless such contribution 327
372+is to another independent expenditure political committee. 328
373+Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 9-618 of the general statutes is 329
374+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 330
375+1, 2021): 331
376+(a) (1) A political committee organized for ongoing political activities 332
377+may make unlimited contributions to, or for the benefit of, any national 333
378+committee of a political party [;] or a committee of a candidate for 334
379+federal or out-of-state office. Except as provided in subdivision (3) of 335
380+subsection (d) of this section, no such political committee shall make a 336
381+contribution or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to 337
382+another political committee in any calendar year. No political committee 338
383+organized for ongoing political activities shall make a contribution in 339
384+excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory 340
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270-committees formed for ongoing political activity or section 9-619, as 213
271-amended by this act, in the case of committees formed for a single 214
272-election or primary. 215
273-(e) [No] A political committee organized by a business entity shall 216
274-not make a contribution or contributions to (1) a state central committee 217
275-of a political party, in excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars in 218
276-any calendar year, (2) a town committee of any political party, in excess 219
277-of one thousand five hundred dollars in any calendar year, (3) an 220
278-exploratory committee in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars, 221
279-or (4) any other kind of political committee, in excess of two thousand 222
280-dollars in any calendar year. 223
281-(f) As used in this subsection, "investment services" means 224
282-investment legal services, investment banking services, investment 225
283-advisory services, underwriting services, financial advisory services or 226
284-brokerage firm services. [No] A political committee established by a 227
285-firm which provides investment services and to which the State 228
286-Treasurer pays compensation, expenses or fees or issues a contract shall 229
287-not make a contribution to, or solicit contributions on behalf of, an 230
288-exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a 231
289-candidate for nomination or election to the office of State Treasurer 232
290-during the term of office of the State Treasurer who does business with 233
291-such firm. 234
292-(g) Notwithstanding the provisions of [this section, a corporation, 235
293-cooperative association, limited partnership, professional association, 236
294-limited liability company or limited liability partnership, whether 237
295-formed in this state or any other, acting alone,] subsections (a) to (f), 238
296-inclusive, of this section, (1) a business entity may make independent 239
297-expenditures, and (2) an independent expenditure political committee 240
298-organized by a business entity shall not make any contribution unless 241
299-such contribution is to another independent expenditure political 242
300-committee. 243
301-Sec. 8. Section 9-614 of the general statutes is repealed and the 244 Substitute Bill No. 6663
387+committee. If such an ongoing committee is established by an 341
388+organization or a business entity, its contributions shall be subject to the 342
389+limits imposed by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this 343
390+act. A political committee organized for ongoing political activities may 344
391+make [contributions] donations to a charitable organization which is a 345
392+tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 346
393+Code, as from time to time amended, or make memorial [contributions] 347
394+donations. 348
395+(2) An independent expenditure political committee organized for 349
396+ongoing political activities shall not make any contribution unless such 350
397+contribution is to another independent expenditure political committee. 351
398+Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 9-619 of the general statutes is 352
399+repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 353
400+1, 2021): 354
401+(a) (1) No political committee established for a single primary or 355
402+election shall make contributions to a national committee, or a 356
403+committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office. If such a 357
404+political committee is established by an organization or a business 358
405+entity, its contributions shall also be subject to the limitations imposed 359
406+by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this act. Except as 360
407+provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, no political 361
408+committee formed for a single election or primary shall, with respect to 362
409+such election or primary make a contribution or contributions in excess 363
410+of two thousand dollars to another political committee, provided no 364
411+such political committee shall make a contribution in excess of three 365
412+hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory committee. 366
413+(2) An independent expenditure political committee established for a 367
414+single primary or election shall not make any contribution unless such 368
415+contribution is to another independent expenditure political committee. 369
416+Sec. 12. Section 9-620 of the general statutes is repealed and the 370
417+following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 371
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308-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 245
309-An organization may make contributions or expenditures, other than 246
310-[those made to promote] for the purposes of promoting the success or 247
311-defeat of a referendum question, only by first forming its own political 248
312-committee. [The] Unless such political committee is an independent 249
313-expenditure political committee, the political committee shall then be 250
314-authorized to (1) receive funds (A) exclusively from the organization's 251
315-treasury or from voluntary contributions made by its members, but not 252
316-both, (B) from another political committee, or [,] (C) from a candidate 253
317-committee distributing a surplus, and [(1) to] (2) make (A) contributions 254
318-or expenditures to, or for the benefit of, a candidate's campaign or a 255
319-political party, or [(2) to make] (B) contributions to another political 256
320-committee. [No] An organization shall not form more than one political 257
321-committee. A political committee shall be deemed to have been 258
322-established by an organization if the initial contribution to the 259
323-committee is made by the organization's treasury or an officer or 260
324-director of the organization. 261
325-(b) A political committee established by an organization may elect to 262
326-alter the manner in which it is funded if it complies with the 263
327-requirements of this subsection. The committee chairperson shall notify 264
328-the repository with which the committee's most recent statement of 265
329-organization is filed, in writing, of the committee's intent to alter its 266
330-manner of funding. [Within] Not later than fifteen days after the date of 267
331-receipt of such notification, the treasurer of such political committee 268
332-shall return any funds remaining in the account of the committee to the 269
333-organization's treasury after payment of each outstanding liability. 270
334-[Within] Not later than seven days after the distribution and payments 271
335-have been made, the treasurer shall file a statement with the same 272
336-repository itemizing each such distribution and payment. Upon such 273
337-filing, the treasurer may receive voluntary contributions from any 274
338-member of the organization which established such committee subject 275
339-to the limitations imposed in subsection (b) of section 9-612, as amended 276
340-by this act. 277 Substitute Bill No. 6663
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347-(c) The chairperson of each political committee established by an 278
348-organization on or after July 1, 1985, shall designate the manner in 279
349-which the committee shall be funded in the committee's statement of 280
350-organization. 281
351-(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of [this section, an organization, 282
352-acting alone,] subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of this section, an 283
353-organization may make independent expenditures and contributions to 284
354-an independent expenditure political committee. 285
355-Sec. 9. Section 9-615 of the general statutes is repealed and the 286
356-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 287
357-(a) [No] A political committee established by an organization shall 288
358-not make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, any 289
359-candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or for election to the 290
360-office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five thousand dollars; (2) Lieutenant 291
361-Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney 292
362-General, in excess of three thousand dollars; (3) chief executive officer 293
363-of a town, city or borough, in excess of one thousand five hundred 294
364-dollars; (4) state senator or probate judge, in excess of one thousand five 295
365-hundred dollars; (5) state representative, in excess of seven hundred 296
366-fifty dollars; or (6) any other office of a municipality not previously 297
367-included in this subsection, in excess of three hundred seventy-five 298
368-dollars. 299
369-(b) [No] Any such committee shall not make a contribution or 300
370-contributions to, or for the benefit of, an exploratory committee, in 301
371-excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars. Any such committee may 302
372-make unlimited contributions to a political committee formed solely to 303
373-aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question. 304
374-(c) The limits imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall apply 305
375-separately to primaries and elections and no such committee shall make 306
376-contributions to the candidates designated in this section which in the 307
377-aggregate exceed fifty thousand dollars for any single election and 308 Substitute Bill No. 6663
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384-primary preliminary thereto. 309
385-(d) [No] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a political 310
386-committee established by an organization shall not make contributions 311
387-in any one calendar year to, or for the benefit of, (1) the state central 312
388-committee of a political party, in excess of seven thousand five hundred 313
389-dollars; (2) a town committee, in excess of one thousand five hundred 314
390-dollars; or (3) any political committee, other than an exploratory 315
391-committee or a committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 316
392-or defeat of a referendum question, in excess of two thousand dollars. 317
393-(e) Contributions to a political committee established by an 318
394-organization for the purpose of making contributions shall be subject to 319
395-the provisions of section 9-618, as amended by this act, in the case of a 320
396-committee formed for ongoing political activity or section 9-619, as 321
397-amended by this act, in the case of a committee formed for a single 322
398-election or primary. 323
399-(f) An independent expenditure political committee established by an 324
400-organization shall not make any contribution unless such contribution 325
401-is to another independent expenditure political committee. 326
402-Sec. 10. Subsection (a) of section 9-618 of the general statutes is 327
403-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 328
404-1, 2021): 329
405-(a) (1) A political committee organized for ongoing political activities 330
406-may make unlimited contributions to, or for the benefit of, any national 331
407-committee of a political party [;] or a committee of a candidate for 332
408-federal or out-of-state office. Except as provided in subdivision (3) of 333
409-subsection (d) of this section, no such political committee shall make a 334
410-contribution or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to 335
411-another political committee in any calendar year. No political committee 336
412-organized for ongoing political activities shall make a contribution in 337
413-excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory 338
414-committee. If such an ongoing committee is established by an 339 Substitute Bill No. 6663
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421-organization or a business entity, its contributions shall be subject to the 340
422-limits imposed by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this 341
423-act. A political committee organized for ongoing political activities may 342
424-make [contributions] donations to a charitable organization which is a 343
425-tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 344
426-Code, as from time to time amended, or make memorial [contributions] 345
427-donations. 346
428-(2) An independent expenditure political committee organized for 347
429-ongoing political activities shall not make any contribution unless such 348
430-contribution is to another independent expenditure political committee. 349
431-Sec. 11. Subsection (a) of section 9-619 of the general statutes is 350
432-repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 351
433-1, 2021): 352
434-(a) (1) No political committee established for a single primary or 353
435-election shall make contributions to a national committee, or a 354
436-committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office. If such a 355
437-political committee is established by an organization or a business 356
438-entity, its contributions shall also be subject to the limitations imposed 357
439-by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this act. Except as 358
440-provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, no political 359
441-committee formed for a single election or primary shall, with respect to 360
442-such election or primary make a contribution or contributions in excess 361
443-of two thousand dollars to another political committee, provided no 362
444-such political committee shall make a contribution in excess of three 363
445-hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory committee. 364
446-(2) An independent expenditure political committee established for a 365
447-single primary or election shall not make any contribution unless such 366
448-contribution is to another independent expenditure political committee. 367
449-Sec. 12. Section 9-620 of the general statutes is repealed and the 368
450-following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2021): 369
451-(a) A political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 370 Substitute Bill No. 6663
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458-or defeat of a referendum question shall not make contributions to, or 371
459-for the benefit of, a party committee, a political committee, a national 372
460-committee, a committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office 373
461-or a candidate committee, except in the distribution of a surplus, as 374
462-provided in subsection (e) of section 9-608, as amended by this act. 375
463-(b) A political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 376
464-or defeat of a referendum question shall not receive contributions from 377
465-a national committee or from a committee of a candidate for federal or 378
466-out-of-state office. 379
467-(c) [No] A person, other than an individual or a committee, shall not 380
468-make a contribution to a political committee formed solely to aid or 381
469-promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, or to any other 382
470-person, to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, 383
471-in excess of ten cents for each individual residing in the state or political 384
472-subdivision thereof in which such referendum question is to be voted 385
473-upon, in accordance with the last federal decennial census. 386
474-(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, 387
475-of this section, an independent expenditure political committee formed 388
476-solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question 389
477-shall not make any contribution unless such contribution is made to 390
478-another independent expenditure political committee. Unless otherwise 391
479-restricted or prohibited by law, an independent expenditure political 392
480-committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a 393
481-referendum question may accept contributions from an entity. 394
420+(a) A political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 372
421+or defeat of a referendum question shall not make contributions to, or 373
422+for the benefit of, a party committee, a political committee, a national 374
423+committee, a committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office 375
424+or a candidate committee, except in the distribution of a surplus, as 376
425+provided in subsection (e) of section 9-608, as amended by this act. 377
426+(b) A political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 378
427+or defeat of a referendum question shall not receive contributions from 379
428+a national committee or from a committee of a candidate for federal or 380
429+out-of-state office. 381
430+(c) [No] A person, other than an individual or a committee, shall not 382
431+make a contribution to a political committee formed solely to aid or 383
432+promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, or to any other 384
433+person, to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, 385
434+in excess of ten cents for each individual residing in the state or political 386
435+subdivision thereof in which such referendum question is to be voted 387
436+upon, in accordance with the last federal decennial census. 388
437+(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, 389
438+of this section, an independent expenditure political committee formed 390
439+solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question 391
440+shall not make any contribution unless such contribution is made to 392
441+another independent expenditure political committee. Unless otherwise 393
442+restricted or prohibited by law, an independent expenditure political 394
443+committee formed solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a 395
444+referendum question may accept contributions from an entity. 396
482445 This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
483446 sections:
484447
485448 Section 1 October 1, 2021 9-611
486449 Sec. 2 October 1, 2021 9-601
487450 Sec. 3 October 1, 2021 9-601(3)
488451 Sec. 4 October 1, 2021 9-607(g)(1)
489452 Sec. 5 October 1, 2021 9-608(e)(1)(C)
490-Sec. 6 October 1, 2021 9-612(a) and (b) Substitute Bill No. 6663
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453+Sec. 6 October 1, 2021 9-612(a) and (b)
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497456 Sec. 7 October 1, 2021 9-613
498457 Sec. 8 October 1, 2021 9-614
499458 Sec. 9 October 1, 2021 9-615
500459 Sec. 10 October 1, 2021 9-618(a)
501460 Sec. 11 October 1, 2021 9-619(a)
502461 Sec. 12 October 1, 2021 9-620
503462
504-Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
505-In Section 7(a), (d) and (e), "Except as provided in subsection (g) of this
506-section" was deleted for clarity because the existing notwithstanding
507-provision at Subsec. (g) makes such deleted language unnecessary; and
508-in Section 7(g), the language was restructured for accuracy and clarity.
509-
510-GAE Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO
463+Statement of Purpose:
464+To implement federal court rulings regarding independent expenditure
465+political committees and aggregate contribution limits for individuals.
466+[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
467+that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
468+underlined.]
511469