Researcher: MHF Page 1 4/17/23
OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 1224
AN ACT CONCERNING THE CITIZENS' ELECTION PROGRAM AND
CERTAIN INFLATIONARY ADJUSTMENTS.
SUMMARY
This bill removes current law’s inflationary adjustment requirements
for the aggregate contribution and in-state contribution thresholds
candidates must meet to qualify for the Citizens’ Election Program
(CEP). It also resets these threshold amounts to the statutory base levels.
CEP is a voluntary campaign financing system available to statewide
office and legislative candidates. To qualify for CEP, a candidate must
raise an overall threshold amount of qualifying contributions from
individual donors. The law also requires candidates for (1) governor
and other statewide offices to raise a specified amount from state
residents and (2) state legislators to receive contributions from a
minimum number of people residing in their district.
The aggregate threshold amounts specified in law vary depending on
the office sought (see the table below). However, under current law, the
State Elections Enforcement Commission (SEEC) must adjust these
amounts for inflation to reflect changes in the consumer price index for
all urban consumers as published by the U.S. Department of Labor,
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Although the bill removes the inflation adjustments for the aggregate
and in-state contribution thresholds, it does not remove the
corresponding inflationary adjustment for qualifying contributions. The
statutory base for these contributions is $250. In 2022, the maximum
qualifying contribution amount, adjusted for inflation, was $290.
2023SB-01224-R000609-BA.DOCX
Researcher: MHF Page 2 4/17/23
Table: Threshold Aggregate Contribution and In-State Contribution
Requirements for CEP
Office Sought
Aggregate Contribution
Requirement
Aggregate In-State
Contributions
Current 2022
Minimum*
The Bill Current 2022
Minimum*
The Bill
Governor $288,800 $250,000 $259,900 $225,000
Other Statewide
Office
$86,600 $75,000 $78,000 $67,500
State Senator $17,300 $15,000 300 district
residents
300 district
residents
State
Representative
$5,800 $5,000 150 district
residents
150 district
residents
*as adjusted for inflation under current law
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2023
BACKGROUND
Related Bills
sSB 226, reported favorably by the Government Administration and
Elections (GAE) Committee, (1) doubles the primary and general
election grant amounts for gubernatorial candidates and (2) allows
gubernatorial candidates to receive a CEP grant before the party
convention if they raise the full aggregate amount of qualifying
contributions.
sHB 6910, reported favorably by the GAE Committee, among other
things, (1) increases the general election base grant amount for
gubernatorial candidates and (2) beginning with the 2030 election,
shortens the look-back period for making inflationary adjustments for
gubernatorial primary and general election grants. Beginning with the
2026 election cycle, it also moves up the deadline for SEEC to adjust
certain other amounts for inflation and revises the inflation calculation
period.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Government Administration and Elections Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 13 Nay 6 (03/27/2023)