Connecticut 2023 2023 Regular Session

Connecticut Senate Bill SB01225 Introduced / Bill

Filed 03/14/2023

                       
 
LCO No. 6020  	1 of 16 
 
General Assembly  Raised Bill No. 1225  
January Session, 2023 
LCO No. 6020 
 
 
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT ADMINISTRATION 
AND ELECTIONS  
 
 
Introduced by:  
(GAE)  
 
 
 
 
AN ACT CONCERNING CITIZENS' ELECTION PROGRAM GRANTS 
FOR GUBERNATORIAL CANDIDATES. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General 
Assembly convened: 
 
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective January 1, 2024) (a) There is created within 1 
the Citizens' Election Program, established under section 9-702 of the 2 
general statutes, a voucher system under which the candidate 3 
committee of a candidate for nomination to the office of Governor in 4 
2026, or thereafter, may receive a grant from the Citizens' Election Fund, 5 
established under section 9-701 of the general statutes, for the 6 
candidate's campaign for said nomination prior to the holding of the 7 
state convention of the candidate's party that is called for the purpose of 8 
choosing a candidate for nomination for the office of Governor, which 9 
grant is based on the total amount represented by all vouchers such 10 
candidate committee has been assigned by eligible contributors under 11 
the provisions of this section. 12 
(b) (1) Not later than March 1, 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, the 13 
State Elections Enforcement Commission shall issue to each elector, as 14  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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defined in section 9-1 of the general statutes, whose name, as of 15 
December thirty-first of the prior year, appeared on an active registry 16 
list of any municipality in this state four vouchers worth twenty-five 17 
dollars each. Each week thereafter until the one-hundred-fifth day 18 
preceding the day of the primary in 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, 19 
the commission shall issue four vouchers worth twenty-five dollars each 20 
to any individual who was admitted as an elector after December thirty-21 
first of the prior year and who had not previously been issued vouchers. 22 
(2) On and after March 1, 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, any 23 
individual who is not an elector may apply to the commission to be 24 
issued four vouchers worth twenty-five dollars each if such individual 25 
is permitted under the provisions of chapter 155 or 157 of the general 26 
statutes to make a contribution, as defined in section 9-601a of the 27 
general statutes, has been a Connecticut resident for at least thirty days 28 
preceding such application and has not previously been issued 29 
vouchers. 30 
(3) Not later than March 1, 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, the 31 
commission shall notify, by mail, each elector whose name appeared on 32 
the inactive registry list of any municipality in this state of such elector's 33 
inactive status and such elector's opportunity to be issued vouchers 34 
from the commission. 35 
(c) The commission shall prescribe the form to be used for each 36 
voucher, which shall include the following information on such 37 
voucher's face: 38 
(1) The words "Citizens' Election Program Participating Candidate 39 
for Governor Voucher", an indication that such voucher is worth 40 
twenty-five dollars, statements that such voucher has no cash value and 41 
is nontransferable and a space in which the commission shall print an 42 
expiration date for such voucher, which shall not be later than the 43 
seventh day prior to the opening of any state convention held in the year 44 
in which such voucher is issued; 45 
(2) The words "I am assigning this voucher to the qualified candidate 46  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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printed here:" and a space in which the individual assigning such 47 
voucher shall print the name of the qualified candidate; and 48 
(3) The words "I attest that I obtained this voucher properly and make 49 
this assignment freely and not in exchange for payment of any kind. I 50 
am aware that assignment may not be changed and there is no 51 
guarantee of availability of funds. Assignment is complete upon 52 
delivery to the candidate or his or her registered campaign 53 
representative. Vouchers may only be assigned to qualified candidates." 54 
and spaces in which the individual assigning such voucher shall sign 55 
such individual's name and print the date of such assignment. 56 
(d) (1) Any individual to whom a voucher has been issued may assign 57 
such voucher to a participating candidate, as described in subsection (b) 58 
of section 9-703 of the general statutes, by (A) signing such individual's 59 
name and dating the voucher where indicated thereon, and (B) 60 
delivering the signed and dated voucher either to the participating 61 
candidate or to a campaign representative of such candidate, which 62 
campaign representative registers with the commission for such 63 
purpose. An individual may assign to the same participating candidate 64 
one or more of the vouchers issued to such individual. A voucher may 65 
only be assigned by the individual to whom such voucher was issued 66 
and shall not be assigned by proxy, power of attorney or other agent of 67 
any such individual. A valid assignment of a voucher is irrevocable. 68 
(2) No voucher may be assigned to a participating candidate after the 69 
seventh day prior to the opening of the state convention of such 70 
candidate's party in 2026, and quadrennially thereafter. A participating 71 
candidate or his or her registered campaign representative may solicit 72 
assignment of vouchers in the same manner such candidate or the 73 
candidate committee of such candidate is permitted to solicit qualifying 74 
contributions. 75 
(3) No voucher may be assigned to a participating candidate in return 76 
for cash or any other consideration. No voucher may be purchased, sold, 77 
given, gifted or otherwise transferred, and any offer to purchase, sell, 78  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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give, gift or otherwise transfer a voucher is prohibited. A voucher has 79 
no cash value and shall not be construed to be an asset, income or 80 
property. 81 
(4) If the individual to whom the commission issues a voucher ceases 82 
to be a resident of Connecticut or is no longer permitted under the 83 
provisions of chapter 155 or 157 of the general statutes to make 84 
contributions, any such voucher that has not already been assigned to a 85 
participating candidate shall expire. An individual who assigns any 86 
voucher to a participating candidate assumes the risk that such 87 
assignment is irrevocable and that such voucher may not be redeemed 88 
by the participating candidate to whom such voucher was assigned due 89 
to any contingency, including, but not limited to, unavailability of funds 90 
or such candidate's death, disqualification, withdrawal of candidacy or 91 
participation in the Citizens' Election Program or failure to redeem such 92 
voucher with the commission. 93 
(e) (1) On three dates selected by the commission between March 1, 94 
2026, and the fifth day prior to the opening of the state convention of the 95 
candidate's party held in 2026, and quadrennially thereafter, the 96 
commission shall accept deliveries of vouchers from participating 97 
candidates or their registered campaign representatives for purposes of 98 
redeeming such vouchers for grant funds. 99 
(2) Not later than three business days after the commission accepts 100 
delivery of any voucher assigned to a participating candidate pursuant 101 
to subdivision (1) of this subsection, the commission shall disburse to 102 
the qualified candidate committee of such participating candidate grant 103 
funds in the total amount represented by all such vouchers being 104 
redeemed in such delivery, provided sufficient moneys in the Citizens' 105 
Election Fund are available to honor such redemptions and the 106 
commission verifies that such voucher was validly assigned to the 107 
participating candidate by an eligible contributor. 108 
(f) All grant funds received by the qualified candidate committee of 109 
a participating candidate from redeemed vouchers shall be used in 110  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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compliance with the provisions of chapter 157 of the general statutes 111 
and any regulations adopted thereunder. Upon the closing of the state 112 
convention at which such participating candidate sought the 113 
nomination for Governor, any such grant funds that were not used shall 114 
be returned to the commission for deposit in the Citizens' Election Fund, 115 
except that the qualified candidate committee may retain funds in an 116 
amount necessary to pay any debt or obligation incurred prior to the 117 
closing of such state convention. 118 
(g) (1) Any record pertaining to the application for, issuance of, 119 
assignment of or redemption of a voucher under this section shall be 120 
subject to disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act, as defined 121 
in section 1-200 of the general statutes. The provisions of chapters 155 122 
and 157 of the general statutes relating to (A) the reporting of 123 
contributions received by candidate committees shall apply to the 124 
reporting of vouchers received by such committees, (B) the reporting of 125 
expenditures of funds by candidate committees shall apply to the 126 
reporting of use of funds derived from redeemed vouchers by such 127 
committees, and (C) the publication of such reports for contributions 128 
and expenditures by the commission shall apply to the publication of 129 
such reports for voucher receipt and use of funds derived from voucher 130 
redemption. 131 
(2) The provisions of section 9-7b of the general statutes, as amended 132 
by this act, relating to the commission's powers and duties shall apply 133 
to any situation in which an individual to whom a voucher was issued 134 
believes such individual's voucher was lost, stolen or fraudulently or 135 
improperly assigned or redeemed, or in which the commission is made 136 
aware of any duplication, counterfeiting or forgery of, destruction of, 137 
duress in the assignment of or any other improper act concerning such 138 
vouchers, and the commission may order appropriate relief to remedy 139 
such situation, including, but not limited to, voucher replacement, 140 
cancellation of voucher assignment or reimbursement of any 141 
improperly obtained grant funds from the redemption of any such 142 
voucher. 143  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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(h) The commission shall develop and conduct a state-wide public 144 
awareness campaign to educate the public regarding the 145 
implementation of the voucher system within the Citizens' Election 146 
Program for participating candidates for nomination to the office of 147 
Governor, including, but not limited to, availability of vouchers, 148 
eligibility for issuance of vouchers, rules and procedures regarding 149 
assignment of vouchers and transparency of all aspects of the voucher 150 
system. 151 
(i) The commission shall adopt regulations, in accordance with the 152 
provisions of chapter 54 of the general statutes, concerning (1) the means 153 
of delivery of vouchers issued by the commission under this section to 154 
eligible contributors, (2) the means of delivery of vouchers assigned by 155 
eligible contributors under this section to participating candidates or 156 
their registered campaign representatives, including through a secure 157 
online system the commission may develop for such purpose, (3) the 158 
means of delivery of vouchers received by such candidates or 159 
representatives to the commission for purposes of redeeming such 160 
vouchers for grant funds, and (4) procedures for the general 161 
administration of the voucher system within the Citizens' Election 162 
Program. 163 
(j) Not later than January 1, 2027, and quadrennially thereafter, the 164 
commission shall submit a report, in accordance with section 11-4a of 165 
the general statutes, to the joint standing committee of the General 166 
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections detailing 167 
relevant statistics concerning the use of vouchers in the prior year's 168 
gubernatorial race, providing an analysis of the efficacy of the voucher 169 
system described in this section and making recommendations for 170 
legislation to address any concerns identified from such analysis. 171 
Sec. 2. Subdivisions (2) to (14), inclusive, of subsection (a) of section 172 
9-7b of the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted 173 
in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2024): 174 
(2) To levy a civil penalty not to exceed (A) two thousand dollars per 175  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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offense against any person the commission finds to be in violation of 176 
any provision of chapter 145, part V of chapter 146, part I of chapter 147, 177 
chapter 148, section 7-9, section 9-12, subsection (a) of section 9-17, 178 
section 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-19g to 9-19k, inclusive, 9-20, 9-21, 9-23a, 9-23g, 9-179 
23h, 9-23j to 9-23o, inclusive, 9-23r, 9-26, 9-31a, 9-32, 9-35, 9-35b, 9-35c, 180 
9-40a, 9-42, 9-43, 9-50a, 9-56, 9-59, 9-168d, 9-170, 9-171, 9-172, 9-232i to 9-181 
232o, inclusive, 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive, 9-409, 9-410, 9-412, 9-436, 9-182 
436a, 9-453e to 9-453h, inclusive, 9-453k or 9-453o, (B) two thousand 183 
dollars per offense against any town clerk, registrar of voters, an 184 
appointee or designee of a town clerk or registrar of voters, or any other 185 
election or primary official whom the commission finds to have failed 186 
to discharge a duty imposed by any provision of chapter 146 or 147, (C) 187 
two thousand dollars per offense against any person the commission 188 
finds to have (i) improperly voted in any election, primary or 189 
referendum, and (ii) not been legally qualified to vote in such election, 190 
primary or referendum, or (D) two thousand dollars per offense or twice 191 
the amount of any improper payment or contribution, whichever is 192 
greater, against any person the commission finds to be in violation of 193 
any provision of chapter 155 or 157 or section 1 of this act. The 194 
commission may levy a civil penalty against any person under 195 
subparagraph (A), (B), (C) or (D) of this subdivision only after giving 196 
the person an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in 197 
accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive. In the case of failure 198 
to pay any such penalty levied pursuant to this subsection within thirty 199 
days of written notice sent by certified or registered mail to such person, 200 
the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, on application of 201 
the commission, may issue an order requiring such person to pay the 202 
penalty imposed and such court costs, state marshal's fees and 203 
attorney's fees incurred by the commission as the court may determine. 204 
Any civil penalties paid, collected or recovered under subparagraph (D) 205 
of this subdivision for a violation of any provision of chapter 155 206 
applying to the office of the Treasurer shall be deposited on a pro rata 207 
basis in any trust funds, as defined in section 3-13c, affected by such 208 
violation. 209  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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(3) (A) To issue an order requiring any person the commission finds 210 
to have received any contribution or payment which is prohibited by 211 
any of the provisions of chapter 155 or 157, after an opportunity to be 212 
heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with the provisions of 213 
sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive, to return such contribution or 214 
payment to the donor or payor, or to remit such contribution or payment 215 
to the state for deposit in the General Fund or the Citizens' Election 216 
Fund, whichever is deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of 217 
chapter 155 or 157, as the case may be; 218 
(B) To issue an order when the commission finds that an intentional 219 
violation of any provision of chapter 155 or 157 or section 1 of this act 220 
has been committed, after an opportunity to be heard at a hearing 221 
conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive, which 222 
order may contain one or more of the following sanctions: (i) Removal 223 
of a treasurer, deputy treasurer or solicitor; (ii) prohibition on serving as 224 
a treasurer, deputy treasurer or solicitor; and (iii) in the case of a party 225 
committee or a political committee, suspension of all political activities, 226 
including, but not limited to, the receipt of contributions and the making 227 
of expenditures, provided the commission may not order such a 228 
suspension unless the commission has previously ordered the removal 229 
of the treasurer and notifies the officers of the committee that the 230 
commission is considering such suspension; 231 
(C) To issue an order revoking any person's eligibility to be appointed 232 
or serve as an election, primary or referendum official or unofficial 233 
checker or in any capacity at the polls on the day of an election, primary 234 
or referendum, when the commission finds such person has 235 
intentionally violated any provision of the general statutes relating to 236 
the conduct of an election, primary or referendum, after an opportunity 237 
to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to 238 
4-184, inclusive; 239 
(D) To issue an order to enforce the provisions of the Help America 240 
Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, as the commission 241 
deems appropriate; 242  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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(E) To issue an order following the commission's determination of the 243 
right of an individual to be or remain an elector when such 244 
determination is made (i) pursuant to an appeal taken to the commission 245 
from a decision of the registrars of voters or board of admission of 246 
electors under section 9-31l, or (ii) following the commission's 247 
investigation pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection; 248 
(F) To issue a cease and desist order for violation of any general 249 
statute or regulation under the commission's jurisdiction and to take 250 
reasonable actions necessary to compel compliance with such statute or 251 
regulation; 252 
(4) To issue an order to a candidate committee that receives moneys 253 
from the Citizens' Election Fund pursuant to chapter 157 or section 1 of 254 
this act, to comply with the provisions of chapter 157 and section 1 of 255 
this act, after an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in 256 
accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive; 257 
(5) (A) To inspect or audit at any reasonable time and upon 258 
reasonable notice the accounts or records of any treasurer or principal 259 
treasurer, except as provided for in subparagraph (B) of this 260 
subdivision, as required by chapter 155 or 157 and to audit any such 261 
election, primary or referendum held within the state; provided, (i) (I) 262 
not later than two months preceding the day of an election at which a 263 
candidate is seeking election, the commission shall complete any audit 264 
it has initiated in the absence of a complaint that involves a committee 265 
of the same candidate from a previous election, and (II) during the two-266 
month period preceding the day of an election at which a candidate is 267 
seeking election, the commission shall not initiate an audit in the 268 
absence of a complaint that involves a committee of the same candidate 269 
from a previous election, and (ii) the commission shall not audit any 270 
caucus, as defined in subdivision (1) of section 9-372. 271 
(B) When conducting an audit after an election or primary, the 272 
commission shall randomly audit not more than fifty per cent of 273 
candidate committees, which shall be selected through the process of a 274  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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weighted lottery conducted by the commission that takes into account 275 
the selection frequency of a district served by the office of state senator 276 
or state representative, as applicable, for the immediately preceding 277 
three regular elections for such office and increases or decreases the 278 
likelihood that such district will be selected for audit based on such 279 
selection frequency, except that the commissioner shall audit all 280 
candidate committees for candidates for a state-wide office. 281 
(C) The commission shall notify, in writing, any committee of a 282 
candidate for an office in the general election, or of any candidate who 283 
had a primary for nomination to any such office not later than May 284 
thirty-first of the year immediately following such election. In no case 285 
shall the commission audit any such candidate committee that the 286 
commission fails to provide notice to in accordance with this 287 
subparagraph; 288 
(6) To attempt to secure voluntary compliance, by informal methods 289 
of conference, conciliation and persuasion, with any provision of 290 
chapter 149, 151 to 153, inclusive, 155, 156 or 157, [or] any other 291 
provision of the general statutes relating to any such election, primary 292 
or referendum or section 1 of this act; 293 
(7) To consult with the Secretary of the State, the Chief State's 294 
Attorney or the Attorney General on any matter which the commission 295 
deems appropriate; 296 
(8) To refer to the Chief State's Attorney evidence bearing upon 297 
violation of any provision of chapter 149, 151 to 153, inclusive, 155, 156 298 
or 157, [or] any other provision of the general statutes pertaining to or 299 
relating to any such election, primary or referendum or section 1 of this 300 
act; 301 
(9) To refer to the Attorney General evidence for injunctive relief and 302 
any other ancillary equitable relief in the circumstances of subdivision 303 
(8) of this subsection. Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude a 304 
person who claims that he is aggrieved by a violation of any provision 305 
of chapter 152 or any other provision of the general statutes relating to 306  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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referenda from pursuing injunctive and any other ancillary equitable 307 
relief directly from the Superior Court by the filing of a complaint; 308 
(10) To refer to the Attorney General evidence pertaining to any 309 
ruling which the commission finds to be in error made by election 310 
officials in connection with any election, primary or referendum. Those 311 
remedies and procedures available to parties claiming to be aggrieved 312 
under the provisions of sections 9-323, 9-324, 9-328 and 9-329a shall 313 
apply to any complaint brought by the Attorney General as a result of 314 
the provisions of this subdivision; 315 
(11) To consult with the United States Department of Justice and the 316 
United States Attorney for Connecticut on any investigation pertaining 317 
to a violation of this section, section 9-12, subsection (a) of section 9-17 318 
or section 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-19g, 9-19h, 9-19i, 9-20, 9-21, 9-23a, 9-23g, 9-23h, 319 
9-23j to 9-23o, inclusive, 9-26, 9-31a, 9-32, 9-35, 9-35b, 9-35c, 9-40a, 9-42, 320 
9-43, 9-50a, 9-56 or 9-59 and to refer to said department and attorney 321 
evidence bearing upon any such violation for prosecution under the 322 
provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as 323 
amended from time to time; 324 
(12) To inspect reports filed with town clerks pursuant to chapter 155 325 
and refer to the Chief State's Attorney evidence bearing upon any 326 
violation of law therein if such violation was committed knowingly and 327 
wilfully; 328 
(13) To intervene in any action brought pursuant to the provisions of 329 
sections 9-323, 9-324, 9-328 and 9-329a upon application to the court in 330 
which such action is brought when in the opinion of the court it is 331 
necessary to preserve evidence of possible criminal violation of the 332 
election laws; 333 
(14) To adopt and publish regulations pursuant to chapter 54 to carry 334 
out the provisions of section 9-7a, this section, [and] chapters 155 and 335 
157 and section 1 of this act; to issue upon request and publish advisory 336 
opinions in the Connecticut Law Journal upon the requirements of 337 
chapters 155 and 157, and to make recommendations to the General 338  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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Assembly concerning suggested revisions of the election laws; 339 
Sec. 3. Section 9-622 of the general statutes is repealed and the 340 
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2024): 341 
The following persons shall be guilty of illegal practices and shall be 342 
punished in accordance with the provisions of section 9-623: 343 
(1) Any person who, directly or indirectly, individually or by another 344 
person, gives or offers or promises to any person any money, gift, 345 
advantage, preferment, entertainment, aid, emolument or other 346 
valuable thing for the purpose of inducing or procuring any person to 347 
sign a nominating, primary or referendum petition or to vote or refrain 348 
from voting for or against any person or for or against any measure at 349 
any election, caucus, convention, primary or referendum; 350 
(2) Any person who, directly or indirectly, receives, accepts, requests 351 
or solicits from any person, committee, association, organization or 352 
corporation, any money, gift, advantage, preferment, aid, emolument or 353 
other valuable thing for the purpose of inducing or procuring any 354 
person to sign a nominating, primary or referendum petition or to vote 355 
or refrain from voting for or against any person or for or against any 356 
measure at any such election, caucus, primary or referendum; 357 
(3) Any person who, in consideration of any money, gift, advantage, 358 
preferment, aid, emolument or other valuable thing paid, received, 359 
accepted or promised to the person's advantage or any other person's 360 
advantage, votes or refrains from voting for or against any person or for 361 
or against any measure at any such election, caucus, primary or 362 
referendum; 363 
(4) Any person who solicits from any candidate any money, gift, 364 
contribution, emolument or other valuable thing for the purpose of 365 
using the same for the support, assistance, benefit or expenses of any 366 
club, company or organization, or for the purpose of defraying the cost 367 
or expenses of any political campaign, primary, referendum or election; 368  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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(5) Any person who, directly or indirectly, pays, gives, contributes or 369 
promises any money or other valuable thing to defray or towards 370 
defraying the cost or expenses of any campaign, primary, referendum 371 
or election to any person, committee, company, club, organization or 372 
association, other than to a treasurer, except that this subdivision shall 373 
not apply to any expenses for postage, telegrams, telephoning, 374 
stationery, express charges, traveling, meals, lodging or photocopying 375 
incurred by any candidate for office or for nomination to office, so far as 376 
may be permitted under the provisions of this chapter; 377 
(6) Any person who, in order to secure or promote the person's own 378 
nomination or election as a candidate, or that of any other person, 379 
directly or indirectly, promises to appoint, or promises to secure or 380 
assist in securing the appointment, nomination or election of any other 381 
person to any public position, or to any position of honor, trust or 382 
emolument; but any person may publicly announce the person's own 383 
choice or purpose in relation to any appointment, nomination or 384 
election in which the person may be called to take part, if the person is 385 
nominated for or elected to such office; 386 
(7) Any person who, directly or indirectly, individually or through 387 
another person, makes a payment or promise of payment to a treasurer 388 
in a name other than the person's own, and any treasurer who 389 
knowingly receives a payment or promise of payment, or enters or 390 
causes the same to be entered in the person's accounts in any other name 391 
than that of the person by whom such payment or promise of payment 392 
is made; 393 
(8) Any person who knowingly and wilfully violates any provision 394 
of this chapter; 395 
(9) Any person who offers or receives a cash contribution in excess of 396 
one hundred dollars to promote the success or defeat of any political 397 
party, candidate or referendum question; 398 
(10) Any person who solicits, makes or receives a contribution that is 399 
otherwise prohibited by any provision of this chapter; 400  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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(11) Any department head or deputy department head of a state 401 
department who solicits a contribution on behalf of, or for the benefit of, 402 
any candidate for state, district or municipal office or any political party; 403 
(12) Any municipal employee who solicits a contribution on behalf 404 
of, or for the benefit of, any candidate for state, district or municipal 405 
office, any political committee or any political party, from (A) an 406 
individual under the supervision of such employee, or (B) the spouse or 407 
a dependent child of such individual; 408 
(13) Any person who makes an expenditure, that is not an 409 
independent expenditure, for a candidate without the knowledge of 410 
such candidate. No candidate shall be civilly or criminally liable with 411 
regard to any such expenditure; 412 
(14) Any chief of staff of a legislative caucus who solicits a 413 
contribution on behalf of or for the benefit of any candidate for state, 414 
district or municipal office from an employee of the legislative caucus; 415 
(15) Any chief of staff for a state-wide elected official who solicits a 416 
contribution on behalf of or for the benefit of any candidate for state, 417 
district or municipal office from a member of such official's staff; [or] 418 
(16) Any chief of staff for the Governor or Lieutenant Governor who 419 
solicits a contribution on behalf of or for the benefit of any candidate for 420 
state, district or municipal office from a member of the staff of the 421 
Governor or Lieutenant Governor, or from any commissioner or deputy 422 
commissioner of any state agency; 423 
(17) Any person who purchases or attempts to purchase, sells or 424 
attempts to sell, pays or attempts to pay consideration for, conveys or 425 
attempts to convey for consideration or receives or attempts to receive 426 
consideration for any voucher issued under section 1 of this act; 427 
(18) Any person who obtains or exerts, or attempts to obtain or exert, 428 
unauthorized control over an individual to whom a voucher was issued 429 
under section 1 of this act, with intent to deprive such individual or a 430  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
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prospective assignee of such voucher; 431 
(19) Any person who, with intent to injure or defraud, attempts to 432 
falsely make, complete or alter a voucher issued under section 1 of this 433 
act or such voucher's assignment, or possess, utter, offer, dispose of or 434 
put off as true a voucher or written assigned voucher that such person 435 
knows is forged; 436 
(20) Any person who, being other than the valid assignee of a voucher 437 
issued under section 1 of this act, receives, retains, possesses, conceals 438 
or disposes of a voucher issued to an individual knowing such voucher 439 
has been stolen and withholds or appropriates such voucher to the use 440 
of any person other than the individual to whom such voucher was 441 
issued; or 442 
(21) Any person who attempts to sell, transfer, distribute, dispense or 443 
otherwise dispose of a stolen voucher issued under section 1 of this act, 444 
which voucher rightfully belongs to the individual to whom such 445 
voucher was issued or to the valid assignee of such voucher, or attempts 446 
to buy, receive, possess or obtain control of such a voucher with intent 447 
to sell, transfer, distribute, dispense or otherwise dispose of any such 448 
voucher. 449 
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following 
sections: 
 
Section 1 January 1, 2024 New section 
Sec. 2 January 1, 2024 9-7b(a)(2) to (14) 
Sec. 3 January 1, 2024 9-622 
 
Statement of Purpose:   
To (1) create within the Citizens' Election Program a voucher system for 
the purpose of making grant moneys available to participating 
candidates for Governor prior to the state conventions, (2) establish the 
State Elections Enforcement Commission's jurisdiction over the 
administration of such system, and (3) set forth certain illegal practices 
with regard to the use of vouchers issued under such system.  Raised Bill No.  1225 
 
 
 
LCO No. 6020   	16 of 16 
 
[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except 
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not 
underlined.]