Connecticut 2022 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB00431 Latest Draft

Bill / Comm Sub Version Filed 04/14/2022

                             
 
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General Assembly  Substitute Bill No. 431  
February Session, 2022 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING REFERENDA, INDEPENDENT 
EXPENDITURES AND CERTAIN OTHER POLITICAL SPENDING.  
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. Section 9-601 of the 2022 supplement to the general statutes 1 
is amended by adding subsections (33) to (39), inclusive, as follows 2 
(Effective from passage): 3 
(NEW) (33) "Independent expenditure political committee" means a 4 
political committee that makes only (A) independent expenditures (i) to 5 
promote the success or defeat of any candidate seeking (I) the 6 
nomination for election, or (II) election, or (ii) for the purpose of aiding 7 
or promoting the success or defeat of any (I) referendum question, or 8 
(II) political party, and (B) contributions to other independent 9 
expenditure political committees. 10 
(NEW) (34) "Foreign national" means: 11 
(A) A foreign principal and any agent or separate segregated fund of 12 
a foreign principal; 13 
(B) An individual who is not (i) a citizen of the United States, (ii) a 14 
national of the United States, and (iii) lawfully admitted for permanent 15 
residence; or 16 
(C) A firm, partnership, corporation, association, organization or 17  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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other entity: 18 
(i) With respect to which a foreign owner or a person described in 19 
subparagraph (A) or (B) of this subdivision holds, owns, controls or 20 
otherwise has a direct or indirect beneficial ownership of at least five 21 
per cent of such entity's total equity or outstanding voting shares; 22 
(ii) With respect to which two or more, in combination, foreign 23 
owners or persons described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of this 24 
subdivision hold, own, control or otherwise have a direct or indirect 25 
beneficial ownership of at least twenty per cent of such entity's total 26 
equity or outstanding voting shares, excluding interests held in a widely 27 
held, diversified fund; 28 
(iii) With respect to which a foreign owner or individual described in 29 
subparagraph (A) or (B), as applicable, of this subdivision participates 30 
directly or indirectly in decisions to engage in any activity subject to the 31 
provisions of chapter 155 or 157; or 32 
(iv) That is exempt from taxation under Section 501(c)(4) of the 33 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 34 
internal revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to 35 
time, and with respect to which at least twenty per cent of the income 36 
received by such entity in the most recent taxable year derives from one 37 
or more foreign owners. 38 
(NEW) (35) "Foreign principal" has the same meaning as provided in 39 
22 USC 611(b), as amended from time to time. 40 
(NEW) (36) "National of the United States" has the same meaning as 41 
provided in 8 USC 1101(a)(22), as amended from time to time. 42 
(NEW) (37) "Lawfully admitted for permanent residence" has the 43 
same meaning as provided in 8 USC 1101(a)(20), as amended from time 44 
to time. 45 
(NEW) (38) "Foreign owner" means a firm, partnership, corporation, 46  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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association, organization or other entity with respect to which a person 47 
described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subdivision (34) of this section 48 
holds, owns, controls or otherwise has a direct or indirect beneficial 49 
ownership of at least fifty per cent of such entity's total equity or 50 
outstanding voting shares, excluding interests held in a widely held, 51 
diversified fund. 52 
(NEW) (39) "Widely held, diversified fund" means a pooled 53 
investment, including a common trust fund of a financial institution, 54 
mutual fund or limited partnership, (A) that has more than one hundred 55 
investors, (B) that invests not more than five per cent of its value in the 56 
securities of a single issuer, other than the federal government, (C) that 57 
invests not more than twenty per cent of its value in any one economic 58 
or geographic sector, and (D) for which no investor, and no immediate 59 
family member of an investor, is able to exercise control over the 60 
financial interests held by the pooled investment, including by 61 
exercising the pooled investment's authority as the holder of corporate 62 
securities. 63 
Sec. 2. Subdivision (3) of section 9-601 of the 2022 supplement to the 64 
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 65 
thereof (Effective from passage): 66 
(3) "Political committee" means (A) a committee organized by a 67 
business entity or organization, (B) persons other than individuals, or 68 
two or more individuals organized or acting jointly conducting their 69 
activities in or outside the state, (C) an exploratory committee, (D) a 70 
committee established by or on behalf of a slate of candidates in a 71 
primary for the office of justice of the peace, but does not mean a 72 
candidate committee or a party committee, (E) a legislative caucus 73 
committee, [or] (F) a legislative leadership committee, or (G) an 74 
independent expenditure political committee. 75 
Sec. 3. Section 9-601c of the general statutes is amended by adding 76 
subsection (e) as follows (Effective from passage): 77  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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(NEW) (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (d), 78 
inclusive, of this section, an independent expenditure political 79 
committee may coordinate with one or more other independent 80 
expenditure political committees for the purpose of making one or more 81 
independent expenditures. 82 
Sec. 4. Subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of section 9-601d of the general 83 
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 84 
(Effective from passage): 85 
(a) Any person, as defined in section 9-601, as amended by this act, 86 
may, unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, including, but not 87 
limited to, any provision of this chapter or chapter 157, make unlimited 88 
independent expenditures, as defined in section 9-601c, as amended by 89 
this act, and accept unlimited covered transfers, as defined in [said] 90 
section 9-601, as amended by this act. Except as provided [pursuant to] 91 
in this section, any such person who makes or obligates to make an 92 
independent expenditure or expenditures in excess of one thousand 93 
dollars, in the aggregate, shall file statements according to the same 94 
schedule and in the same manner as is required of a treasurer of a 95 
[candidate] political committee pursuant to section 9-608, as amended 96 
by this act. Any such person, other than a committee, shall file with the 97 
proper authority, as provided in section 9-603, as amended by this act, 98 
(1) a long-form report and a short-form report pursuant to subsection 99 
(c) of this section for such independent expenditure or expenditures, 100 
and (2) a short-form report pursuant to subsection (d) of this section for 101 
each subsequent independent expenditure made or obligated to be 102 
made. 103 
(b) Any person who makes or obligates to make an independent 104 
expenditure or expenditures in an election or primary for the office of 105 
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, 106 
State Comptroller, Attorney General, state senator or state 107 
representative, [which] or to promote the success or defeat of a 108 
referendum question proposing a constitutional convention, 109 
constitutional amendment or revision of the Constitution, that exceed 110  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, during [a primary campaign or 111 
a general election campaign, as defined in section 9-700, shall file, 112 
electronically, a long-form and a short-form report of such independent 113 
expenditure or expenditures with the State Elections Enforcement 114 
Commission pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this section. The 115 
person that makes or obligates to make such independent expenditure 116 
or expenditures shall file such reports] the period beginning on June first 117 
in the year of a regular election, or on the day the Governor issues writs 118 
of election pursuant to section 9-215 in the case of a special election for 119 
the office of state senator or state representative, and ending on the day 120 
following the primary or election for which such person made or 121 
obligated to make such independent expenditure or expenditures, shall 122 
electronically file, in the case of a committee, a report pursuant to section 123 
9-608, as amended by this act, or, in the case of any person other than a 124 
committee, a long-form report and a short-form report pursuant to 125 
subsections (c) and (d) of this section not later than twenty-four hours 126 
after (1) making any such payment, or (2) obligating to make any such 127 
payment, with respect to the primary, [or] election [. If any such person 128 
makes or incurs a subsequent independent expenditure, such person 129 
shall report such expenditure pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.] 130 
or referendum. In the case of a special election for the office of state 131 
senator or state representative, if any person makes or obligates to make 132 
an independent expenditure or expenditures for such special election 133 
that exceeds one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, prior to the day the 134 
Governor issues writs of election pursuant to section 9-215, such person 135 
shall file a report not later than twenty-four hours after such writs of 136 
election are issued. Such reports shall be filed under penalty of false 137 
statement. 138 
(c) The independent expenditure long-form report shall identify: (1) 139 
The name of the person making or obligating to make such independent 140 
expenditure or expenditures and, in the case of a person other than an 141 
individual, provide (A) the name of a human being who had direct, 142 
extensive and substantive decision-making authority over such 143 
independent expenditure or expenditures, and (B) a certification that the 144  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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person making such independent expenditure is not a foreign national; 145 
(2) the tax exempt status of such person and, if [applicable] such person 146 
files a report with the Federal Election Commission, the Internal 147 
Revenue Service or any similar out-of-state agency, provide identifying 148 
information under which any such filing is made; (3) the mailing 149 
address, and street address if different, of such person; (4) the principal 150 
business address of the person, if different from either the mailing 151 
address or street address; (5) the mailing address, and street address if 152 
different, telephone number and electronic mail address of the agent for 153 
service of process in this state of such person and of the human being 154 
described in subparagraph (A) of subdivision (1) of this subsection; (6) 155 
the date of the primary, [or] election or referendum for which [the] such 156 
independent expenditure or expenditures were made or obligated to be 157 
made; (7) the name of any candidate who, or the text of any referendum 158 
question that, was the subject of [any] such independent expenditure or 159 
expenditures and whether [the] such independent expenditure or 160 
expenditures were in support of or in opposition to such candidate or 161 
referendum question; and (8) the name, telephone number and 162 
electronic mail address for the individual filing such report. Such 163 
individual filing such report shall, under penalty of false statement, 164 
affirm that the expenditure reported is an independent expenditure. 165 
[under penalty of false statement.] 166 
(d) As part of any filing made pursuant to subsection (c) of this 167 
section and for each subsequent independent expenditure made or 168 
obligated to be made by a person with respect to the primary, [or] 169 
election or referendum for which a long-form report pursuant to 170 
subsection (c) of this section has been filed on behalf of such person, an 171 
individual shall file [, electronically,] a short-form report for each such 172 
independent expenditure. [, not later than twenty-four hours after such 173 
person makes a payment for an independent expenditure or obligates 174 
to make such an independent expenditure.] Such short-form report shall 175 
identify: (1) The name of the person making or obligating to make such 176 
independent expenditure; (2) the amount of the independent 177 
expenditure; (3) whether the independent expenditure was in support 178  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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of or in opposition to a candidate or referendum question and the name 179 
of such candidate or text of such referendum question; (4) a brief 180 
description of the independent expenditure made, including the type of 181 
communication, based on categories determined by the State Elections 182 
Enforcement Commission, and the allocation of such independent 183 
expenditure in support of or in opposition to each such candidate or 184 
referendum question, if such independent expenditure was made in 185 
support of or in opposition to more than one candidate or question; and 186 
(5) the name, telephone number and electronic mail address for the 187 
individual filing such report. Such individual filing such report shall, 188 
under penalty of false statement, affirm that the expenditure reported is 189 
an independent expenditure. [under penalty of false statement.] 190 
(e) No person reporting an independent expenditure pursuant to the 191 
provisions of subsection (c) or (d) of this section shall be required to file 192 
a statement pursuant to section 9-608, as amended by this act, for such 193 
independent expenditure. 194 
(f) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, as part 195 
of any statement filed pursuant to this section, if a person who makes or 196 
obligates to make an independent expenditure (A) has received a 197 
covered transfer during the twelve-month period prior to (i) a primary 198 
or election, as applicable to the reported expenditure, for an office that 199 
a candidate described in subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of this section 200 
is seeking, or (ii) a referendum on a question proposing a constitutional 201 
convention, constitutional amendment or revision of the Constitution, 202 
and (B) such independent expenditure is made or obligated to be made 203 
on or after the date that is one hundred eighty days prior to such 204 
primary, [or] election or referendum, such person shall disclose the 205 
source and the amount of any such covered transfer such person 206 
received that is in an amount that is five thousand dollars or more, in 207 
the aggregate, during the twelve-month period prior to such primary, 208 
[or] election or referendum, as applicable to the reported expenditure. 209 
(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply 210 
to any person who discloses the source and amount of a covered transfer 211  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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described in subdivision (1) of this subsection as part of any report to 212 
the Federal Election Commission, [or] the Internal Revenue Service or 213 
any similar out-of-state agency, provided such person includes a copy 214 
of, or information sufficient to find, any such report as part of the report 215 
of each applicable independent expenditure filed pursuant to this 216 
section. If a source and amount of a covered transfer is not included as 217 
part of any such report, the maker of the independent expenditure shall 218 
disclose the source and amount of such covered transfer pursuant to 219 
subdivision (1) of this subsection, if applicable. 220 
(g) (1) A person may, unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by 221 
law, including, but not limited to, any provision of this chapter or 222 
chapter 157, establish a dedicated independent expenditure account [, 223 
for the purpose of engaging in] that may be used to make independent 224 
expenditures, [that] provided such account is segregated from all other 225 
accounts controlled by such person. Such dedicated independent 226 
expenditure account may receive covered transfers directly from 227 
persons other than the person establishing the dedicated account and 228 
may not receive transfers from another account controlled by the person 229 
establishing the dedicated account, except as provided in subdivision 230 
(2) of this subsection. If an independent expenditure is made from such 231 
segregated account, any report required pursuant to this section or 232 
disclaimer required pursuant to section 9-621, as amended by this act, 233 
[may include only] shall include those persons who made covered 234 
transfers directly to the dedicated independent expenditure account. 235 
(2) If a person who has made a covered transfer to another account 236 
controlled by the person establishing a dedicated independent 237 
expenditure account requests that such covered transfer be used for the 238 
purposes of making an independent expenditure from the dedicated 239 
independent expenditure account, the amount of such covered transfer 240 
may be transferred to the dedicated independent expenditure account 241 
and shall be treated as a covered transfer directly to the dedicated 242 
independent expenditure account. 243 
(h) Any person may file a complaint with the commission upon the 244  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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belief that (1) any such independent expenditure report or statement is 245 
false, or (2) any person who is required to file an independent 246 
expenditure report under this subsection has failed to do so. The 247 
commission shall make a prompt determination on such a complaint. 248 
(i) (1) [If] Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-623, if (A) a 249 
person fails to file a report in accordance with the provisions of this 250 
section or section 9-608, as amended by this act, for an independent 251 
expenditure or expenditures made or obligated to be made more than 252 
ninety days before the day of a primary, [or election, the] election or 253 
referendum, such person shall be subject to a civil penalty, imposed by 254 
the State Elections Enforcement Commission, of not more than ten 255 
thousand dollars, [. If] and (B) a person fails to file a report required in 256 
accordance with the provisions of this section for an independent 257 
expenditure or expenditures made or obligated to be made ninety days 258 
or less before the day of a primary, [or] election or referendum, such 259 
person shall be subject to a civil penalty, imposed by the State Elections 260 
Enforcement Commission, of not more than twenty thousand dollars or 261 
twice the amount of such independent expenditure or expenditures, 262 
whichever is greater. 263 
(2) [If] Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-623, if the State 264 
Elections Enforcement Commission finds that any such failure is 265 
knowing and wilful, [the] such person responsible for [the] such failure 266 
shall [also be fined] be subject to an additional civil penalty, imposed by 267 
the commission, of not more than fifty thousand dollars or ten times the 268 
amount of such independent expenditure or expenditures, whichever is 269 
greater, and the commission may refer the matter to the office of the 270 
Chief State's Attorney. 271 
(3) If the State Elections Enforcement Commission finds that a person 272 
is subject to a civil penalty under this subsection, (A) in the case of a 273 
committee, (i) the chairman, and (ii) any officer, or (B) in the case of a 274 
person other than a committee, (i) the chief executive or chief financial 275 
officer, or equivalent, (ii) any other officer, and (iii) any manager who 276 
had direct, extensive and substantive decision-making authority over 277  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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the independent expenditure or expenditures made or obligated to be 278 
made by such person, shall be liable for paying any amount of such civil 279 
penalty imposed that is not paid by such person within one year after 280 
the latter of (I) the date on which the commission imposed such civil 281 
penalty, or (II) the date of the final judgment following any judicial 282 
review of the commission's action. 283 
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 9-605 of the general statutes is 284 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 285 
passage): 286 
(b) The registration statement shall include: (1) The name and address 287 
of the committee; (2) a statement of the purpose of the committee; (3) the 288 
name and address of its treasurer, and deputy treasurer if applicable; (4) 289 
the name, address and position of its [chairman] chairperson, and other 290 
principal officers if applicable; (5) the name and address of the 291 
depository institution for its funds; (6) the name of each person, other 292 
than an individual, that is a member of the committee; (7) the name and 293 
party affiliation of each candidate whom the committee is supporting 294 
and the office or position sought by each candidate; (8) if the committee 295 
is supporting the entire ticket of any party, a statement to that effect and 296 
the name of the party; (9) if the committee is supporting or opposing 297 
any referendum question, a brief statement identifying the substance of 298 
the question; (10) if the committee is established or controlled by a 299 
[business entity or organization] person or individual acting as the agent 300 
of a person, the name of [the entity or organization] such person or 301 
individual and, if the committee is established or controlled by a person 302 
or individual other than a human being, (A) the name of its chief 303 
executive officer or equivalent, and (B) a certification that such person 304 
is not a foreign national; (11) if the committee is established by an 305 
organization, a statement of whether it will receive its funds from the 306 
organization's treasury or from voluntary contributions; (12) if the 307 
committee files reports with the Federal Elections Commission, the 308 
Internal Revenue Service or any similar out-of-state agency, a statement 309 
to that effect including the name of the agency and identifying 310  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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information under which any such filings are made; (13) a statement 311 
indicating whether the committee is established for a single primary, 312 
election or referendum or for ongoing political activities; (14) if the 313 
committee is established or controlled by a lobbyist, a statement to that 314 
effect and the name of the lobbyist; (15) the name and address of the 315 
person making the initial contribution or disbursement, if any, to the 316 
committee; and (16) any information that the State Elections 317 
Enforcement Commission requires to facilitate compliance with the 318 
provisions of this chapter or chapter 157. If no such initial contribution 319 
or disbursement, as described in subdivision (15) of this subsection, has 320 
been made at the time of the filing of such statement, the treasurer of the 321 
committee shall, not later than forty-eight hours after receipt of such 322 
contribution or disbursement, file a report with the State Elections 323 
Enforcement Commission. The report shall be in the same form as 324 
statements filed under section 9-608, as amended by this act. 325 
Sec. 6. Subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 9-607 of the 2022 326 
supplement to the general statutes is repealed and the following is 327 
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 328 
(g) (1) As used in this subsection, (A) "the lawful purposes of the 329 
committee" means: (i) For a candidate committee or exploratory 330 
committee, the promoting of the nomination or election of the candidate 331 
who established the committee, except that after a political party 332 
nominates candidates for election to the offices of Governor and 333 
Lieutenant Governor, whose names shall be so placed on the ballot in 334 
the election that an elector will cast a single vote for both candidates, as 335 
prescribed in section 9-181, a candidate committee established by either 336 
such candidate may also promote the election of the other such 337 
candidate; (ii) for a political committee, other than an independent 338 
expenditure political committee described in subparagraph (A)(iv) of 339 
this subdivision, the promoting of (I) a political party, including party 340 
building activities, (II) the success or defeat of candidates for 341 
nomination and election to public office or position subject to the 342 
requirements of this chapter, or (III) the success or defeat of referendum 343  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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questions, provided [a political committee formed for a single 344 
referendum question shall not promote the success or defeat of any 345 
candidate, and provided further] a legislative leadership committee or 346 
a legislative caucus committee may expend funds to defray costs for 347 
conducting legislative or constituency-related business which are not 348 
reimbursed or paid by the state; [and] (iii) for a party committee, the 349 
promoting of the party, including party building activities, the 350 
promoting of candidates of the party, and the continuing operating costs 351 
of the party; and (iv) for an independent expenditure political 352 
committee, the promoting of (I) a political party, (II) the success or defeat 353 
of candidates for nomination or election to public office or position 354 
subject to the requirements of this chapter, or (III) the success or defeat 355 
of referendum questions, and (B) "immediate family" means a spouse or 356 
dependent child of a candidate who resides in the candidate's 357 
household. 358 
Sec. 7. Subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 359 
9-608 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted 360 
in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 361 
(C) [(i) Each political committee formed solely to aid or promote the 362 
success or defeat of any referendum question, which does not receive 363 
contributions from a business entity or an organization, shall distribute 364 
its surplus to a party committee, to a political committee organized for 365 
ongoing political activities, to a national committee of a political party, 366 
to all contributors to the committee on a prorated basis of contribution, 367 
to state or municipal governments or agencies or to any organization 368 
which is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the 369 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 370 
internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time 371 
amended. (ii) Each political committee formed solely to aid or promote 372 
the success or defeat of any referendum question, which receives 373 
contributions from a business entity or an organization,] An 374 
independent expenditure political committee, other than an 375 
independent expenditure political committee formed for ongoing 376  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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political activities, shall distribute its surplus to all contributors to the 377 
committee on a prorated basis of contribution, to state or municipal 378 
governments or agencies, or to any organization which is tax-exempt 379 
under [said provisions] Sections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) of the Internal 380 
Revenue Code, as amended from time to time. Notwithstanding the 381 
provisions of this subsection, a committee formed for a single 382 
referendum shall not be required to expend its surplus [not later than] 383 
within ninety days after the referendum and may continue in existence 384 
if a substantially similar referendum question on the same issue will be 385 
submitted to the electorate within six months after the first referendum. 386 
If two or more substantially similar referenda on the same issue are 387 
submitted to the electorate, each no more than six months apart, the 388 
committee shall expend such surplus within ninety days following the 389 
date of the last such referendum; 390 
Sec. 8. Section 9-611 of the general statutes is repealed and the 391 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 392 
(a) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, for 393 
the benefit of, or pursuant to the authorization or request of, a candidate 394 
or a committee supporting or opposing any candidate's campaign for 395 
nomination at a primary, or any candidate's campaign for election, to 396 
the office of (1) Governor, in excess of three thousand five hundred 397 
dollars; (2) Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, 398 
Comptroller or Attorney General, in excess of two thousand dollars; (3) 399 
chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, in excess of one 400 
thousand dollars; (4) state senator or probate judge, in excess of one 401 
thousand dollars; or (5) state representative or any other office of a 402 
municipality not previously included in this subsection, in excess of two 403 
hundred fifty dollars. The limits imposed by this subsection shall be 404 
applied separately to primaries and elections. 405 
(b) (1) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or 406 
for the benefit of, an exploratory committee, in excess of three hundred 407 
seventy-five dollars, if the candidate establishing the exploratory 408 
committee certifies on the statement of organization for the exploratory 409  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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committee pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-604 that the candidate 410 
will not be a candidate for the office of state representative. No 411 
individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for the 412 
benefit of, any exploratory committee, in excess of two hundred fifty 413 
dollars, if the candidate establishing the exploratory committee does not 414 
so certify. 415 
(2) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for 416 
the benefit of, a political committee formed by a slate of candidates in a 417 
primary for the office of justice of the peace, in excess of two hundred 418 
fifty dollars. 419 
[(c) No individual shall make contributions to such candidates or 420 
committees which in the aggregate exceed thirty thousand dollars for 421 
any single election and primary preliminary to such election.] 422 
[(d)] (c) No individual shall make a contribution to any candidate or 423 
committee, other than a contribution in kind, in excess of one hundred 424 
dollars except by personal check or credit card of that individual. 425 
[(e)] (d) No individual who is less than eighteen years of age shall 426 
make a contribution or contributions, in excess of thirty dollars to, for 427 
the benefit of, or pursuant to the authorization or request of: (1) A 428 
candidate or a committee supporting or opposing any candidate's 429 
campaign for nomination at a primary to any office; (2) a candidate or a 430 
committee supporting or opposing any candidate's campaign for 431 
election to any office; (3) an exploratory committee; (4) any other 432 
political committee in any calendar year; or (5) a party committee in any 433 
calendar year. Notwithstanding any provision of subdivision (2) of 434 
section 9-7b, any individual who is less than eighteen years of age who 435 
violates any provision of this subsection shall not be subject to the 436 
provisions of subdivision (2) of section 9-7b. 437 
Sec. 9. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-612 of the 2022 supplement 438 
to the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in 439 
lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 440  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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(a) (1) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions in any 441 
one calendar year in excess of ten thousand dollars to the state central 442 
committee of any party, or for the benefit of such committee pursuant 443 
to its authorization or request; or two thousand dollars to a town 444 
committee of any political party, or for the benefit of such committee 445 
pursuant to its authorization or request; or two thousand dollars to a 446 
legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee; [,] or 447 
one thousand dollars to any other political committee [other than (1)] 448 
except (A) a political committee formed solely to aid or promote the 449 
success or defeat of a referendum question, [(2)] (B) an exploratory 450 
committee, [(3)] (C) a political committee established by an 451 
organization, or for the benefit of such committee pursuant to its 452 
authorization or request, or [(4)] (D) a political committee formed by a 453 
slate of candidates in a primary for the office of justice of the peace of 454 
the same town. 455 
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 456 
subsection and unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, an 457 
individual may make contributions to an independent expenditure 458 
political committee, including a political committee formed solely to aid 459 
or promote the success or defeat of any referendum question. 460 
(b) (1) No individual shall make a contribution to a political 461 
committee established by an organization which receives its funds from 462 
the organization's treasury. With respect to a political committee 463 
established by an organization which has complied with the provisions 464 
of subsection (b) or (c) of section 9-614, as amended by this act, and has 465 
elected to receive contributions, no individual other than a member of 466 
the organization may make contributions to the committee, in which 467 
case the individual may contribute not more than seven hundred fifty 468 
dollars in any one calendar year to such committee or for the benefit of 469 
such committee pursuant to its authorization or request. 470 
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 471 
subsection and unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, an 472 
individual may make contributions to an independent expenditure 473  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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political committee established by an organization. 474 
Sec. 10. Section 9-613 of the general statutes is repealed and the 475 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 476 
(a) [No] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a business 477 
entity shall not make any contributions or expenditures (1) to, or for the 478 
benefit of, any candidate's campaign (A) for election to any public office 479 
or position subject to this chapter, or (B) for nomination at a primary for 480 
any such office or position, or (2) to promote the defeat of any candidate 481 
for any such office or position. [No] A business entity shall not make 482 
any other contributions or expenditures to promote the success or defeat 483 
of any political party. [, except as provided in subsection (b) of this 484 
section. No] A business entity shall not establish more than one political 485 
committee. A political committee shall be deemed to have been 486 
established by a business entity if the initial disbursement or 487 
contribution to the committee is made under subsection (b) of this 488 
section or by an officer, director, owner, limited or general partner or 489 
holder of stock constituting five per cent or more of the total outstanding 490 
stock of any class of the business entity. 491 
(b) A business entity may make reasonable and necessary transfers or 492 
disbursements to or for the benefit of a political committee established 493 
by such business entity, for the administration of, or solicitation of 494 
contributions to, such political committee. Nonmonetary contributions 495 
by a business entity which are incidental in nature and are directly 496 
attributable to the administration of such political committee shall be 497 
exempt from the reporting requirements of this chapter. 498 
[(c) The provisions of this section shall not preclude a business entity 499 
from making contributions or expenditures to promote the success or 500 
defeat of a referendum question.] 501 
[(d)] (c) [A] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a 502 
political committee organized by a business entity shall not make a 503 
contribution or contributions to or for the benefit of any candidate's 504  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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campaign for nomination at a primary or any candidate's campaign for 505 
election to the office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five thousand dollars; 506 
(2) Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller 507 
or Attorney General, in excess of three thousand dollars; (3) state 508 
senator, probate judge or chief executive officer of a town, city or 509 
borough, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars; (4) state 510 
representative, in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars; or (5) any other 511 
office of a municipality not included in subdivision (3) of this 512 
subsection, in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars. The limits 513 
imposed by this subsection shall apply separately to primaries and 514 
elections and contributions by any such committee to candidates 515 
designated in this subsection shall not exceed one hundred thousand 516 
dollars in the aggregate for any single election and primary preliminary 517 
thereto. Contributions to such committees shall also be subject to the 518 
provisions of section 9-618, as amended by this act, in the case of 519 
committees formed for ongoing political activity or section 9-619, as 520 
amended by this act, in the case of committees formed for a single 521 
election or primary. 522 
[(e)] (d) [No] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a 523 
political committee organized by a business entity shall not make a 524 
contribution or contributions to (1) a state central committee of a 525 
political party, in excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars in any 526 
calendar year, (2) a town committee of any political party, in excess of 527 
one thousand five hundred dollars in any calendar year, (3) an 528 
exploratory committee in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars, 529 
or (4) any other kind of political committee, in excess of two thousand 530 
dollars in any calendar year. 531 
[(f)] (e) As used in this subsection, "investment services" means 532 
investment legal services, investment banking services, investment 533 
advisory services, underwriting services, financial advisory services or 534 
brokerage firm services. [No] A political committee established by a 535 
firm which provides investment services and to which the State 536 
Treasurer pays compensation, expenses or fees or issues a contract shall 537  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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not make a contribution to, or solicit contributions on behalf of, an 538 
exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a 539 
candidate for nomination or election to the office of State Treasurer 540 
during the term of office of the State Treasurer who does business with 541 
such firm. 542 
[(g)] (f) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of [this section, a 543 
corporation, cooperative association, limited partnership, professional 544 
association, limited liability company or limited liability partnership, 545 
whether formed in this state or any other, acting alone,] subsections (a) 546 
to (e), inclusive, of this section, a business entity may make independent 547 
expenditures and contributions to an independent expenditure political 548 
committee. 549 
(2) An independent expenditure political committee organized by a 550 
business entity shall not make any contribution unless such contribution 551 
is to another independent expenditure political committee. 552 
Sec. 11. Section 9-614 of the general statutes is repealed and the 553 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 554 
(a) An organization may make contributions or expenditures, other 555 
than [those made to promote] for the purpose of promoting the success 556 
or defeat of a referendum question, only by first forming its own 557 
political committee. [The] Unless such political committee is an 558 
independent expenditure political committee, the political committee 559 
shall then be authorized to (1) receive funds (A) exclusively from the 560 
organization's treasury or from voluntary contributions made by its 561 
members, but not both, (B) from another political committee, or [,] (C) 562 
from a candidate committee distributing a surplus, and [(1) to] (2) make 563 
(A) contributions or expenditures to, or for the benefit of, a candidate's 564 
campaign or a political party, or [(2) to make] (B) contributions to 565 
another political committee. [No] An organization shall not form more 566 
than one political committee. A political committee shall be deemed to 567 
have been established by an organization if the initial contribution to the 568 
committee is made by the organization's treasury or an officer or 569  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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director of the organization. 570 
(b) A political committee established by an organization may elect to 571 
alter the manner in which it is funded if it complies with the 572 
requirements of this subsection. The committee chairperson shall notify 573 
the repository with which the committee's most recent statement of 574 
organization is filed, in writing, of the committee's intent to alter its 575 
manner of funding. [Within] Not later than fifteen days after the date of 576 
receipt of such notification, the treasurer of such political committee 577 
shall return any funds remaining in the account of the committee to the 578 
organization's treasury after payment of each outstanding liability. 579 
[Within] Not later than seven days after the distribution and payments 580 
have been made, the treasurer shall file a statement with the same 581 
repository itemizing each such distribution and payment. Upon such 582 
filing, the treasurer may receive voluntary contributions from any 583 
member of the organization which established such committee subject 584 
to the limitations imposed in subsection (b) of section 9-612, as amended 585 
by this act. 586 
(c) The chairperson of each political committee established by an 587 
organization on or after July 1, 1985, shall designate the manner in 588 
which the committee shall be funded in the committee's statement of 589 
organization. 590 
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, 591 
of this section, an organization [, acting alone,] may make independent 592 
expenditures and contributions to an independent expenditure political 593 
committee. 594 
Sec. 12. Section 9-615 of the general statutes is repealed and the 595 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 596 
(a) [No] A political committee established by an organization shall 597 
not make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, any 598 
candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or for election to the 599 
office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five thousand dollars; (2) Lieutenant 600  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney 601 
General, in excess of three thousand dollars; (3) chief executive officer 602 
of a town, city or borough, in excess of one thousand five hundred 603 
dollars; (4) state senator or probate judge, in excess of one thousand five 604 
hundred dollars; (5) state representative, in excess of seven hundred 605 
fifty dollars; or (6) any other office of a municipality not previously 606 
included in this subsection, in excess of three hundred seventy-five 607 
dollars. 608 
(b) [No such] A political committee established by an organization 609 
shall not make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, 610 
an exploratory committee, in excess of three hundred seventy-five 611 
dollars. [Any such] A political committee established by an organization 612 
may make unlimited contributions to a political committee formed 613 
solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question. 614 
(c) The limits imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall apply 615 
separately to primaries and elections, and no such committee shall make 616 
contributions to the candidates designated in this section which in the 617 
aggregate exceed fifty thousand dollars for any single election and 618 
primary preliminary thereto. 619 
(d) [No] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a political 620 
committee established by an organization shall not make contributions 621 
in any one calendar year to, or for the benefit of, (1) the state central 622 
committee of a political party, in excess of seven thousand five hundred 623 
dollars; (2) a town committee, in excess of one thousand five hundred 624 
dollars; or (3) any political committee, other than an exploratory 625 
committee or a committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 626 
or defeat of a referendum question, in excess of two thousand dollars. 627 
(e) Contributions to a political committee established by an 628 
organization shall be subject to the provisions of section 9-618, as 629 
amended by this act, in the case of a committee formed for ongoing 630 
political activity or section 9-619, as amended by this act, in the case of 631 
a committee formed for a single election or primary. 632  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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(f) An independent expenditure political committee established by an 633 
organization shall not make any contribution unless such contribution 634 
is to another independent expenditure political committee. 635 
Sec. 13. Subsection (a) of section 9-618 of the general statutes is 636 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 637 
passage): 638 
(a) (1) A political committee organized for ongoing political activities 639 
may make unlimited contributions to, or for the benefit of, any national 640 
committee of a political party [;] or a committee of a candidate for 641 
federal or out-of-state office. Except as provided in subdivision (3) of 642 
subsection (d) of this section, no such political committee shall make a 643 
contribution or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to 644 
another political committee in any calendar year. No political committee 645 
organized for ongoing political activities shall make a contribution in 646 
excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory 647 
committee. If such an ongoing committee is established by an 648 
organization or a business entity, its contributions shall be subject to the 649 
limits imposed by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this 650 
act. A political committee organized for ongoing political activities may 651 
make [contributions] donations to a charitable organization which is a 652 
tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 653 
Code, as from time to time amended, or make memorial [contributions] 654 
donations. 655 
(2) An independent expenditure political committee organized for 656 
ongoing political activities shall not make any contribution unless such 657 
contribution is to another independent expenditure political committee. 658 
Sec. 14. Subsection (a) of section 9-619 of the general statutes is 659 
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 660 
passage): 661 
(a) (1) [No] A political committee established for a single primary or 662 
election shall not make contributions to a national committee, or a 663  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office. If such a 664 
political committee is established by an organization or a business 665 
entity, its contributions shall also be subject to the limitations imposed 666 
by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this act. Except as 667 
provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, [no] a 668 
political committee [formed] established for a single election or primary 669 
shall not, with respect to such election or primary, make a contribution 670 
or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to another political 671 
committee, provided [no such] a political committee established for a 672 
single election or primary shall not make a contribution in excess of 673 
three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory committee. 674 
(2) An independent expenditure political committee established for a 675 
single primary or election shall not make any contribution unless such 676 
contribution is to another independent expenditure political committee. 677 
Sec. 15. Section 9-620 of the general statutes is repealed and the 678 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 679 
(a) [A political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 680 
or defeat of a referendum question shall not make contributions to, or 681 
for the benefit of, a party committee, a political committee, a national 682 
committee, a committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office 683 
or a candidate committee, except in the distribution of a surplus, as 684 
provided in subsection (e) of section 9-608.] Subject to the provisions of 685 
this chapter, any person may establish an independent expenditure 686 
political committee that may only make expenditures without the 687 
consent, coordination or consultation of, a candidate or agent of the 688 
candidate, candidate committee, party committee or political 689 
committee. Subject to the provisions of this chapter, any such 690 
independent expenditure political committee may accept contributions 691 
from any person. 692 
(b) [A political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 693 
or defeat of a referendum question shall not receive contributions from 694 
a national committee or from a committee of a candidate for federal or 695  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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out-of-state office.] Any person may establish an independent 696 
expenditure political committee solely to aid or promote the success or 697 
defeat of a single referendum question, or of multiple referendum 698 
questions submitted to a vote on the same date. Such committee may 699 
only make independent expenditures to aid or promote the success or 700 
defeat of a single referendum question, or of multiple referendum 701 
questions submitted to a vote on the same date. Subject to the provisions 702 
of this chapter, such committee may accept contributions from any 703 
person. 704 
(c) [No person, other than an individual or a committee, shall make a 705 
contribution to a political committee formed solely to aid or promote the 706 
success or defeat of a referendum question, or to any other person, to 707 
aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, in excess 708 
of ten cents for each individual residing in the state or political 709 
subdivision thereof in which such referendum question is to be voted 710 
upon, in accordance with the last federal decennial census.] Except as 711 
provided in this section, an independent expenditure political 712 
committee shall not make contributions to, or for the benefit of, a party 713 
committee, a political committee, a national committee, a committee of 714 
a candidate for federal or out-of-state office or a candidate committee. 715 
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, 716 
of this section, an independent expenditure political committee may 717 
make contributions to another independent expenditure political 718 
committee, make donations to any organization which is a tax-exempt 719 
organization under Sections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) of the Internal 720 
Revenue Code, as amended from time to time, and refund contributions 721 
to contributors. 722 
Sec. 16. Subsections (c) to (l), inclusive, of section 9-621 of the general 723 
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 724 
(Effective from passage): 725 
(c) (1) No business entity, organization, association, committee, or 726 
group of two or more individuals who have joined solely to promote the 727  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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success or defeat of a referendum question shall make or incur any 728 
expenditure for any written, typed or other printed communication 729 
which promotes the success or defeat of any referendum question unless 730 
such communication bears upon its face, as a disclaimer, the words 731 
"paid for by" and the following: [(1)] (A) In the case of a business entity, 732 
organization or association, the name of the business entity, 733 
organization or association and the name of its chief executive officer or 734 
equivalent, and in the case such communication is made during the 735 
ninety-day period immediately prior to the referendum, such 736 
communication shall also bear on its face the names of the five persons 737 
who made the five largest aggregate covered transfers to such business 738 
entity, organization or association during the twelve-month period 739 
immediately prior to such referendum. The communication shall also 740 
state that additional information about the business entity, organization 741 
or association making such communication may be found on the State 742 
Elections Enforcement Commission's Internet web site; [(2)] (B) in the 743 
case of a political committee, the name of the committee and the name 744 
of its treasurer; [(3)] (C) in the case of a party committee, the name of the 745 
committee; or [(4)] (D) in the case of such a group of two or more 746 
individuals, the name of the group and the name and address of its 747 
agent. 748 
(2) No person shall make or incur an independent expenditure for: 749 
(A) A video broadcast by television, satellite or Internet which 750 
promotes the success or defeat of any referendum question unless such 751 
video is accompanied by the disclaimer described in subdivision (2) of 752 
subsection (h) of this section; 753 
(B) An audio communication broadcast by radio, satellite or Internet 754 
which promotes the success or defeat of any referendum question unless 755 
such audio communication is accompanied by the disclaimer described 756 
in subdivision (3) of subsection (h) of this section; and 757 
(C) Telephone calls which promote the success or defeat of any 758 
referendum question unless such telephone calls are accompanied by 759  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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the disclaimer described in subdivision (4) of subsection (h) of this 760 
section. 761 
(d) The provisions of subsections (a), (b), [and] (c) and (h) of this 762 
section do not apply to (1) any editorial, news story, or commentary 763 
published in any newspaper, magazine or journal on its own behalf and 764 
upon its own responsibility and for which it does not charge or receive 765 
any compensation whatsoever, (2) any banner, (3) political 766 
paraphernalia including pins, buttons, badges, emblems, hats, bumper 767 
stickers or other similar materials, or (4) signs with a surface area of not 768 
more than thirty-two square feet. 769 
(e) The treasurer of a candidate committee which sponsors any 770 
written, typed or other printed communication for the purpose of 771 
raising funds to eliminate a campaign deficit of that committee shall 772 
include in such communication a statement that the funds are sought to 773 
eliminate such a deficit. 774 
(f) The treasurer of an exploratory committee or candidate committee 775 
established by a candidate for nomination or election to the office of 776 
Treasurer which committee sponsors any written, typed or other 777 
printed communication for the purpose of raising funds shall include in 778 
such communication a statement concerning the prohibitions set forth 779 
in subsection (n) of section 1-84, subsection (e) of section 9-612 and 780 
subsection (f) of section 9-613, as amended by this act. 781 
(g) In the event a treasurer of a candidate committee is replaced 782 
pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-602, nothing in this section shall 783 
be construed to prohibit the candidate committee from distributing any 784 
printed communication subject to the provisions of this section that has 785 
already been printed or otherwise produced, even though such 786 
communication does not accurately designate the successor treasurer of 787 
such candidate committee. 788 
(h) (1) No person shall make or incur an independent expenditure for 789 
any written, typed or other printed communication, including on a 790  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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billboard, or any web-based, written communication, which promotes 791 
the success or defeat of any candidate's campaign for nomination at a 792 
primary or election unless such communication bears upon its face, as a 793 
disclaimer, the words "Paid for by" and the name of such person and the 794 
following statement: "This message was made independent of any 795 
candidate or political party.". In the case of a person making or incurring 796 
such an independent expenditure during the ninety-day period 797 
immediately prior to the primary or election for which the independent 798 
expenditure is made, such communication shall also bear upon its face 799 
the names of the five persons who made the five largest aggregate 800 
covered transfers to the person making such communication during the 801 
twelve-month period immediately prior to such primary or election, as 802 
applicable. The communication shall also state that additional 803 
information about the person making such communication may be 804 
found on the State Elections Enforcement Commission's Internet web 805 
site. 806 
(2) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this 807 
subsection, no person shall make or incur an independent expenditure 808 
for a video broadcast by television, satellite or Internet, unless at the end 809 
of such advertising there appears for a period of not less than four 810 
seconds as a disclaimer, the following as an audio message and a written 811 
statement: "This message was paid for by (person making the 812 
communication) and made independent of any candidate or political 813 
party.". In the case of a person making or incurring such an independent 814 
expenditure during the ninety-day period immediately prior to the 815 
primary or election for which the independent expenditure is made, 816 
such communication shall also list the names of the five persons who 817 
made the five largest aggregate covered transfers to the person making 818 
such communication during the twelve-month period immediately 819 
prior to such primary or election, as applicable. The communication 820 
shall also state that additional information about the person making 821 
such communication may be found on the State Elections Enforcement 822 
Commission's Internet web site. 823  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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(3) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this 824 
subsection, no person shall make or incur an independent expenditure 825 
for an audio communication broadcast by radio, satellite or Internet, 826 
unless the advertising ends with a disclaimer that is a personal audio 827 
statement by such person's agent (A) identifying the person paying for 828 
the expenditure, and (B) indicating that the message was made 829 
independent of any candidate or political party, using the following 830 
form: "I am .... (name of the person's agent), .... (title), of .... (the person). 831 
This message was made independent of any candidate or political 832 
party.". In the case of a person making or incurring such an independent 833 
expenditure during the ninety-day period immediately prior to the 834 
primary or election for which the independent expenditure is made, 835 
such communication shall state the names of the five persons who made 836 
the five largest aggregate covered transfers to the person making such 837 
communication during the twelve-month period immediately prior to 838 
such primary or election, as applicable. The communication shall also 839 
state that additional information about the person making such 840 
communication may be found on the State Elections Enforcement 841 
Commission's Internet web site. 842 
(4) In addition to the requirements of subdivision (1) of this 843 
subsection, no person shall make or incur an independent expenditure 844 
for telephone calls, unless the narrative of the telephone call identifies 845 
the person making the expenditure and during the ninety-day period 846 
immediately prior to the primary or election for which the independent 847 
expenditure is made, such communication shall state the names of the 848 
five persons who made the five largest aggregate covered transfers to 849 
the person making such communication during the twelve-month 850 
period immediately prior to such primary or election, as applicable. The 851 
communication shall also state that additional information about the 852 
person making such communication may be found on the State 853 
Elections Enforcement Commission's Internet web site. 854 
(i) In any [print, television or social media promotion of a slate of] 855 
organization expenditure for a party candidate listing of a candidate or 856  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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candidates by a party committee, [the party] legislative caucus 857 
committee or legislative leadership committee, such committee shall use 858 
applicable disclaimers pursuant to the provisions of this section for such 859 
promotion, and no individual candidate disclaimers shall be required. 860 
(j) (1) Except as provided in subdivisions (2) and (3) of this subsection, 861 
if any person whose name is included on a disclaimer of a 862 
communication pursuant to the provisions of this section, as a person 863 
who made a covered transfer to the maker of the communication, is also 864 
a recipient of a covered transfer, the maker of the communication, as 865 
part of any report filed pursuant to section 9-601d, as amended by this 866 
act, associated with the making of such communication, shall include 867 
the names of the five persons who made the top five largest aggregate 868 
covered transfers to such recipient during the twelve-month period 869 
immediately prior to the primary or election, as applicable. 870 
(2) The name of any person who made a covered transfer to a tax-871 
exempt organization recognized under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal 872 
Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal 873 
revenue code of the United States, as amended from time to time, that 874 
has not had its tax exempt status revoked, shall not be disclosed 875 
pursuant to the provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection. 876 
(3) The name of any person who made a covered transfer to a person 877 
whose name is included on a disclaimer pursuant to the provisions of 878 
this section shall not be disclosed pursuant to the provisions of 879 
subdivision (1) of this subsection if the recipient of such covered transfer 880 
accepts covered transfers from at least one hundred different sources, 881 
provided no such source accounts for ten per cent or more of the total 882 
amount of covered transfers accepted by the recipient during the 883 
twelve-month period immediately prior to the primary or election, as 884 
applicable. 885 
(k) Any disclaimer required to be on the face of a written, typed or 886 
other printed communication pursuant to the provisions of this section 887 
shall be printed in no smaller than eight-point type of uniform font 888  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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when such disclaimer is on a communication contained in a flyer or 889 
leaflet, newspaper, magazine or similar literature, or that is delivered by 890 
mail. 891 
(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, no person making 892 
an independent expenditure for a communication shall be required to 893 
list as part of any disclaimer pursuant to this section any person whose 894 
covered transfers to the maker of the communication are not in an 895 
aggregate amount of five thousand dollars or more during the twelve-896 
month period immediately prior to the primary, [or] election or 897 
referendum, as applicable, for which such independent expenditure is 898 
made. 899 
Sec. 17. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) A foreign national, as 900 
defined in section 9-601 of the general statutes, as amended by this act, 901 
shall not make, directly or indirectly, (1) any contribution, as defined in 902 
section 9-601a of the general statutes, or any express or implied promise 903 
to make any such contribution, or (2) any expenditure, as defined in 904 
section 9-601b of the general statutes. 905 
(b) A person shall not solicit, accept or receive a contribution or 906 
covered transfer, as defined in section 9-601 of the general statutes, as 907 
amended by this act, from a foreign national. 908 
Sec. 18. Subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 9-7a of the general 909 
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 910 
(Effective July 1, 2022): 911 
(g) (1) (A) In the case of a written complaint filed with the commission 912 
pursuant to section 9-7b, commission staff shall conduct and complete a 913 
preliminary examination of such complaint by the fourteenth day 914 
following its receipt, at which time such staff shall, at its discretion, [(A)] 915 
(i) dismiss the complaint for failure to allege any substantial violation of 916 
state election law supported by evidence, [(B)] (ii) engage the 917 
respondent in discussions in an effort to speedily resolve any matter 918 
pertaining to a de minimis violation, or [(C)] (iii) investigate and docket 919  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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the complaint for a determination by the commission that probable 920 
cause or no probable cause exists for any such violation. If commission 921 
staff dismisses a complaint pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i) of this 922 
subdivision, such staff shall provide a brief written statement concisely 923 
setting forth the reasons for such dismissal. If commission staff engages 924 
a respondent pursuant to subparagraph [(B)] (A)(ii) of this subdivision 925 
but is unable to speedily resolve any such matter described in said 926 
subparagraph by the forty-fifth day following receipt of the complaint, 927 
such staff shall docket such complaint for a determination by the 928 
commission that probable cause or no probable cause exists for any 929 
violation of state election law. If the commission does not, by the sixtieth 930 
day following receipt of the complaint, either issue a decision or render 931 
its determination that probable cause or no probable cause exists for any 932 
violation of state election laws, the complainant or respondent may 933 
apply to the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford for an 934 
order to show cause why the commission has not acted upon the 935 
complaint and to provide evidence that the com mission has 936 
unreasonably delayed action. 937 
(B) (i) For any complaint received on or after January 1, 2018, but prior 938 
to July 1, 2022, if the commission does not, by one year following receipt 939 
of such complaint, issue a decision thereon, the commission shall 940 
dismiss such complaint, provided the length of time of any delay caused 941 
by [(i)] (I) the commission or commission staff granting any extension 942 
or continuance to a respondent prior to the issuance of any such 943 
decision, [(ii)] (II) any subpoena issued in connection with such 944 
complaint, [(iii)] (III) any litigation in state or federal court related to 945 
such complaint, or [(iv)] (IV) any investigation by, or consultation of the 946 
commission or commission staff with, the Chief State's Attorney, the 947 
Attorney General, the United States Department of Justice or the United 948 
States Attorney for Connecticut related to such complaint, shall be 949 
added to such one year. 950 
(ii) For any complaint received on or after July 1, 2022, if the 951 
commission does not, by one year following receipt of such complaint, 952  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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find reason to believe that a violation of state election law has been 953 
committed and commence a contested case, as defined in section 4-166, 954 
the commission shall dismiss such complaint, provided the length of 955 
time of any delay caused by (I) the commission or commission staff 956 
granting any extension or continuance to a respondent prior to the 957 
issuance of any such decision, (II) any subpoena issued in connection 958 
with such complaint, (III) any litigation in state or federal court related 959 
to such complaint, (IV) any investigation by the commission or 960 
commission staff involving a potential violation of state election law by 961 
a foreign national or section 9-601c or 9-601d, as amended by this act, or 962 
(V) any investigation by, or consultation of the commission or 963 
commission staff with, the Chief State's Attorney, the Attorney General, 964 
the United States Department of Justice or the United States Attorney 965 
for Connecticut related to such complaint, shall be added to such one 966 
year. 967 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 from passage 9-601 
Sec. 2 from passage 9-601(3) 
Sec. 3 from passage 9-601c 
Sec. 4 from passage 9-601d(a) to (i) 
Sec. 5 from passage 9-605(b) 
Sec. 6 from passage 9-607(g)(1) 
Sec. 7 from passage 9-608(e)(1)(C) 
Sec. 8 from passage 9-611 
Sec. 9 from passage 9-612(a) and (b) 
Sec. 10 from passage 9-613 
Sec. 11 from passage 9-614 
Sec. 12 from passage 9-615 
Sec. 13 from passage 9-618(a) 
Sec. 14 from passage 9-619(a) 
Sec. 15 from passage 9-620 
Sec. 16 from passage 9-621(c) to (l) 
Sec. 17 from passage New section 
Sec. 18 July 1, 2022 9-7a(g)(1) 
  Substitute Bill No. 431 
 
 
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Statement of Legislative Commissioners:   
In Section 1(34), Subpara. (B) was rewritten for clarity and "of the 
general statutes" was deleted in Subpara. (C)(iii) for accuracy; in Section 
7(e)(1)(C), "not later than ninety" was changed to "[not later than] within 
ninety" for clarity and consistency; in Section 15(d), "may refund" was 
changed to "refund" for accuracy; and in Section 18(g)(1)(B)(i), "and 
prior" was changed to "but prior" for clarity and the existing provisions 
were redesignated for accuracy. 
 
GAE Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO