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General Assembly Raised Bill No. 7093
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 5328
Referred to Committee on GOVERNMENT OVERSIGHT
Introduced by:
(GOS)
AN ACT CONCERNING REFERENDA, INDEPENDENT
EXPENDITURES AND OTHER CAMPAIGN FINANCE CHANGES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 9-601 of the general statutes is amended by adding 1
subdivision (39) as follows (Effective from passage): 2
(NEW) (39) "Independent expenditure political committee" means a 3
political committee that makes only (A) independent expenditures (i) to 4
promote the success or defeat of any candidate seeking (I) the 5
nomination for election, or (II) election, or (ii) for the purpose of aiding 6
or promoting the success or defeat of any (I) referendum question, or 7
(II) political party, and (B) contributions to other independent 8
expenditure political committees. 9
Sec. 2. Subdivision (3) of section 9-601 of the general statutes is 10
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 11
passage): 12
(3) "Political committee" means (A) a committee organized by a 13
business entity or organization, (B) persons other than individuals, or 14
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two or more individuals organized or acting jointly conducting their 15
activities in or outside the state, (C) an exploratory committee, (D) a 16
committee established by or on behalf of a slate of candidates in a 17
primary for the office of justice of the peace, but does not mean a 18
candidate committee or a party committee, (E) a legislative caucus 19
committee, [or] (F) a legislative leadership committee, or (G) an 20
independent expenditure political committee. 21
Sec. 3. Section 9-601c of the general statutes is amended by adding 22
subsection (e) as follows (Effective from passage): 23
(NEW) (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections (a) to (d), 24
inclusive, of this section, an independent expenditure political 25
committee may coordinate with one or more other independent 26
expenditure political committees for the purpose of making one or more 27
independent expenditures. 28
Sec. 4. Subsections (a) to (i), inclusive, of section 9-601d of the general 29
statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 30
(Effective from passage): 31
(a) Any person, as defined in section 9-601, as amended by this act, 32
may, unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, including, but not 33
limited to, any provision of this chapter or chapter 157, make unlimited 34
independent expenditures, as defined in section 9-601c, as amended by 35
this act, and accept unlimited covered transfers, as defined in [said] 36
section 9-601, as amended by this act. Except as provided [pursuant to] 37
in this section, any such person who makes or obligates to make an 38
independent expenditure or expenditures in excess of one thousand 39
dollars, in the aggregate, shall file statements according to the same 40
schedule and in the same manner as is required of a treasurer of a 41
[candidate] political committee pursuant to section 9-608, as amended 42
by this act. Any such person, other than a committee, shall file with the 43
proper authority, as provided in section 9-603, (1) a long-form report 44
and a short-form report pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this 45
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section for such independent expenditure or expenditures, or (2) a short-46
form report pursuant to subsection (d) of this section for each 47
subsequent independent expenditure made or obligated to be made. 48
(b) Any person who makes or obligates to make an independent 49
expenditure or expenditures in an election or primary for the office of 50
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, 51
State Comptroller, Attorney General, state senator or state 52
representative, [which] or to promote the success or defeat of a 53
referendum question proposing a constitutional convention, 54
constitutional amendment or revision of the Constitution, that exceed 55
one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, during [a primary campaign or 56
a general election campaign, as defined in section 9-700, shall file, 57
electronically, a long-form and a short-form report of such independent 58
expenditure or expenditures with the State Elections Enforcement 59
Commission pursuant to subsections (c) and (d) of this section. The 60
person that makes or obligates to make such independent expenditure 61
or expenditures shall file such reports] the period beginning on June first 62
in the year of a regular election, or on the day the Governor issues writs 63
of election pursuant to section 9-215 in the case of a special election for 64
the office of state senator or state representative, and ending on the day 65
following the primary or election for which such person made or 66
obligated to make such independent expenditure or expenditures, shall 67
electronically file, in the case of a committee, a report pursuant to section 68
9-608, as amended by this act, or, in the case of any person other than a 69
committee, a long-form report and a short-form report pursuant to 70
subsections (c) and (d) of this section not later than twenty-four hours 71
after (1) making any such payment, or (2) obligating to make any such 72
payment, with respect to the primary, [or] election [. If any such person 73
makes or incurs a subsequent independent expenditure, such person 74
shall report such expenditure pursuant to subsection (d) of this section.] 75
or referendum. In the case of a special election for the office of state 76
senator or state representative, if any person makes or obligates to make 77
an independent expenditure or expenditures for such special election 78
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that exceed one thousand dollars, in the aggregate, prior to the day the 79
Governor issues writs of election pursuant to section 9-215, such person 80
shall file a report not later than twenty-four hours after such writs of 81
election are issued. Such reports shall be filed under penalty of false 82
statement. 83
(c) The independent expenditure long-form report shall identify: (1) 84
The name of the person making or obligating to make such independent 85
expenditure or expenditures and, in the case of a person other than an 86
individual, provide a certification that the person making such 87
independent expenditure is not a foreign national; (2) the tax exempt 88
status of such person, if applicable; (3) the mailing address of such 89
person; (4) the principal business address of the person, if different from 90
the mailing address; (5) the address, telephone number and electronic 91
mail address of the agent for service of process in this state of such 92
person; (6) the date of the primary, [or] election or referendum for which 93
[the] such independent expenditure or expenditures were made or 94
obligated to be made; (7) the name of any candidate who, or the text of 95
any referendum question that, was the subject of [any] such 96
independent expenditure or expenditures and whether [the] such 97
independent expenditure or expenditures were in support of or in 98
opposition to such candidate or referendum question; and (8) the name, 99
telephone number and electronic mail address for the individual filing 100
such report. Such individual filing such report shall, under penalty of 101
false statement, affirm that the expenditure reported is an independent 102
expenditure. [under penalty of false statement.] 103
(d) As part of any filing made pursuant to subsection (c) of this 104
section and for each subsequent independent expenditure made or 105
obligated to be made by a person with respect to the primary, [or] 106
election or referendum for which a long-form report pursuant to 107
subsection (c) of this section has been filed on behalf of such person, an 108
individual shall file [, electronically,] a short-form report for each such 109
independent expenditure. [, not later than twenty-four hours after such 110
person makes a payment for an independent expenditure or obligates 111
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to make such an independent expenditure.] Such short-form report shall 112
identify: (1) The name of the person making or obligating to make such 113
independent expenditure; (2) the amount of the independent 114
expenditure; (3) whether the independent expenditure was in support 115
of or in opposition to a candidate or referendum question and the name 116
of such candidate or text of such referendum question; (4) a brief 117
description of the independent expenditure made, including the type of 118
communication, based on categories determined by the State Elections 119
Enforcement Commission, and the allocation of such independent 120
expenditure in support of or in opposition to each such candidate or 121
referendum question, if such independent expenditure was made in 122
support of or in opposition to more than one candidate or referendum 123
question; and (5) the name, telephone number and electronic mail 124
address for the individual filing such report. Such individual filing such 125
report shall, under penalty of false statement, affirm that the 126
expenditure reported is an independent expenditure. [under penalty of 127
false statement.] 128
(e) No person reporting an independent expenditure pursuant to the 129
provisions of subsection (c) or (d) of this section shall be required to file 130
a statement pursuant to section 9-608, as amended by this act, for such 131
independent expenditure. 132
(f) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (2) of this subsection, as part 133
of any statement filed pursuant to this section, if (A) a person who 134
makes or obligates to make an independent expenditure [(A)] has 135
received a covered transfer during the twelve-month period prior to (i) 136
a primary or election, as applicable to the reported expenditure, for an 137
office that a candidate described in subdivision (7) of subsection (c) of 138
this section is seeking, or (ii) a referendum on a question proposing a 139
constitutional convention, constitutional amendment or revision of the 140
Constitution, and (B) such independent expenditure is made or 141
obligated to be made on or after the date that is one hundred eighty days 142
prior to such primary, [or] election or referendum, such person shall 143
disclose the source and the amount of any such covered transfer such 144
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person received that is in an amount that is five thousand dollars or 145
more, in the aggregate, during the twelve-month period prior to such 146
primary, [or] election or referendum, as applicable to the reported 147
expenditure. 148
(2) The provisions of subdivision (1) of this subsection shall not apply 149
to any person who discloses the source and amount of a covered transfer 150
described in subdivision (1) of this subsection as part of any report to 151
the Federal Election Commission, [or] the Internal Revenue Service or 152
any similar out-of-state agency, provided such person includes a copy 153
of, or information sufficient to find, any such report as part of the report 154
of each applicable independent expenditure filed pursuant to this 155
section. If a source and amount of a covered transfer is not included as 156
part of any such report, the maker of the independent expenditure shall 157
disclose the source and amount of such covered transfer pursuant to 158
subdivision (1) of this subsection, if applicable. 159
(g) (1) A person may, unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by 160
law, including, but not limited to, any provision of this chapter or 161
chapter 157, establish a dedicated independent expenditure account [, 162
for the purpose of engaging in] that may be used to make independent 163
expenditures, [that] provided such account is segregated from all other 164
accounts controlled by such person. Such dedicated independent 165
expenditure account may receive covered transfers directly from 166
persons other than the person establishing the dedicated account and 167
may not receive transfers from another account controlled by the person 168
establishing the dedicated account, except as provided in subdivision 169
(2) of this subsection. If an independent expenditure is made from such 170
segregated account, any report required pursuant to this section or 171
disclaimer required pursuant to section 9-621, as amended by this act, 172
[may include only] shall include those persons who made covered 173
transfers directly to the dedicated independent expenditure account. 174
(2) If a person who has made a covered transfer to another account 175
controlled by the person establishing a dedicated independent 176
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expenditure account requests that such covered transfer be used for the 177
purposes of making an independent expenditure from the dedicated 178
independent expenditure account, the amount of such covered transfer 179
may be transferred to the dedicated independent expenditure account 180
and shall be treated as a covered transfer directly to the dedicated 181
independent expenditure account. 182
(h) Any person may file a complaint with the commission upon the 183
belief that (1) any such independent expenditure report or statement is 184
false, or (2) any person who is required to file an independent 185
expenditure report under this subsection has failed to do so. The 186
commission shall make a prompt determination on such a complaint. 187
(i) (1) [If] Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-623, if (A) a 188
person fails to file a report in accordance with the provisions of this 189
section or section 9-608, as amended by this act, for an independent 190
expenditure or expenditures made or obligated to be made more than 191
ninety days before the day of a primary, [or election, the] election or 192
referendum, such person shall be subject to a civil penalty, imposed by 193
the State Elections Enforcement Commission, of not more than ten 194
thousand dollars, [. If] and (B) a person fails to file a report [required] in 195
accordance with the provisions of this section for an independent 196
expenditure or expenditures made or obligated to be made ninety days 197
or less before the day of a primary, [or] election or referendum, such 198
person shall be subject to a civil penalty, imposed by the State Elections 199
Enforcement Commission, of not more than twenty thousand dollars or 200
twice the amount of such independent expenditure or expenditures, 201
whichever is greater. 202
(2) [If] Notwithstanding the provisions of section 9-623, if the State 203
Elections Enforcement Commission finds that any such failure is 204
knowing and wilful, the person responsible for [the] such failure shall 205
[also be fined] be subject to an additional civil penalty, imposed by the 206
commission, of not more than fifty thousand dollars or ten times the 207
amount of such independent expenditure or expenditures, whichever is 208
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greater, and the commission may refer the matter to the office of the 209
Chief State's Attorney. 210
(3) If the State Elections Enforcement Commission finds that a person 211
is subject to a civil penalty under this subsection, (A) in the case of a 212
committee, (i) the chairperson, and (ii) any officer, or (B) in the case of a 213
person other than a committee, (i) the chief executive or chief financial 214
officer, or equivalent, (ii) any other officer, and (iii) any manager who 215
had direct, extensive and substantive decision-making authority over 216
the independent expenditure or expenditures made or obligated to be 217
made by such person, shall be liable for paying any amount of such civil 218
penalty imposed that is not paid by such person within one year after 219
the latter of (I) the date on which the commission imposed such civil 220
penalty, or (II) the date of the final judgment of a court of competent 221
jurisdiction following any appeal taken from the commission's action in 222
accordance with the provisions of section 4-183. 223
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 9-605 of the general statutes is 224
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 225
passage): 226
(b) The registration statement shall include: (1) The name and address 227
of the committee; (2) a statement of the purpose of the committee; (3) the 228
name and address of its treasurer, and deputy treasurer if applicable; (4) 229
the name, address and position of its chairperson, and other principal 230
officers if applicable; (5) the name and address of the depository 231
institution for its funds; (6) the name of each person, other than an 232
individual, that is a member of the committee; (7) the name and party 233
affiliation of each candidate whom the committee is supporting and the 234
office or position sought by each candidate; (8) if the committee is 235
supporting the entire ticket of any party, a statement to that effect and 236
the name of the party; (9) if the committee is supporting or opposing 237
any referendum question, a brief statement identifying the substance of 238
the question; (10) if the committee is established or controlled by a 239
[business entity or organization] person or an individual acting as the 240
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agent of a person, the name of [the business entity or organization] such 241
person and, if the committee is established or controlled by a person 242
other than a human being, the name of its chief executive officer or 243
equivalent and a certification that the person making the expenditure is 244
not a foreign national; (11) if the committee is established by an 245
organization, a statement of whether it will receive its funds from the 246
organization's treasury or from voluntary contributions; (12) if the 247
committee files reports with the Federal Elections Commission, the 248
Internal Revenue Service or any similar out-of-state agency, a statement 249
to that effect including the name of the agency and identifying 250
information under which any such filings are made; (13) a statement 251
indicating whether the committee is established for a single primary, 252
election or referendum or for ongoing political activities; (14) if the 253
committee is established or controlled by a lobbyist, a statement to that 254
effect and the name of the lobbyist; (15) the name and address of the 255
person making the initial contribution or disbursement, if any, to the 256
committee; and (16) any information that the State Elections 257
Enforcement Commission requires to facilitate compliance with the 258
provisions of this chapter or chapter 157. If no such initial contribution 259
or disbursement, as described in subdivision (15) of this subsection, has 260
been made at the time of the filing of such statement, the treasurer of the 261
committee shall, not later than forty-eight hours after receipt of such 262
contribution or disbursement, file a report with the State Elections 263
Enforcement Commission. The report shall be in the same form as 264
statements filed under section 9-608, as amended by this act. 265
Sec. 6. Subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 9-607 of the general 266
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 267
(Effective from passage): 268
(g) (1) As used in this subsection, (A) "the lawful purposes of the 269
committee" means: (i) For a candidate committee or exploratory 270
committee, the promoting of the nomination or election of the candidate 271
who established the committee, except that after a political party 272
nominates candidates for election to the offices of Governor and 273
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Lieutenant Governor, whose names shall be so placed on the ballot in 274
the election that an elector will cast a single vote for both candidates, as 275
prescribed in section 9-181, a candidate committee established by either 276
such candidate may also promote the election of the other such 277
candidate; (ii) for a political committee, other than an independent 278
expenditure political committee described in subparagraph (A)(iv) of 279
this subdivision, the promoting of a political party, including party 280
building activities, the success or defeat of candidates for nomination 281
and election to public office or position subject to the requirements of 282
this chapter [,] or the success or defeat of referendum questions, 283
provided [a political committee formed for a single referendum 284
question shall not promote the success or defeat of any candidate, and 285
provided further] a legislative leadership committee or a legislative 286
caucus committee may expend funds to defray costs for conducting 287
legislative or constituency-related business which are not reimbursed or 288
paid by the state; [and] (iii) for a party committee, the promoting of the 289
party, including party building activities, the candidates of the party or 290
the success or defeat of referendum questions, and continuing operating 291
costs of the party; and (iv) for an independent expenditure political 292
committee, the promoting of a political party, the success or defeat of 293
candidates for nomination or election to public office or position subject 294
to the requirements of this chapter or the success or defeat of 295
referendum questions, and (B) "immediate family" means a spouse or 296
dependent child of a candidate who resides in the candidate's 297
household. 298
Sec. 7. Subparagraph (C) of subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 299
9-608 of the general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted 300
in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 301
(C) [(i) Each political committee formed solely to aid or promote the 302
success or defeat of any referendum question, which does not receive 303
contributions from a business entity or an organization, shall distribute 304
its surplus to a party committee, to a political committee organized for 305
ongoing political activities, to a national committee of a political party, 306
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to all contributors to the committee on a prorated basis of contribution, 307
to state or municipal governments or agencies or to any organization 308
which is a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the 309
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding 310
internal revenue code of the United States, as from time to time 311
amended. (ii) Each political committee formed solely to aid or promote 312
the success or defeat of any referendum question, which receives 313
contributions from a business entity or an organization] An 314
independent expenditure political committee, other than an 315
independent expenditure political committee formed for ongoing 316
political activities, shall distribute its surplus to all contributors to the 317
committee on a prorated basis of contribution, to state or municipal 318
governments or agencies, or to any organization which is tax-exempt 319
under [said provisions] Sections 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) of the Internal 320
Revenue Code, as amended from time to time. Notwithstanding the 321
provisions of this subsection, a committee formed for a single 322
referendum shall not be required to expend its surplus [not later than] 323
within ninety days after the referendum and may continue in existence 324
if a substantially similar referendum question on the same issue will be 325
submitted to the electorate within six months after the first referendum. 326
If two or more substantially similar referenda on the same issue are 327
submitted to the electorate, each no more than six months apart, the 328
committee shall expend such surplus within ninety days following the 329
date of the last such referendum; 330
Sec. 8. Section 9-611 of the general statutes is repealed and the 331
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 332
(a) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, for 333
the benefit of, or pursuant to the authorization or request of, a candidate 334
or a committee supporting or opposing any candidate's campaign for 335
nomination at a primary, or any candidate's campaign for election, to 336
the office of (1) Governor, in excess of three thousand five hundred 337
dollars; (2) Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, 338
Comptroller or Attorney General, in excess of two thousand dollars; (3) 339
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chief executive officer of a town, city or borough, in excess of one 340
thousand dollars; (4) state senator or probate judge, in excess of one 341
thousand dollars; or (5) state representative or any other office of a 342
municipality not previously included in this subsection, in excess of two 343
hundred fifty dollars. The limits imposed by this subsection shall be 344
applied separately to primaries and elections. 345
(b) (1) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or 346
for the benefit of, an exploratory committee, in excess of three hundred 347
seventy-five dollars, if the candidate establishing the exploratory 348
committee certifies on the statement of organization for the exploratory 349
committee pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-604 that the candidate 350
will not be a candidate for the office of state representative. No 351
individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for the 352
benefit of, any exploratory committee, in excess of two hundred fifty 353
dollars, if the candidate establishing the exploratory committee does not 354
so certify. 355
(2) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions to, or for 356
the benefit of, a political committee formed by a slate of candidates in a 357
primary for the office of justice of the peace, in excess of two hundred 358
fifty dollars. 359
[(c) No individual shall make contributions to such candidates or 360
committees which in the aggregate exceed thirty thousand dollars for 361
any single election and primary preliminary to such election.] 362
[(d)] (c) No individual shall make a contribution to any candidate or 363
committee, other than a contribution in kind, in excess of one hundred 364
dollars except by personal check or credit card of that individual. 365
[(e)] (d) No individual who is less than eighteen years of age shall 366
make a contribution or contributions, in excess of thirty dollars to, for 367
the benefit of, or pursuant to the authorization or request of: (1) A 368
candidate or a committee supporting or opposing any candidate's 369
campaign for nomination at a primary to any office; (2) a candidate or a 370
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committee supporting or opposing any candidate's campaign for 371
election to any office; (3) an exploratory committee; (4) any other 372
political committee in any calendar year; or (5) a party committee in any 373
calendar year. Notwithstanding any provision of subdivision (2) of 374
section 9-7b, any individual who is less than eighteen years of age who 375
violates any provision of this subsection shall not be subject to the 376
provisions of subdivision (2) of section 9-7b. 377
Sec. 9. Subsections (a) and (b) of section 9-612 of the general statutes 378
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 379
from passage): 380
(a) (1) No individual shall make a contribution or contributions in any 381
one calendar year in excess of fifteen thousand dollars to the state central 382
committee of any party, or for the benefit of such committee pursuant 383
to its authorization or request; or two thousand dollars to a town 384
committee of any political party, or for the benefit of such committee 385
pursuant to its authorization or request; or two thousand dollars to a 386
legislative caucus committee or legislative leadership committee; [,] or 387
one thousand dollars to any other political committee [other than (1)] 388
except (A) a political committee formed solely to aid or promote the 389
success or defeat of a referendum question, [(2)] (B) an exploratory 390
committee, [(3)] (C) a political committee established by an 391
organization, or for the benefit of such committee pursuant to its 392
authorization or request, or [(4)] (D) a political committee formed by a 393
slate of candidates in a primary for the office of justice of the peace of 394
the same town. 395
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 396
subsection and unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, an 397
individual may make contributions to an independent expenditure 398
political committee, including a political committee formed solely to aid 399
or promote the success or defeat of any referendum question. 400
(b) (1) No individual shall make a contribution to a political 401
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committee established by an organization which receives its funds from 402
the organization's treasury. With respect to a political committee 403
established by an organization which has complied with the provisions 404
of subsection (b) or (c) of section 9-614, as amended by this act, and has 405
elected to receive contributions, no individual other than a member of 406
the organization may make contributions to the committee, in which 407
case the individual may contribute not more than seven hundred fifty 408
dollars in any one calendar year to such committee or for the benefit of 409
such committee pursuant to its authorization or request. 410
(2) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 411
subsection and unless otherwise restricted or prohibited by law, an 412
individual may make contributions to an independent expenditure 413
political committee established by an organization. 414
Sec. 10. Section 9-613 of the general statutes is repealed and the 415
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 416
(a) [No] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a business 417
entity shall not make any contributions or expenditures (1) to, or for the 418
benefit of, any candidate's campaign for election to any public office or 419
position subject to this chapter or for nomination at a primary for any 420
such office or position, or (2) to promote the defeat of any candidate for 421
any such office or position. [No] A business entity shall not make any 422
other contributions or expenditures to promote the success or defeat of 423
any political party. [, except as provided in subsection (b) of this section. 424
No] A business entity shall not establish more than one political 425
committee. A political committee shall be deemed to have been 426
established by a business entity if the initial disbursement or 427
contribution to the committee is made under subsection (b) of this 428
section or by an officer, director, owner, limited or general partner or 429
holder of stock constituting five per cent or more of the total outstanding 430
stock of any class of the business entity. 431
(b) A business entity may make reasonable and necessary transfers or 432
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disbursements to or for the benefit of a political committee established 433
by such business entity, for the administration of, or solicitation of 434
contributions to, such political committee. Nonmonetary contributions 435
by a business entity which are incidental in nature and are directly 436
attributable to the administration of such political committee shall be 437
exempt from the reporting requirements of this chapter. 438
[(c) The provisions of this section shall not preclude a business entity 439
from making contributions or expenditures to promote the success or 440
defeat of a referendum question.] 441
[(d) A] (c) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a 442
political committee organized by a business entity shall not make a 443
contribution or contributions to or for the benefit of any candidate's 444
campaign for nomination at a primary or any candidate's campaign for 445
election to the office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five thousand dollars; 446
(2) Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller 447
or Attorney General, in excess of three thousand dollars; (3) state 448
senator, probate judge or chief executive officer of a town, city or 449
borough, in excess of one thousand five hundred dollars; (4) state 450
representative, in excess of seven hundred fifty dollars; or (5) any other 451
office of a municipality not included in subdivision (3) of this 452
subsection, in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars. The limits 453
imposed by this subsection shall apply separately to primaries and 454
elections and contributions by any such committee to candidates 455
designated in this subsection shall not exceed one hundred thousand 456
dollars in the aggregate for any single election and primary preliminary 457
thereto. Contributions to such committees shall also be subject to the 458
provisions of section 9-618, as amended by this act, in the case of 459
committees formed for ongoing political activity or section 9-619, as 460
amended by this act, in the case of committees formed for a single 461
election or primary. 462
[(e) No] (d) Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a 463
political committee organized by a business entity shall not make a 464
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contribution or contributions to (1) a state central committee of a 465
political party, in excess of seven thousand five hundred dollars in any 466
calendar year, (2) a town committee of any political party, in excess of 467
one thousand five hundred dollars in any calendar year, (3) an 468
exploratory committee in excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars, 469
or (4) any other kind of political committee, in excess of two thousand 470
dollars in any calendar year. 471
[(f)] (e) As used in this subsection, "investment services" means 472
investment legal services, investment banking services, investment 473
advisory services, underwriting services, financial advisory services or 474
brokerage firm services. [No] A political committee established by a 475
firm which provides investment services and to which the State 476
Treasurer pays compensation, expenses or fees or issues a contract shall 477
not make a contribution to, or solicit contributions on behalf of, an 478
exploratory committee or candidate committee established by a 479
candidate for nomination or election to the office of State Treasurer 480
during the term of office of the State Treasurer who does business with 481
such firm. 482
[(g)] (f) (1) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, a 483
[corporation, cooperative association, limited partnership, professional 484
association, limited liability company or limited liability partnership, 485
whether formed in this state or any other, acting alone,] business entity 486
may make independent expenditures and contributions to an 487
independent expenditure political committee. 488
(2) An independent expenditure political committee organized by a 489
business entity shall not make any contribution unless such contribution 490
is to another independent expenditure political committee. 491
Sec. 11. Section 9-614 of the general statutes is repealed and the 492
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 493
(a) An organization may make contributions or expenditures, other 494
than [those made to promote] for the purpose of promoting the success 495
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or defeat of a referendum question, only by first forming its own 496
political committee. [The] Unless such political committee is an 497
independent expenditure political committee, the political committee 498
shall then be authorized to (1) receive funds (A) exclusively from the 499
organization's treasury or from voluntary contributions made by its 500
members, but not both, (B) from another political committee, or [,] (C) 501
from a candidate committee distributing a surplus, and [(1) to] (2) make 502
(A) contributions or expenditures to, or for the benefit of, a candidate's 503
campaign or a political party, or [(2) to make] (B) contributions to 504
another political committee. [No] An organization shall not form more 505
than one political committee. A political committee shall be deemed to 506
have been established by an organization if the initial contribution to the 507
committee is made by the organization's treasury or an officer or 508
director of the organization. 509
(b) A political committee established by an organization may elect to 510
alter the manner in which it is funded if it complies with the 511
requirements of this subsection. The committee chairperson shall notify 512
the repository with which the committee's most recent statement of 513
organization is filed, in writing, of the committee's intent to alter its 514
manner of funding. [Within] Not later than fifteen days after the date of 515
receipt of such notification, the treasurer of such political committee 516
shall return any funds remaining in the account of the committee to the 517
organization's treasury after payment of each outstanding liability. 518
[Within] Not later than seven days after the distribution and payments 519
have been made, the treasurer shall file a statement with the same 520
repository itemizing each such distribution and payment. Upon such 521
filing, the treasurer may receive voluntary contributions from any 522
member of the organization which established such committee subject 523
to the limitations imposed in subsection (b) of section 9-612, as amended 524
by this act. 525
(c) The chairperson of each political committee established by an 526
organization on or after July 1, 1985, shall designate the manner in 527
which the committee shall be funded in the committee's statement of 528
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organization. 529
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, an organization [, 530
acting alone,] may make independent expenditures and contributions 531
to an independent expenditure political committee. 532
Sec. 12. Section 9-615 of the general statutes is repealed and the 533
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 534
(a) [No] A political committee established by an organization shall 535
not make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, any 536
candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or for election to the 537
office of: (1) Governor, in excess of five thousand dollars; (2) Lieutenant 538
Governor, Secretary of the State, Treasurer, Comptroller or Attorney 539
General, in excess of three thousand dollars; (3) chief executive officer 540
of a town, city or borough, in excess of one thousand five hundred 541
dollars; (4) state senator or probate judge, in excess of one thousand five 542
hundred dollars; (5) state representative, in excess of seven hundred 543
fifty dollars; or (6) any other office of a municipality not previously 544
included in this subsection, in excess of three hundred seventy-five 545
dollars. 546
(b) [No such] A political committee established by an organization 547
shall not make a contribution or contributions to, or for the benefit of, 548
an exploratory committee, in excess of three hundred seventy-five 549
dollars. [Any such] A political committee established by an organization 550
may make unlimited contributions to a political committee formed 551
solely to aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question. 552
(c) The limits imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall apply 553
separately to primaries and elections and no such committee shall make 554
contributions to the candidates designated in this section which in the 555
aggregate exceed fifty thousand dollars for any single election and 556
primary preliminary thereto. 557
(d) [No] Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a political 558
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LCO No. 5328 19 of 33
committee established by an organization shall not make contributions 559
in any one calendar year to, or for the benefit of, (1) the state central 560
committee of a political party, in excess of seven thousand five hundred 561
dollars; (2) a town committee, in excess of one thousand five hundred 562
dollars; or (3) any political committee, other than an exploratory 563
committee or a committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 564
or defeat of a referendum question, in excess of two thousand dollars. 565
(e) Contributions to a political committee established by an 566
organization shall be subject to the provisions of section 9-618, as 567
amended by this act, in the case of a committee formed for ongoing 568
political activity or section 9-619, as amended by this act, in the case of 569
a committee formed for a single election or primary. 570
(f) An independent expenditure political committee established by an 571
organization shall not make any contribution unless such contribution 572
is to another independent expenditure political committee. 573
Sec. 13. Subsection (a) of section 9-618 of the general statutes is 574
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 575
passage): 576
(a) (1) A political committee organized for ongoing political activities 577
may make unlimited contributions to, or for the benefit of, any national 578
committee of a political party [;] or [a] any committee of a candidate for 579
federal or out-of-state office. Except as provided in subdivision (3) of 580
subsection (d) of this section, no such political committee shall make a 581
contribution or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to 582
another political committee in any calendar year. No political committee 583
organized for ongoing political activities shall make a contribution in 584
excess of three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory 585
committee. If such an ongoing committee is established by an 586
organization or a business entity, its contributions shall be subject to the 587
limits imposed by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this 588
act. A political committee organized for ongoing political activities may 589
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make [contributions] donations to a charitable organization which is a 590
tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 591
Code, as amended from time to time, [amended,] or make memorial 592
[contributions] donations. 593
(2) An independent expenditure political committee organized for 594
ongoing political activities shall not make any contribution unless such 595
contribution is to another independent expenditure political committee. 596
Sec. 14. Subsection (a) of section 9-619 of the general statutes is 597
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 598
passage): 599
(a) [No] (1) A political committee established for a single primary or 600
election shall not make contributions to a national committee, or a 601
committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office. If such a 602
political committee is established by an organization or a business 603
entity, its contributions shall also be subject to the limitations imposed 604
by sections 9-613 to 9-615, inclusive, as amended by this act. Except as 605
provided in subdivision (2) of subsection (d) of this section, [no] a 606
political committee [formed] established for a single election or primary 607
shall not, with respect to such election or primary, make a contribution 608
or contributions in excess of two thousand dollars to another political 609
committee, provided [no such] a political committee established for a 610
single election or primary shall not make a contribution in excess of 611
three hundred seventy-five dollars to an exploratory committee. 612
(2) An independent expenditure political committee established for a 613
single primary or election shall not make any contribution unless such 614
contribution is to another independent expenditure political committee. 615
Sec. 15. Section 9-620 of the general statutes is repealed and the 616
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from passage): 617
(a) [A political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 618
or defeat of a referendum question shall not make contributions to, or 619
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LCO No. 5328 21 of 33
for the benefit of, a party committee, a political committee, a national 620
committee, a committee of a candidate for federal or out-of-state office 621
or a candidate committee, except in the distribution of a surplus, as 622
provided in subsection (e) of section 9-608.] Subject to the provisions of 623
this chapter, any person may establish an independent expenditure 624
political committee that may only make expenditures without the 625
consent, coordination or consultation of a candidate or agent of the 626
candidate, candidate committee, party committee or political 627
committee. Subject to the provisions of this chapter, any such 628
independent expenditure political committee may accept contributions 629
from any person. 630
(b) [A political committee formed solely to aid or promote the success 631
or defeat of a referendum question shall not receive contributions from 632
a national committee or from a committee of a candidate for federal or 633
out-of-state office.] Any person may establish an independent 634
expenditure political committee solely to aid or promote the success or 635
defeat of a single referendum question, or of multiple referendum 636
questions submitted to a vote on the same date. Such committee may 637
only make independent expenditures to aid or promote the success or 638
defeat of a single referendum question, or of multiple referendum 639
questions submitted to a vote on the same date. Subject to the provisions 640
of this chapter, such committee may accept contributions from any 641
person. 642
(c) [No person, other than an individual or a committee, shall make a 643
contribution to a political committee formed solely to aid or promote the 644
success or defeat of a referendum question, or to any other person, to 645
aid or promote the success or defeat of a referendum question, in excess 646
of ten cents for each individual residing in the state or political 647
subdivision thereof in which such referendum question is to be voted 648
upon, in accordance with the last federal decennial census.] Except as 649
provided in this section, an independent expenditure political 650
committee shall not make contributions to, or for the benefit of, a party 651
committee, a political committee, a national committee, a committee of 652
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LCO No. 5328 22 of 33
a candidate for federal or out-of-state office or a candidate committee. 653
(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, an independent 654
expenditure political committee may make contributions to another 655
independent expenditure political committee, make donations to any 656
organization which is a tax-exempt organization under Sections 657
501(c)(3) and 501(c)(19) of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended from 658
time to time, and refund contributions to contributors. 659
Sec. 16. Subsections (c) and (d) of section 9-621 of the general statutes 660
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 661
from passage): 662
(c) (1) No business entity, organization, association, committee, or 663
group of two or more individuals who have joined solely to promote the 664
success or defeat of a referendum question shall make or incur any 665
expenditure for any written, typed or other printed communication 666
which promotes the success or defeat of any referendum question unless 667
such communication bears upon its face, as a disclaimer, the words 668
"paid for by" and the following: [(1)] (A) In the case of a business entity, 669
organization or association, the name of the business entity, 670
organization or association and the name of its chief executive officer or 671
equivalent, and in the case such communication is made during the 672
ninety-day period immediately prior to the referendum, such 673
communication shall also bear on its face the names of the five persons 674
who made the five largest aggregate covered transfers to such business 675
entity, organization or association during the twelve-month period 676
immediately prior to such referendum. The communication shall also 677
state that additional information about the business entity, organization 678
or association making such communication may be found on the State 679
Elections Enforcement Commission's Internet web site; [(2)] (B) in the 680
case of a political committee, the name of the committee and the name 681
of its treasurer; [(3)] (C) in the case of a party committee, the name of the 682
committee; or [(4)] (D) in the case of such a group of two or more 683
individuals, the name of the group and the name and address of its 684
Raised Bill No. 7093
LCO No. 5328 23 of 33
agent. 685
(2) No person shall make or incur an independent expenditure for: 686
(A) A video broadcast by television, satellite or Internet which 687
promotes the success or defeat of any referendum question unless such 688
video is accompanied by the disclaimer described in subdivision (2) of 689
subsection (h) of this section; 690
(B) An audio communication broadcast by radio, satellite or Internet 691
which promotes the success or defeat of any referendum question unless 692
such audio communication is accompanied by the disclaimer described 693
in subdivision (3) of subsection (h) of this section; and 694
(C) Telephone calls which promote the success or defeat of any 695
referendum question unless such telephone calls are accompanied by 696
the disclaimer described in subdivision (4) of subsection (h) of this 697
section. 698
(d) The provisions of subsections (a), (b) and (c) of this section do not 699
apply to (1) any editorial, news story, or commentary published in any 700
newspaper, magazine or journal on its own behalf and upon its own 701
responsibility and for which it does not charge or receive any 702
compensation whatsoever, (2) any banner, (3) political paraphernalia 703
including pins, buttons, badges, emblems, hats, bumper stickers or 704
other similar materials, or (4) signs with a surface area of not more than 705
thirty-two square feet. 706
Sec. 17. Subdivision (1) of subsection (h) of section 9-621 of the general 707
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 708
(Effective from passage): 709
(h) (1) No person shall make or incur an independent expenditure for 710
any written, typed or other printed communication, including on a 711
billboard, or any web-based, written communication, which promotes 712
the success or defeat of any candidate's campaign for nomination at a 713
Raised Bill No. 7093
LCO No. 5328 24 of 33
primary or for election, unless such communication bears upon its face, 714
as a disclaimer, the words "Paid for by" and the name of such person 715
and the following statement: "This message was made independent of 716
any candidate or political party.". In the case of a person making or 717
incurring such an independent expenditure during the ninety-day 718
period immediately prior to the primary or election for which the 719
independent expenditure is made, such communication shall also bear 720
upon its face the names of the five persons who made the five largest 721
aggregate covered transfers to the person making such communication 722
during the twelve-month period immediately prior to such primary or 723
election, as applicable. The communication shall also state that 724
additional information about the person making such communication 725
may be found on the State Elections Enforcement Commission's Internet 726
web site. 727
Sec. 18. Subsection (i) of section 9-621 of the general statutes is 728
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 729
passage): 730
(i) In any [print, television or social media promotion of a slate of] 731
organization expenditure for a party candidate listing of a candidate or 732
candidates by a party committee, [the party] legislative caucus 733
committee or legislative leadership committee, such committee shall use 734
applicable disclaimers pursuant to the provisions of this section for such 735
promotion, and no individual candidate disclaimers shall be required. 736
Sec. 19. Subsection (l) of section 9-621 of the general statutes is 737
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 738
passage): 739
(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, no person making 740
an independent expenditure for a communication shall be required to 741
list as part of any disclaimer pursuant to this section any person whose 742
covered transfers to the maker of the communication are not in an 743
aggregate amount of five thousand dollars or more during the twelve-744
Raised Bill No. 7093
LCO No. 5328 25 of 33
month period immediately prior to the primary, [or] election or 745
referendum, as applicable, for which such independent expenditure is 746
made. 747
Sec. 20. Subdivision (1) of subsection (g) of section 9-7a of the general 748
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 749
(Effective from passage): 750
(g) (1) (A) In the case of a written complaint filed with the commission 751
pursuant to section 9-7b, commission staff shall conduct and complete a 752
preliminary examination of such complaint by the fourteenth day 753
following its receipt, at which time such staff shall, at its discretion, (i) 754
dismiss the complaint for failure to allege any substantial violation of 755
state election law supported by evidence, (ii) engage the respondent in 756
discussions in an effort to speedily resolve any matter pertaining to a de 757
minimis violation, or (iii) investigate and docket the complaint for a 758
determination by the commission that [probable cause or no probable 759
cause] reason to believe or no reason to believe exists for any such 760
violation. If commission staff dismisses a complaint pursuant to 761
subparagraph (A)(i) of this subdivision, such staff shall provide a brief 762
written statement concisely setting forth the reasons for such dismissal. 763
If commission staff engages a respondent pursuant to subparagraph 764
(A)(ii) of this subdivision but is unable to speedily resolve any such 765
matter described in said subparagraph by the forty-fifth day following 766
receipt of the complaint, such staff shall docket such complaint for a 767
determination by the commission that [probable cause or no probable 768
cause] reason to believe or no reason to believe exists for any violation 769
of state election law. If the commission does not, by the sixtieth day 770
following receipt of the complaint, either issue a decision or render its 771
determination that [probable cause or no probable cause] reason to 772
believe or no reason to believe exists for any violation of state election 773
laws, the complainant or respondent may apply to the superior court for 774
the judicial district of Hartford for an order to show cause why the 775
commission has not acted upon the complaint and to provide evidence 776
that the commission has unreasonably delayed action. 777
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LCO No. 5328 26 of 33
(B) (i) For any complaint received on or after January 1, 2018, but prior 778
to July 1, 2025, if the commission does not, by one year following receipt 779
of such complaint, issue a decision thereon, the commission shall 780
dismiss such complaint, provided the length of time of any delay caused 781
by (I) the commission or commission staff granting any extension or 782
continuance to a respondent prior to the issuance of any such decision, 783
(II) any subpoena issued in connection with such complaint, (III) any 784
litigation in state or federal court related to such complaint, or (IV) any 785
investigation by, or consultation of the commission or commission staff 786
with, the Chief State's Attorney, the Attorney General, the United States 787
Department of Justice or the United States Attorney for Connecticut 788
related to such complaint, shall be added to such one year. 789
(ii) For any complaint received on or after July 1, 2025, if the 790
commission does not, by one year following receipt of such complaint, 791
find reason to believe that a violation of state election law has been 792
committed and commence a contested case, as defined in section 4-166, 793
the commission shall dismiss such complaint, provided the length of 794
time of any delay caused by (I) the commission or commission staff 795
granting any extension or continuance to a respondent prior to the 796
issuance of any such decision, (II) any subpoena issued in connection 797
with such complaint, (III) any litigation in state or federal court related 798
to such complaint, (IV) any investigation by the commission or 799
commission staff involving a potential violation of section 9-601c or 9-800
601d, as amended by this act, or (V) any investigation by, or consultation 801
of the commission or commission staff with, the Chief State's Attorney, 802
the Attorney General, the United States Department of Justice or the 803
United States Attorney for Connecticut related to such complaint, shall 804
be added to such one year. 805
[(ii)] (iii) The provisions of [subparagraph (B)(i)] subparagraphs (B)(i) 806
and (B)(ii) of this subdivision shall not apply to any complaint received 807
on or after July 1, 2024, that relates to a potential violation of state 808
election law by a foreign national. 809
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LCO No. 5328 27 of 33
(C) For any complaint received on or after July 1, 2024, if the 810
commission does not, by the ninetieth day following the commission's 811
determination that [probable cause] reason to believe exists for any 812
violation of state election laws, issue a decision on such complaint, the 813
commission shall refer such complaint to the Chief State's Attorney 814
pursuant to subdivision (8) of subsection (a) of section 9-7b for further 815
enforcement action. Not later than twelve months after the referral to 816
the Chief State's Attorney of any complaint under this subdivision, or 817
not later than the expiration of the period of time prescribed by section 818
54-193 for the violation of state election laws alleged in any such 819
complaint, whichever occurs first, the Chief State's Attorney shall 820
submit a report to the joint standing committees of the General 821
Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to elections and the 822
judiciary, in accordance with the provisions of section 11-4a, detailing 823
the status of any enforcement action related to such referred complaint. 824
Sec. 21. Subdivision (18) of section 53a-119 of the general statutes is 825
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 826
passage): 827
(18) Failure to repay surplus Citizens' Election Fund grant funds. A 828
person is guilty of failure to repay surplus Citizens' Election Fund grant 829
funds when such person fails to return to the Citizens' Election Fund 830
any surplus funds from a grant made pursuant to sections 9-700 to 9-831
716, inclusive, [not later than ninety days after the primary or election 832
for which the grant is made] within the time prescribed for the 833
distribution of surplus under subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 834
9-608, as amended by this act. 835
Sec. 22. Subsection (a) of section 9-704 of the general statutes is 836
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 837
passage): 838
(a) The amount of qualifying contributions that the candidate 839
committee of a candidate shall be required to receive in order to be 840
Raised Bill No. 7093
LCO No. 5328 28 of 33
eligible for grants from the Citizens' Election Fund shall be: 841
(1) In the case of a candidate for nomination or election to the office 842
of Governor, contributions from individuals in the aggregate amount of 843
two hundred fifty thousand dollars, [of which] including contributions 844
in the aggregate amount of two hundred twenty-five thousand dollars 845
[or more is contributed by] from at least two thousand two hundred fifty 846
individuals residing in the state, except that in the case of a primary or 847
election held in 2022, or thereafter, the aggregate contribution amounts 848
shall be first adjusted under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this 849
section and then rounded to the nearest multiple of one hundred dollars 850
with exactly fifty dollars rounded upward. The provisions of this 851
subdivision shall be subject to the following: (A) Except as provided in 852
subparagraph (C) of this subdivision and subsection (g) of section 9-610, 853
(i) on and after January 1, 2019, the candidate committee shall return the 854
portion of any contribution or contributions from any individual, 855
including said candidate, that exceeds two hundred fifty dollars, and (ii) 856
any such excess portion shall not be considered in calculating the 857
aggregate contribution amounts under this subdivision, (B) all 858
contributions received by (i) an exploratory committee established by 859
said candidate, or (ii) an exploratory committee or candidate committee 860
of a candidate for the office of Lieutenant Governor who is deemed to 861
be jointly campaigning with a candidate for nomination or election to 862
the office of Governor under subsection (a) of section 9-709, which meet 863
the criteria for qualifying contributions to candidate committees under 864
this section shall be considered in calculating the aggregate contribution 865
amounts, and (C) in the case of a primary or election held in 2022, or 866
thereafter, the two-hundred-fifty-dollar maximum individual 867
contribution amount provided in subparagraph (A) of this subdivision 868
shall be first adjusted under subdivision (1) of subsection (c) of this 869
section and then rounded to the nearest multiple of ten dollars with 870
exactly five dollars rounded upward, provided such adjusted and 871
rounded amount shall not exceed the applicable contribution limit set 872
forth in subsection (a) of section 9-611, as amended by this act. 873
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(2) In the case of a candidate for nomination or election to the office 874
of Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State 875
Treasurer or Secretary of the State, contributions from individuals in the 876
aggregate amount of seventy-five thousand dollars, [of which] 877
including contributions in the aggregate amount of sixty-seven 878
thousand five hundred dollars [or more is contributed by] from at least 879
six hundred seventy-five individuals residing in the state, except that in 880
the case of a primary or election for Lieutenant Governor held in 2022, 881
or thereafter, the aggregate contribution amounts shall be first adjusted 882
under subdivision (1) of subsection (b) of this section and then rounded 883
to the nearest multiple of one hundred dollars with exactly fifty dollars 884
rounded upward and in the case of a primary or election for Attorney 885
General, State Comptroller, State Treasurer or Secretary of the State held 886
in 2018, or thereafter, the aggregate contribution amounts shall be first 887
adjusted under subdivision (2) of subsection (b) of this section and then 888
rounded to the nearest multiple of one hundred dollars with exactly fifty 889
dollars rounded upward. The provisions of this subdivision shall be 890
subject to the following: (A) Except as provided in subparagraph (C) of 891
this subdivision and subsection (g) of section 9-610, (i) on and after 892
January 1, 2019, the candidate committee shall return the portion of any 893
contribution or contributions from any individual, including said 894
candidate, that exceeds two hundred fifty dollars, and (ii) any such 895
excess portion shall not be considered in calculating the aggregate 896
contribution amounts under this subdivision, (B) all contributions 897
received by an exploratory committee established by said candidate that 898
meet the criteria for qualifying contributions to candidate committees 899
under this section shall be considered in calculating the aggregate 900
contribution amounts, and (C) in the case of a primary or election held 901
in 2022, or thereafter, the two-hundred-fifty-dollar maximum 902
individual contribution amount provided in subparagraph (A) of this 903
subdivision shall be first adjusted under subdivision (1) of subsection 904
(c) of this section and then rounded to the nearest multiple of ten dollars 905
with exactly five dollars rounded upward, provided such adjusted and 906
rounded amount shall not exceed the applicable contribution limit set 907
Raised Bill No. 7093
LCO No. 5328 30 of 33
forth in subsection (a) of section 9-611, as amended by this act. 908
(3) In the case of a candidate for nomination or election to the office 909
of state senator for a district, contributions from individuals in the 910
aggregate amount of fifteen thousand dollars, including contributions 911
from at least three hundred individuals residing in municipalities 912
included, in whole or in part, in said district, except that in the case of a 913
primary or election held in 2018, or thereafter, the aggregate 914
contribution amount shall be first adjusted under subdivision (3) of 915
subsection (b) of this section and then rounded to the nearest multiple 916
of one hundred dollars with exactly fifty dollars rounded upward. The 917
provisions of this subdivision shall be subject to the following: (A) 918
Except as provided in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision and 919
subsection (g) of section 9-610, (i) on and after December 1, 2017, the 920
candidate committee shall return the portion of any contribution or 921
contributions from any individual, including said candidate, that 922
exceeds two hundred fifty dollars, and (ii) any such excess portion shall 923
not be considered in calculating the aggregate contribution amount 924
under this subdivision, (B) no contribution shall be counted for the 925
purposes of the requirement under this subdivision for contributions 926
from at least three hundred individuals residing in municipalities 927
included, in whole or in part, in the district unless the contribution is 928
five dollars or more, [and] (C) all contributions received by an 929
exploratory committee established by said candidate that meet the 930
criteria for qualifying contributions to candidate committees under this 931
section shall be considered in calculating the aggregate contribution 932
amount under this subdivision and all such exploratory committee 933
contributions that also meet the requirement under this subdivision for 934
contributions from at least three hundred individuals residing in 935
municipalities included, in whole or in part, in the district shall be 936
counted for the purposes of said requirement, and (D) in the case of a 937
primary or election held in 2020, or thereafter, the two-hundred-fifty-938
dollar maximum individual contribution amount provided in 939
subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be adjusted under 940
Raised Bill No. 7093
LCO No. 5328 31 of 33
subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section and then rounded to the 941
nearest multiple of ten dollars with exactly five dollars rounded 942
upward, provided such adjusted and rounded amount shall not exceed 943
the applicable contribution limit set forth in subsection (a) of section 9-944
611, as amended by this act. 945
(4) In the case of a candidate for nomination or election to the office 946
of state representative for a district, contributions from individuals in 947
the aggregate amount of five thousand dollars, including contributions 948
from at least one hundred fifty individuals residing in municipalities 949
included, in whole or in part, in said district, except that in the case of a 950
primary or election held in 2018, or thereafter, the aggregate 951
contribution amount shall be first adjusted under subdivision (3) of 952
subsection (b) of this section and then rounded to the nearest multiple 953
of one hundred dollars with exactly fifty dollars rounded upward. The 954
provisions of this subdivision shall be subject to the following: (A) 955
Except as provided in subparagraph (D) of this subdivision and 956
subsection (g) of section 9-610, (i) on and after December 1, 2017, the 957
candidate committee shall return the portion of any contribution or 958
contributions from any individual, including said candidate, that 959
exceeds two hundred fifty dollars, and (ii) any such excess portion shall 960
not be considered in calculating the aggregate contribution amount 961
under this subdivision, (B) no contribution shall be counted for the 962
purposes of the requirement under this subdivision for contributions 963
from at least one hundred fifty individuals residing in municipalities 964
included, in whole or in part, in the district unless the contribution is 965
five dollars or more, (C) all contributions received by an exploratory 966
committee established by said candidate that meet the criteria for 967
qualifying contributions to candidate committees under this section 968
shall be considered in calculating the aggregate contribution amount 969
under this subdivision and all such exploratory committee 970
contributions that also meet the requirement under this subdivision for 971
contributions from at least one hundred fifty individuals residing in 972
municipalities included, in whole or in part, in the district shall be 973
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LCO No. 5328 32 of 33
counted for the purposes of said requirement, and (D) in the case of a 974
primary or election held in 2020, or thereafter, the two-hundred-fifty-975
dollar maximum individual contribution amount provided in 976
subparagraph (A) of this subdivision shall be adjusted under 977
subdivision (2) of subsection (c) of this section and then rounded to the 978
nearest multiple of ten dollars with exactly five dollars rounded 979
upward, provided such adjusted and rounded amount shall not exceed 980
the applicable contribution limit set forth in subsection (a) of section 9-981
611, as amended by this act. 982
(5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivisions (3) and (4) of this 983
subsection, in the case of a special election for the office of state senator 984
or state representative for a district, (A) the aggregate amount of 985
qualifying contributions that the candidate committee of a candidate for 986
such office shall be required to receive in order to be eligible for a grant 987
from the Citizens' Election Fund shall be seventy-five per cent or more 988
of the corresponding amount required under the applicable said 989
subdivision (3) or (4), as adjusted and rounded pursuant to the 990
applicable provisions of subsection (b) of this section, and (B) the 991
number of contributions required from individuals residing in 992
municipalities included, in whole or in part, in said district shall be 993
seventy-five per cent or more of the corresponding number required 994
under the applicable said subdivision (3) or (4). 995
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage 9-601(39)
Sec. 2 from passage 9-601(3)
Sec. 3 from passage 9-601c(e)
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)
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LCO No. 5328 33 of 33
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) and (d)
Sec. 17 from passage 9-621(h)(1)
Sec. 18 from passage 9-621(i)
Sec. 19 from passage 9-621(l)
Sec. 20 from passage 9-7a(g)(1)
Sec. 21 from passage 53a-119(18)
Sec. 22 from passage 9-704(a)
Statement of Purpose:
To (1) implement federal court rulings regarding independent
expenditure political committees and contributions to such committees,
(2) reflect federal case law on aggregate contribution limits for
individuals, (3) more explicitly recognize referendum spending as a
type of independent expenditure and make changes related to reporting
and attribution requirements, (4) adjust a disclaimer requirement to
address certain organization expenditures, (5) make a conforming
change regarding the distribution of surplus funds by candidate
committees participating in the Citizens' Election Program, (6) allow the
State Elections Enforcement Commission additional time to investigate
certain complaints, (7) establish in-state contributor requirements for
state-wide candidates participating in said program, and (8) specify that
individual contributions under said program may not exceed already-
established contribution limits.
[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.]