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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1406
January Session, 2025
AN ACT CONCERNING ONLINE PLATFORMS THAT COLLECT
CONTRIBUTIONS AND AUTHORIZING STATE ELECTIONS
ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION JURISDICTION OVER VOTING AT
THE MEETINGS OF CERTAIN DISTRICTS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) As used in this section, 1
"contribution" has the same meaning as provided in section 9-601a of 2
the general statutes, as amended by this act, and "committee" has the 3
same meaning as provided in section 9-601 of the general statutes. 4
(b) An online platform that collects a contribution from a contributor 5
and transmits such contribution to a committee may offer 6
recommendations to such contributor for other committees available to 7
receive contributions, provided (1) such online platform's contributor 8
certification, as required under subparagraph (C) of subdivision (3) of 9
subsection (c) of section 9-608 of the general statutes, is approved by the 10
State Elections Enforcement Commission, and (2) such online platform 11
complies with all requirements of chapter 155 of the general statutes. 12
(c) An online platform that collects a contribution from a contributor 13
and transmits such contribution to a committee shall not allow for 14
automatically recurring contributions to be made from a contributor 15
without the affirmative consent of such contributor. Passive action or 16
inaction on the part of a contributor, such as failure to uncheck a 17 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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prechecked box authorizing an automatically recurring contribution, 18
shall not satisfy the requirement of affirmative consent under this 19
subsection. 20
Sec. 2. Subsection (b) of section 9-601a of the general statutes is 21
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 22
passage): 23
(b) As used in this chapter and chapter 157, "contribution" does not 24
mean: 25
(1) A loan of money made in the ordinary course of business by a 26
national or state bank; 27
(2) Any communication made by a corporation, organization or 28
association solely to its members, owners, stockholders, executive or 29
administrative personnel, or their families; 30
(3) Nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns by 31
any corporation, organization or association aimed at its members, 32
owners, stockholders, executive or administrative personnel, or their 33
families; 34
(4) Uncompensated services provided by individuals volunteering 35
their time on behalf of a party committee, political committee, slate 36
committee or candidate committee, including any services provided for 37
the benefit of nonparticipating and participating candidates under the 38
Citizens' Election Program and any unreimbursed travel expenses made 39
by an individual who volunteers the individual's personal services to 40
any such committee. For purposes of this subdivision, an individual is 41
a volunteer if such individual is not receiving compensation for such 42
services regardless of whether such individual received compensation 43
in the past or may receive compensation for similar services that may be 44
performed in the future; 45
(5) The use of real or personal property, a portion or all of the cost of 46
invitations and the cost of food or beverages, voluntarily provided by 47 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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an individual to a candidate, including a nonparticipating or 48
participating candidate under the Citizens' Election Program, or to a 49
party, political or slate committee, in rendering voluntary personal 50
services at the individual's residential premises or a community room 51
in the individual's residence facility, to the extent that the cumulative 52
value of the invitations, food or beverages provided by an individual on 53
behalf of any candidate or committee does not exceed four hundred 54
dollars with respect to any single event or does not exceed eight 55
hundred dollars for any such event hosted by two or more individuals, 56
provided at least one such individual owns or resides at the residential 57
premises, and further provided the cumulative value of the invitations, 58
food or beverages provided by an individual on behalf of any such 59
candidate or committee does not exceed eight hundred dollars with 60
respect to a calendar year or single election, as the case may be; 61
(6) The sale of food or beverage for use by a party, political, slate or 62
candidate committee, including those for a participating or 63
nonparticipating candidate, at a discount, if the charge is not less than 64
the cost to the vendor, to the extent that the cumulative value of the 65
discount given to or on behalf of any single candidate committee does 66
not exceed four hundred dollars with respect to any single primary or 67
election, or to or on behalf of any party, political or slate committee, does 68
not exceed six hundred dollars in a calendar year; 69
(7) The display of a lawn sign by a human being or on real property; 70
(8) The payment, by a party committee or slate committee of the costs 71
of preparation, display, mailing or other distribution incurred by the 72
committee or individual with respect to any printed slate card, sample 73
ballot or other printed list containing the names of three or more 74
candidates; 75
(9) The donation of any item of personal property by an individual to 76
a committee for a fund-raising affair, including a tag sale or auction, or 77
the purchase by an individual of any such item at such an affair, to the 78
extent that the cumulative value donated or purchased does not exceed 79 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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one hundred dollars; 80
(10) (A) The purchase of advertising space which clearly identifies the 81
purchaser, in a program for a fund-raising affair sponsored by the 82
candidate committee of a candidate for an office of a municipality, 83
provided the cumulative purchase of such space does not exceed two 84
hundred fifty dollars from any single such candidate or the candidate's 85
committee with respect to any single election campaign if the purchaser 86
is a business entity or fifty dollars for purchases by any other person; 87
(B) The purchase of advertising space which clearly identifies the 88
purchaser, in a program for a fund-raising affair or on signs at a fund-89
raising affair sponsored by a party committee or a political committee, 90
other than an exploratory committee, provided the cumulative purchase 91
of such space does not exceed two hundred fifty dollars from any single 92
party committee or a political committee, other than an exploratory 93
committee, in any calendar year if the purchaser is a business entity or 94
fifty dollars for purchases by any other person. Notwithstanding the 95
provisions of this subparagraph, the following may not purchase 96
advertising space in a program for a fund-raising affair or on signs at a 97
fund-raising affair sponsored by a party committee or a political 98
committee, other than an exploratory committee: (i) A communicator 99
lobbyist, (ii) a member of the immediate family of a communicator 100
lobbyist, (iii) a state contractor, (iv) a prospective state contractor, or (v) 101
a principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor. As used 102
in this subparagraph, "state contractor", "prospective state contractor" 103
and "principal of a state contractor or prospective state contractor" have 104
the same meanings as provided in subsection (f) of section 9-612; 105
(11) The payment of money by a candidate to the candidate's 106
candidate committee, provided the committee is for a nonparticipating 107
candidate; 108
(12) The donation of goods or services by a business entity to a 109
committee for a fund-raising affair, including a tag sale or auction, to 110
the extent that the cumulative value donated does not exceed two 111 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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hundred dollars; 112
(13) The advance of a security deposit by an individual to a telephone 113
company, as defined in section 16-1, for telecommunications service for 114
a committee or to another utility company, such as an electric 115
distribution company, provided the security deposit is refunded to the 116
individual; 117
(14) The provision of facilities, equipment, technical and managerial 118
support, and broadcast time by a community antenna television 119
company, as defined in section 16-1, for community access 120
programming pursuant to section 16-331a, unless (A) the major purpose 121
of providing such facilities, equipment, support and time is to influence 122
the nomination or election of a candidate, or (B) such facilities, 123
equipment, support and time are provided on behalf of a political party; 124
(15) The sale of food or beverage by a town committee to an 125
individual at a town fair, county fair, local festival or similar mass 126
gathering held within the state, to the extent that the cumulative 127
payment made by any one individual for such items does not exceed 128
fifty dollars; 129
(16) An organization expenditure by a party committee, legislative 130
caucus committee or legislative leadership committee; 131
(17) The donation of food or beverage by an individual for 132
consumption at a slate, candidate, political committee or party 133
committee meeting, event or activity that is not a fund-raising affair to 134
the extent that the cumulative value of the food or beverages donated 135
by an individual for a single meeting or event does not exceed fifty 136
dollars; 137
(18) The value associated with the de minimis activity on behalf of a 138
party committee, political committee, slate committee or candidate 139
committee, including for activities including, but not limited to, (A) the 140
creation of electronic or written communications or digital photos or 141
video as part of an electronic file created on a voluntary basis without 142 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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compensation, including, but not limited to, the creation and ongoing 143
content development and delivery of social media on the Internet or 144
telephone, including, but not limited to, the sending or receiving of 145
electronic mail or messages, (B) the posting or display of a candidate's 146
name or group of candidates' names at a town fair, county fair, local 147
festival or similar mass gathering by a party committee, (C) the use of 148
personal property or a service that is customarily attendant to the 149
occupancy of a residential dwelling, or the donation of an item or items 150
of personal property that are customarily used for campaign purposes, 151
by an individual, to a candidate committee, provided the cumulative 152
fair market value of such use of personal property or service or items of 153
personal property does not exceed one hundred dollars in the aggregate 154
for any single election or calendar year, as the case may be; 155
(19) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment 156
provided by a party committee, legislative caucus committee or 157
legislative leadership committee that serve as headquarters for or are 158
used by such party committee, legislative caucus committee or 159
legislative leadership committee; 160
(20) A communication, as described in subdivision (7) of subsection 161
(b) of section 9-601b, as amended by this act; 162
(21) An independent expenditure, as defined in section 9-601c; 163
(22) A communication containing an endorsement on behalf of a 164
candidate for nomination or election to the office of Governor, 165
Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State 166
Comptroller, Attorney General, state senator or state representative, 167
from a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 168
Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney 169
General, state senator or state representative, provided the candidate 170
(A) making the endorsement is unopposed at the time of the 171
communication, and (B) being endorsed paid for such communication; 172
(23) A communication that is sent by mail to addresses in the district 173
for which a candidate being endorsed by another candidate pursuant to 174 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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this subdivision is seeking nomination or election to the office of state 175
senator or state representative, containing an endorsement on behalf of 176
such candidate for such nomination or election from a candidate for the 177
office of state senator or state representative, provided the candidate (A) 178
making the endorsement is not seeking election to the office of state 179
senator or state representative for a district that contains any 180
geographical area shared by the district for the office to which the 181
endorsed candidate is seeking nomination or election, and (B) being 182
endorsed paid for such communication; [or] 183
(24) Campaign training events provided to multiple individuals by a 184
legislative caucus committee and any associated materials, provided the 185
cumulative value of such events and materials does not exceed six 186
thousand dollars in the aggregate for a calendar year; or 187
(25) With respect to an online platform that collects any contribution 188
from a contributor and transmits such contribution to a committee, a 189
voluntary payment made by such contributor to such online platform, 190
which is (A) in addition to such contribution, and (B) used by such 191
online platform to conduct its operations. 192
Sec. 3. Subsection (b) of section 9-601b of the general statutes is 193
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective from 194
passage): 195
(b) The term "expenditure" does not mean: 196
(1) A loan of money, made in the ordinary course of business, by a 197
state or national bank; 198
(2) A communication made by any corporation, organization or 199
association solely to its members, owners, stockholders, executive or 200
administrative personnel, or their families; 201
(3) Nonpartisan voter registration and get-out-the-vote campaigns by 202
any corporation, organization or association aimed at its members, 203
owners, stockholders, executive or administrative personnel, or their 204 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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families; 205
(4) Uncompensated services provided by individuals volunteering 206
their time on behalf of a party committee, political committee, slate 207
committee or candidate committee, including any services provided for 208
the benefit of nonparticipating and participating candidates under the 209
Citizens' Election Program and any unreimbursed travel expenses made 210
by an individual who volunteers the individual's personal services to 211
any such committee. For purposes of this subdivision, an individual is 212
a volunteer if such individual is not receiving compensation for such 213
services regardless of whether such individual received compensation 214
in the past or may receive compensation for similar services that may be 215
performed in the future; 216
(5) Any news story, commentary or editorial distributed through the 217
facilities of any broadcasting station, newspaper, magazine or other 218
periodical, unless such facilities are owned or controlled by any political 219
party, committee or candidate; 220
(6) The use of real or personal property, a portion or all of the cost of 221
invitations and the cost of food or beverages, voluntarily provided by 222
an individual to a candidate, including a nonparticipating or 223
participating candidate under the Citizens' Election Program, or to a 224
party, political or slate committee, in rendering voluntary personal 225
services at the individual's residential premises or a community room 226
in the individual's residence facility, to the extent that the cumulative 227
value of the invitations, food or beverages provided by an individual on 228
behalf of any candidate or committee does not exceed four hundred 229
dollars with respect to any single event or does not exceed eight 230
hundred dollars for any such event hosted by two or more individuals, 231
provided at least one such individual owns or resides at the residential 232
premises, and further provided the cumulative value of the invitations, 233
food or beverages provided by an individual on behalf of any such 234
candidate or committee does not exceed eight hundred dollars with 235
respect to a calendar year or single election, as the case may be; 236 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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(7) A communication described in subdivision (2) of subsection (a) of 237
this section that includes speech or expression made (A) prior to the 238
ninety-day period preceding the date of a primary or an election at 239
which the clearly identified candidate or candidates are seeking 240
nomination to public office or position, that is made for the purpose of 241
influencing any legislative or administrative action, as defined in section 242
1-91, or executive action, or (B) during a legislative session for the 243
purpose of influencing legislative action; 244
(8) An organization expenditure by a party committee, legislative 245
caucus committee or legislative leadership committee; 246
(9) A commercial advertisement that refers to an owner, director or 247
officer of a business entity who is also a candidate and that had 248
previously been broadcast or appeared when the owner, director or 249
officer was not a candidate; 250
(10) A communication containing an endorsement on behalf of a 251
candidate for nomination or election to the office of Governor, 252
Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State 253
Comptroller, Attorney General, state senator or state representative, 254
from a candidate for the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, 255
Secretary of the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney 256
General, state senator or state representative, shall not be an 257
expenditure attributable to the endorsing candidate, if the candidate 258
making the endorsement is unopposed at the time of the 259
communication; 260
(11) A communication that is sent by mail to addresses in the district 261
for which a candidate being endorsed by another candidate pursuant to 262
the provisions of this subdivision is seeking nomination or election to 263
the office of state senator or state representative, containing an 264
endorsement on behalf of such candidate for such nomination or 265
election, from a candidate for the office of state senator or state 266
representative, shall not be an expenditure attributable to the endorsing 267
candidate, if the candidate making the endorsement is not seeking 268 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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election to the office of state senator or state representative for a district 269
that contains any geographical area shared by the district for the office 270
to which the endorsed candidate is seeking nomination or election; 271
(12) Campaign training events provided to multiple individuals by a 272
legislative caucus committee and any associated materials, provided the 273
cumulative value of such events and materials does not exceed six 274
thousand dollars in the aggregate for a calendar year; 275
(13) A lawful communication by any charitable organization which is 276
a tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal 277
Revenue Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal 278
revenue code of the United States, as from time to time amended; 279
(14) The use of offices, telephones, computers and similar equipment 280
provided by a party committee, legislative caucus committee or 281
legislative leadership committee that serve as headquarters for or are 282
used by such party committee, legislative caucus committee or 283
legislative leadership committee; [or] 284
(15) An expense or expenses incurred by a human being acting alone 285
in an amount that is two hundred dollars or less, in the aggregate, that 286
benefits a candidate for a single election; or 287
(16) With respect to an online platform that collects any contribution 288
from a contributor and transmits such contribution to a committee, the 289
use of such online platform to request a voluntary payment made by 290
such contributor to such online platform, which is (A) in addition to 291
such contribution, and (B) used by such online platform to conduct its 292
operations. 293
Sec. 4. (Effective July 1, 2025) Not later than January 1, 2026, the State 294
Elections Enforcement Commission shall hire an additional four full-295
time investigators and two full-time staff attorneys as investigatory 296
personnel. 297
Sec. 5. Subsection (a) of section 9-7b of the general statutes is repealed 298 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 299
(a) The State Elections Enforcement Commission shall have the 300
following duties and powers: 301
(1) (A) To make investigations on its own initiative or with respect to 302
statements filed with the commission by the Secretary of the State, any 303
town clerk or any registrar of voters or upon written complaint under 304
oath by any individual or by any eligible voter of a district, as defined 305
in section 7-324, with respect to alleged violations of any provision of 306
the general statutes relating to any election or referendum, any primary 307
held pursuant to section 9-423, 9-425 or 9-464 or any primary held 308
pursuant to a special act, [and to] or upon written complaint under oath 309
by any eligible voter of a district, as defined in section 7-234, with 310
respect to alleged violations of any provision of the general statutes 311
relating to a vote at an annual or special meeting held under section 7-312
327, as amended by this act; 313
(B) To hold hearings when the commission deems necessary to 314
investigate violations of any provisions of the general statutes relating 315
to any such election, primary, [or] referendum or vote at a meeting held 316
under section 7-327, as amended by this act, and for the purpose of such 317
hearings the commission may administer oaths, examine witnesses and 318
receive oral and documentary evidence, and shall have the power to 319
subpoena witnesses under procedural rules the commission shall adopt, 320
to compel their attendance and to require the production for 321
examination of any books and papers which the commission deems 322
relevant to any matter under investigation or in question. Until the 323
commission determines that it is necessary to investigate a violation, 324
commission members and staff shall keep confidential any information 325
concerning a complaint or preliminary investigation, except upon 326
request of the treasurer, deputy treasurer, chairperson or candidate 327
affiliated with a committee that is the subject of the complaint or 328
preliminary investigation; [.] 329
(C) In connection with its investigation of any alleged violation of any 330 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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provision of chapter 105 or 145, or of any provision of section 9-359 or 331
section 9-359a, the commission shall also have the power to subpoena 332
any municipal clerk or district clerk and to require the production for 333
examination of any absentee ballot, inner and outer envelope from 334
which any such ballot has been removed, depository envelope 335
containing any such ballot or inner or outer envelope as provided in 336
sections 9-150a and 9-150b and any other record, form or document as 337
provided in section 9-150b, in connection with the election, primary, [or] 338
referendum or vote at a meeting held under section 7-327, as amended 339
by this act, to which the investigation relates. In case of a refusal to 340
comply with any subpoena issued pursuant to this subsection or to 341
testify with respect to any matter upon which that person may be 342
lawfully interrogated, the superior court for the judicial district of 343
Hartford, on application of the commission, may issue an order 344
requiring such person to comply with such subpoena and to testify; 345
failure to obey any such order of the court may be punished by the court 346
as a contempt thereof. In any matter under investigation which concerns 347
the operation or inspection of or outcome recorded on any voting 348
tabulator, the commission may issue an order to the registrars of voters 349
or district clerk to impound such tabulator until the investigation is 350
completed; 351
(2) To levy a civil penalty not to exceed (A) two thousand dollars per 352
offense against any person the commission finds to be in violation of 353
any provision of chapter 105 or 145, part V of chapter 146, part I of 354
chapter 147, chapter 148, section 7-9, section 9-12, subsection (a) of 355
section 9-17, section 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-19g to 9-19k, inclusive, 9-20, 9-21, 9-356
23a, 9-23g, 9-23h, 9-23j to 9-23o, inclusive, 9-23r, 9-26, 9-31a, 9-32, 9-35, 357
9-35b, 9-35c, 9-40a, 9-42, 9-43, 9-50a, 9-56, 9-59, 9-163aa, 9-168d, 9-170, 9-358
171, 9-172, 9-232i to 9-232o, inclusive, 9-404a to 9-404c, inclusive, 9-409, 359
9-410, 9-412, 9-436, 9-436a, 9-453e to 9-453h, inclusive, 9-453k or 9-453o, 360
(B) two thousand dollars per offense against any town clerk, registrar of 361
voters, an appointee or designee of a town clerk or registrar of voters, 362
member of a district board of directors or any other election or primary 363
official whom the commission finds to have failed to discharge a duty 364 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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imposed by any provision of chapter 105, 146 or 147, (C) two thousand 365
dollars per offense against any person the commission finds to have (i) 366
improperly voted in any election, primary, [or] referendum or meeting 367
held under section 7-327, as amended by this act, and (ii) not been 368
legally qualified to vote in such election, primary, [or] referendum or 369
meeting, or (D) two thousand dollars per offense or twice the amount of 370
any improper payment or contribution, whichever is greater, against 371
any person the commission finds to be in violation of any provision of 372
chapter 155 or 157. The commission may levy a civil penalty against any 373
person under subparagraph (A), (B), (C) or (D) of this subdivision only 374
after giving the person an opportunity to be heard at a hearing 375
conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive. In the 376
case of failure to pay any such penalty levied pursuant to this subsection 377
within thirty days of written notice sent by certified or registered mail 378
to such person, the superior court for the judicial district of Hartford, on 379
application of the commission, may issue an order requiring such 380
person to pay the penalty imposed and such court costs, state marshal's 381
fees and attorney's fees incurred by the commission as the court may 382
determine. Any civil penalties paid, collected or recovered under 383
subparagraph (D) of this subdivision for a violation of any provision of 384
chapter 155 applying to the office of the Treasurer shall be deposited on 385
a pro rata basis in any trust funds, as defined in section 3-13c, affected 386
by such violation; [.] 387
(3) (A) To issue an order requiring any person the commission finds 388
to have received any contribution or payment which is prohibited by 389
any of the provisions of chapter 155 or 157, after an opportunity to be 390
heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with the provisions of 391
sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive, to return such contribution or 392
payment to the donor or payor, or to remit such contribution or payment 393
to the state for deposit in the General Fund or the Citizens' Election 394
Fund, whichever is deemed necessary to effectuate the purposes of 395
chapter 155 or 157, as the case may be; 396
(B) To issue an order when the commission finds that an intentional 397
violation of any provision of chapter 155 or 157 has been committed, 398 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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after an opportunity to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance 399
with sections 4-176e to 4-184, inclusive, which order may contain one or 400
more of the following sanctions: (i) Removal of a treasurer, deputy 401
treasurer, [or] solicitor or district clerk; (ii) prohibition on serving as a 402
treasurer, deputy treasurer, [or] solicitor or district clerk; and (iii) in the 403
case of a party committee or a political committee, suspension of all 404
political activities, including, but not limited to, the receipt of 405
contributions and the making of expenditures, provided the 406
commission may not order such a suspension unless the commission 407
has previously ordered the removal of the treasurer and notifies the 408
officers of the committee that the commission is considering such 409
suspension; 410
(C) To issue an order revoking any person's eligibility to be appointed 411
or serve as an election, primary or referendum official or unofficial 412
checker or in any capacity at the polls on the day of an election, a 413
primary, [or] a referendum or a meeting held under section 7-327, as 414
amended by this act, when the commission finds such person has 415
intentionally violated any provision of the general statutes relating to 416
the conduct of an election, primary or referendum, after an opportunity 417
to be heard at a hearing conducted in accordance with sections 4-176e to 418
4-184, inclusive; 419
(D) To issue an order to enforce the provisions of the Help America 420
Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, as the commission 421
deems appropriate; 422
(E) To issue an order following the commission's determination of the 423
right of an individual to be or remain an elector when such 424
determination is made (i) pursuant to an appeal taken to the commission 425
from a decision of the registrars of voters or board of admission of 426
electors under section 9-31l, or (ii) following the commission's 427
investigation pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection; 428
(F) To issue a cease and desist order for violation of any general 429
statute or regulation under the commission's jurisdiction and to take 430 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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reasonable actions necessary to compel compliance with such statute or 431
regulation; 432
(4) To issue an order to a candidate committee that receives moneys 433
from the Citizens' Election Fund pursuant to chapter 157, to comply 434
with the provisions of chapter 157, after an opportunity to be heard at a 435
hearing conducted in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-176e 436
to 4-184, inclusive; 437
(5) (A) To inspect or audit at any reasonable time and upon 438
reasonable notice the accounts or records of any treasurer or principal 439
treasurer, except as provided for in subparagraph (B) of this 440
subdivision, as required by chapter 155 or 157 and to audit any such 441
election, primary or referendum held within the state; provided, (i) (I) 442
not later than two months preceding the day of an election at which a 443
candidate is seeking election, the commission shall complete any audit 444
it has initiated in the absence of a complaint that involves a committee 445
of the same candidate from a previous election, and (II) during the two-446
month period preceding the day of an election at which a candidate is 447
seeking election, the commission shall not initiate an audit in the 448
absence of a complaint that involves a committee of the same candidate 449
from a previous election, and (ii) the commission shall not audit any 450
caucus, as defined in subdivision (1) of section 9-372; [.] 451
(B) When conducting an audit after an election or primary, the 452
commission shall randomly audit not more than fifty per cent of 453
candidate committees, which shall be selected through the process of a 454
weighted lottery conducted by the commission that takes into account 455
the selection frequency of a district served by the office of state senator 456
or state representative, as applicable, for the immediately preceding 457
three regular elections for such office and increases or decreases the 458
likelihood that such district will be selected for audit based on such 459
selection frequency, except that the commissioner shall audit all 460
candidate committees for candidates for a state-wide office; [.] 461
(C) The commission shall notify, in writing, any committee of a 462 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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candidate for an office in the general election, or of any candidate who 463
had a primary for nomination to any such office not later than May 464
thirty-first of the year immediately following such election. In no case 465
shall the commission audit any such candidate committee that the 466
commission fails to provide notice to in accordance with this 467
subparagraph; 468
(6) To attempt to secure voluntary compliance, by informal methods 469
of conference, conciliation and persuasion, with any provision of 470
chapter 105, 149, 151 to 153, inclusive, 155, 156 or 157 or any other 471
provision of the general statutes relating to any such election, primary, 472
[or] referendum or meeting held under section 7-327, as amended by 473
this act; 474
(7) To consult with the Secretary of the State, the Chief State's 475
Attorney or the Attorney General on any matter which the commission 476
deems appropriate; 477
(8) To refer to the Chief State's Attorney evidence bearing upon 478
violation of any provision of chapter 105, 149, 151 to 153, inclusive, 155, 479
156 or 157 or any other provision of the general statutes pertaining to or 480
relating to any such election, primary, [or] referendum or meeting held 481
under section 7-327, as amended by this act; 482
(9) To refer to the Attorney General evidence for injunctive relief and 483
any other ancillary equitable relief in the circumstances of subdivision 484
(8) of this subsection. Nothing in this subdivision shall preclude a 485
person who claims that he is aggrieved by a violation of any provision 486
of chapter 152 or any other provision of the general statutes relating to 487
referenda from pursuing injunctive and any other ancillary equitable 488
relief directly from the Superior Court by the filing of a complaint; 489
(10) To refer to the Attorney General evidence pertaining to any 490
ruling which the commission finds to be in error made by election 491
officials in connection with any election, primary or referendum. Those 492
remedies and procedures available to parties claiming to be aggrieved 493
under the provisions of sections 9-323, 9-324, 9-328 and 9-329a shall 494 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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apply to any complaint brought by the Attorney General as a result of 495
the provisions of this subdivision; 496
(11) To consult with the United States Department of Justice and the 497
United States Attorney for Connecticut on any investigation pertaining 498
to a violation of this section, section 9-12, subsection (a) of section 9-17 499
or section 9-19b, 9-19e, 9-19g, 9-19h, 9-19i, 9-20, 9-21, 9-23a, 9-23g, 9-23h, 500
9-23j to 9-23o, inclusive, 9-26, 9-31a, 9-32, 9-35, 9-35b, 9-35c, 9-40a, 9-42, 501
9-43, 9-50a, 9-56 or 9-59 and to refer to said department and attorney 502
evidence bearing upon any such violation for prosecution under the 503
provisions of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, P.L. 103-31, as 504
amended from time to time; 505
(12) To inspect reports filed with town clerks pursuant to chapter 155 506
and refer to the Chief State's Attorney evidence bearing upon any 507
violation of law therein if such violation was committed knowingly and 508
wilfully; 509
(13) To intervene in any action brought pursuant to the provisions of 510
sections 9-323, 9-324, 9-328 and 9-329a upon application to the court in 511
which such action is brought when in the opinion of the court it is 512
necessary to preserve evidence of possible criminal violation of the 513
election laws; 514
(14) To adopt and publish regulations pursuant to chapter 54 to carry 515
out the provisions of section 9-7a, this section, and chapters 155 and 157; 516
to issue upon request and publish advisory opinions in the Connecticut 517
Law Journal upon the requirements of chapters 155 and 157, and to 518
make recommendations to the General Assembly concerning suggested 519
revisions of the election laws; 520
(15) To the extent that the Elections Enforcement Commission is 521
involved in the investigation of alleged or suspected criminal violations 522
of any provision of the general statutes pertaining to or relating to any 523
such election, primary, [or] referendum or meeting and is engaged in 524
such investigation for the purpose of presenting evidence to the Chief 525
State's Attorney, the Elections Enforcement Commission shall be 526 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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deemed a law enforcement agency for purposes of subdivision (3) of 527
subsection (b) of section 1-210, provided nothing in this section shall be 528
construed to exempt the Elections Enforcement Commission in any 529
other respect from the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act, 530
as defined in section 1-200; 531
(16) To enter into such contractual agreements as may be necessary 532
for the discharge of its duties, within the limits of its appropriated funds 533
and in accordance with established procedures; 534
(17) To provide the Secretary of the State with notice and copies of all 535
decisions rendered by the commission in contested cases, advisory 536
opinions and declaratory judgments, at the time such decisions, 537
judgments and opinions are made or issued; 538
(18) To receive and determine complaints filed under the Help 539
America Vote Act, P.L. 107-252, as amended from time to time, by any 540
person who believes there is a violation of any provision of Title III of 541
P.L. 107-252, as amended. Any complaint filed under this subdivision 542
shall be in writing, notarized and signed and sworn by the person filing 543
the complaint. At the request of the complainant, there shall be a hearing 544
on the record, conducted in accordance with sections 4-167e to 4-184, 545
inclusive. The commission shall make a final determination with respect 546
to a complaint prior to the expiration of the ninety-day period beginning 547
on the date the complaint is filed, unless the complainant consents to a 548
longer period for making such determination. If the commission fails to 549
meet the applicable deadline under this subdivision with respect to a 550
complaint, the commission shall resolve the complaint within sixty days 551
after the expiration of such ninety-day period under an alternative 552
dispute resolution procedure established by the commission. 553
Sec. 6. Section 7-327 of the general statutes is repealed and the 554
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 555
(a) At the meeting called for the purpose of establishing a district, as 556
provided in section 7-325, the voters shall, by ordinance, fix the date of 557
the annual meeting of the voters for the election of district officers and 558 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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transaction of such other business as may properly come before such 559
annual meeting. At the organization meeting of the district, the voters 560
shall elect from their number a president, vice president, five directors, 561
a clerk and a treasurer to serve until the first annual meeting for the 562
election of officers and thereafter such officers shall be elected annually. 563
Not fewer than fifteen voters of the district shall constitute a quorum for 564
the transaction of business at the organization meeting of the district; 565
and if fifteen voters are not present at such meeting, the selectmen may 566
adjourn such meeting from time to time, until at least fifteen voters are 567
present. Special meetings of the district may be called on the application 568
of ten per cent of the total number of persons qualified to vote in the 569
meeting of a district or twenty of the voters of such district, whichever 570
is less, or by the president or any three directors upon giving notice as 571
hereinafter provided. Any special meeting called on the application of 572
the voters shall be held within twenty-one days after receiving such 573
application. Notice of the holding of the annual meeting and all special 574
meetings shall be given by publication of a notice of such meetings in a 575
newspaper having a general circulation in such district at least ten days 576
before the day of such meetings, signed by the president or any three 577
directors, which notice shall designate the time and place of such 578
meetings and the business to be transacted [thereat] at such meetings. 579
Two hundred or more persons or ten per cent of the total number of 580
persons qualified to vote in the meeting of a district, whichever is less, 581
may petition the clerk of such district, in writing, at least twenty-four 582
hours prior to any such meeting, requesting that any item or items on 583
the call of such meeting be submitted to the persons qualified to vote in 584
such meeting not less than seven nor more than fourteen days thereafter, 585
on a day to be set by the district meeting or, if the district meeting does 586
not set a date, by the board of directors, for a vote by paper ballots or by 587
a "yes" or "no" vote on the voting [machines] tabulators, during the 588
hours between twelve o'clock noon and eight o'clock p.m., except that 589
any district may, by vote of its board of directors, provide for an earlier 590
hour for opening the polls but not earlier than six o'clock a.m. The paper 591
ballots or voting [machine ballot labels] tabulator ballots, as the case 592
may be, shall be provided by the clerk. When such a petition has been 593 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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filed with the clerk, the president, after completion of other business and 594
after reasonable discussion shall adjourn such meeting and order such 595
vote on such item or items in accordance with the petition; and any item 596
so voted may be rescinded in the same manner. The clerk shall phrase 597
such item or items in a form suitable for printing on such paper ballots 598
or [ballot labels] ballots. Not fewer than fifteen voters of the district shall 599
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the 600
district; and if fifteen voters are not present at such meeting, the 601
president of the district or, in [his] the president's absence, the vice 602
president may adjourn such meeting from time to time, until at least 603
fifteen voters are present; and all meetings of the district where a 604
quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time by a vote of a 605
majority of the voters voting on the question. At any annual or special 606
meeting, the voters may, by a majority vote of those present, discontinue 607
any purposes for which the district is established or undertake any 608
additional purpose or purposes enumerated in section 7-326. 609
(b) The president of the district shall be the chief executive officer 610
thereof and shall be a member of the board of directors. [He] The 611
president shall preside at all meetings of the voters of the district and at 612
all meetings of the directors, and at all meetings where [he] the president 613
presides, [he] the president shall vote to dissolve a tie when necessary. 614
[He] The president shall designate the duties devolving upon each of 615
the five directors, shall approve all bills for payment by the treasurer 616
and shall be, ex officio, a member of all committees and boards of the 617
district. The vice president shall be a member of the board of directors, 618
and shall have all the authority, power and duties of the president 619
whenever the president vacates his or her office, is absent or from any 620
cause is unable to perform his or her duties. The clerk shall be a member 621
of the board of directors, shall keep a record of the minutes of all 622
meetings of the voters and of the board of directors and shall keep at all 623
times a list of the voters of the district. The treasurer shall have charge 624
of the collection and payment of all moneys of the district, under such 625
rules and regulations as shall be prescribed by the board of directors, 626
and shall prepare the annual budget, which shall be reviewed by the 627 Substitute Bill No. 1406
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board of directors and transmitted with the board's comments and 628
recommendations to the annual budget meeting of the district for 629
adoption. 630
(c) The fiscal year of the district shall begin on July first and shall end 631
the following June thirtieth. Annually, not less than thirty days prior to 632
the beginning of the fiscal year, there shall be a meeting of the voters of 633
the district for the purpose of adopting the annual budget, laying the tax 634
and fixing the tax rate. 635
(d) Notwithstanding any provision of this chapter or any special act, 636
[to the contrary,] a district may, at its annual meeting or at a special 637
meeting called in accordance with the provisions of this section, (1) 638
increase the membership of the board of directors of the district to nine 639
members, three of whom may be elected each year to three-year terms, 640
and in such case, require the officers of the district to be chosen from 641
among the members of the board, or (2) provide for one member of the 642
board of directors of the district to serve as both clerk and treasurer of 643
the district. 644
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 from passage New section
Sec. 2 from passage 9-601a(b)
Sec. 3 from passage 9-601b(b)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 New section
Sec. 5 July 1, 2025 9-7b(a)
Sec. 6 July 1, 2025 7-327
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 5(a)(1), subparagraph (A) was rewritten for clarity and
subparagraph designators were added for consistency with standard
drafting conventions, in Section 5(a)(3)(B), references to "district clerk"
were added, for consistency, and throughout Section 5, references to a
"meeting held under section 7-327" or "meeting" were added after
references to "election, primary or referendum" for consistency.
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GOS Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO