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General Assembly Substitute Bill No. 1409
January Session, 2025
AN ACT CONCERNING MUNICIPAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE FILINGS.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 9-603 of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2029): 2
(a) Statements filed pursuant to chapters 155 to 157, inclusive, by 3
party committees, political committees formed to aid or promote the 4
success or defeat of a referendum question, [proposing a constitutional 5
convention, constitutional amendment or revision of the Constitution, 6
individual lobbyists,] and those political committees and candidate 7
committees formed to aid or promote the success or defeat of any 8
candidate for [the office of Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of 9
the State, State Treasurer, State Comptroller, Attorney General, judge of 10
probate and members of the General Assembly] public office or the 11
position of town committee member, or any other persons covered 12
under said chapters, shall be filed with the State Elections Enforcement 13
Commission. A political committee formed for a slate of candidates in a 14
primary for the office of justice of the peace shall file statements with the 15
[town clerk of the municipality in which the primary is to be held] State 16
Elections Enforcement Commission. 17
[(b) Statements filed by political committees formed solely to aid or 18
promote the success or defeat of a referendum question to be voted 19
upon by the electors of a single municipality and those political 20 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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committees or candidate committees formed to aid or promote the 21
success or defeat of any candidate for public office, other than those 22
enumerated in subsection (a) of this section, or the position of town 23
committee member shall be filed only with the town clerk of the 24
municipality in which the election or referendum is to be held. Each 25
unsalaried town clerk shall be entitled to receive ten cents from the town 26
for the filing of each such statement.] 27
[(c)] (b) A certification of a candidate who is exempt from the 28
requirement of subsection (a) of section 9-604, as amended by this act, 29
to form a candidate committee shall be filed with the State Elections 30
Enforcement Commission. [if the candidate seeks an office enumerated 31
in subsection (a) of this section, or with the town clerk of the 32
municipality in which the election is to be held if the candidate seeks an 33
office other than those enumerated. A certification of a group of 34
individuals who have joined solely to aid or promote a referendum 35
question and who are exempt from the requirement to form a political 36
committee under section 9-605 shall be filed with the town clerk of each 37
municipality in which the referendum is to be held.] 38
[(d)] (c) On December 31, 2006, the duties of the Secretary of the State 39
concerning the administration of campaign finance reporting under this 40
chapter shall be transferred to the State Elections Enforcement 41
Commission. 42
Sec. 2. Section 9-604 of the general statutes is repealed and the 43
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2029): 44
(a) Each candidate for a particular public office or the position of 45
town committee member shall form a single candidate committee for 46
which he shall designate a treasurer and a depository institution 47
situated in this state as the depository for the committee's funds and 48
shall file a committee statement containing such designations, not later 49
than ten days after becoming a candidate, with the [proper authority] 50
State Elections Enforcement Commission as required by section 9-603, 51
as amended by this act. The candidate may also designate a deputy 52 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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treasurer on such committee statement. The treasurer and any deputy 53
treasurer so designated shall sign a statement accepting such 54
designation which the candidate shall include as part of, or file with, the 55
committee statement. 56
(b) The formation of a candidate committee by a candidate and the 57
filing of statements pursuant to section 9-608, as amended by this act, 58
shall not be required if the candidate files a certification with the [proper 59
authority] State Elections Enforcement Commission required by section 60
9-603, as amended by this act, not later than ten days after becoming a 61
candidate, and any of the following conditions exist for the campaign: 62
(1) The candidate is one of a slate of candidates whose campaigns are 63
funded solely by a party committee or a political committee formed for 64
a single election or primary and expenditures made on behalf of the 65
candidate's campaign are reported by the committee sponsoring the 66
candidate's candidacy; (2) the candidate finances the candidate's 67
campaign entirely from personal funds and does not solicit or receive 68
contributions, provided if said candidate personally makes an 69
expenditure or expenditures in excess of one thousand dollars to, or for 70
the benefit of, said candidate's campaign for nomination at a primary or 71
election to an office or position, said candidate shall file statements 72
according to the same schedule and in the same manner as is required 73
of a treasurer of a candidate committee under section 9-608, as amended 74
by this act; (3) the candidate does not receive or expend funds in excess 75
of one thousand dollars; or (4) the candidate does not receive or expend 76
any funds, including personal funds, for the candidate's campaign. If 77
the candidate no longer qualifies for the exemption under any of these 78
conditions, the candidate shall comply with the provisions of subsection 79
(a) of this section, not later than three business days thereafter and shall 80
provide the candidate's designated treasurer with all information 81
required for completion of the treasurer's statements and filings as 82
required by section 9-608, as amended by this act. If the candidate no 83
longer qualifies for the exemption due to the condition stated in the 84
candidate's certification but so qualifies due to a different condition 85
specified in this subsection, the candidate shall file an amended 86 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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certification with the [proper authority] State Elections Enforcement 87
Commission and provide the new condition for the candidate's 88
qualification not later than three business days following the change in 89
circumstances of the financing of the candidate's campaign. The filing 90
of a certification under this subsection shall not relieve the candidate 91
from compliance with the provisions of this chapter. 92
(c) The chairman of a political committee formed to support a single 93
candidate for public office shall, not later than seven days after filing a 94
statement of organization with the [proper authority] State Elections 95
Enforcement Commission under section 9-603, as amended by this act, 96
send the candidate a notice, by certified mail, of such filing. If a 97
candidate (1) does not, within fourteen days after receiving such notice, 98
disavow such committee, in writing, to the [proper authority] State 99
Elections Enforcement Commission under section 9-603, as amended by 100
this act, or (2) disavows such committee within such period, but, at any 101
time before such disavowal, accepts funds from the committee for his 102
campaign, such committee shall be deemed to have been authorized by 103
such candidate and shall constitute a candidate committee for the 104
purposes of this chapter. No candidate shall establish, agree to or assist 105
in establishing, or give his consent or authorization to establishing, a 106
committee other than a single candidate committee to promote his 107
candidacy for any public office, except that a candidate may establish 108
an exploratory committee. The candidate shall designate on the 109
statement of organization for the exploratory committee the type of 110
office to which the candidate is determining whether to seek nomination 111
or election, as follows: (A) The General Assembly, (B) a state office, or 112
(C) any other public office. The candidate may also certify on the 113
statement of organization that the candidate will not be a candidate for 114
the office of state representative. Not later than fifteen days after a public 115
declaration by the candidate of the candidate's intention to seek 116
nomination or election to a particular public office, the candidate shall 117
form a single candidate committee, except that in the case of a candidate 118
establishing an exploratory committee for purposes including aiding or 119
promoting the candidate's candidacy for nomination or election to the 120 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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General Assembly or a state office, the candidate shall form a single 121
candidate committee not later than fifteen days after the date that the 122
treasurer of such exploratory committee is required to file a notice of 123
intent to dissolve the committee under subsection (f) of section 9-608, as 124
amended by this act. As used in this subsection, "state office" has the 125
same meaning as provided in subsection (e) of section 9-610. 126
(d) A slate of candidates in a primary for the office of justice of the 127
peace shall designate a chairperson to form a single political committee 128
to comply with the requirements of section 9-605, as amended by this 129
act, except if the individuals on the slate unanimously consent to have 130
their campaign financed solely by a town committee and such 131
committee consents to such financing by filing a statement of consent 132
with the [town clerk of the municipality in which the primary is to be 133
held] State Elections Enforcement Commission. 134
Sec. 3. Subsection (d) of section 9-608 of the general statutes is 135
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 136
1, 2029): 137
(d) At the time of filing statements required under this section, the 138
treasurer of each candidate committee shall send to the candidate a 139
duplicate statement and the treasurer of each party committee and each 140
political committee other than an exploratory committee shall send to 141
the chairman of the committee a duplicate statement. Each statement 142
required to be filed [with the commission] under this section, section 9-143
601d, section 9-706 or section 9-712 shall be deemed to be filed in a 144
timely manner if: (1) For a statement filed as a hard copy, including, but 145
not limited to, a statement delivered by the United States Postal Service, 146
courier service, parcel service or hand delivery, the statement is received 147
by the commission by five o'clock p.m. on the day the statement is 148
required to be filed, (2) for a statement authorized by the commission to 149
be filed electronically, including, but not limited to, a statement filed via 150
dedicated electronic mail, facsimile machine, a web-based program 151
created by the commission or other electronic means, the statement is 152
transmitted to the commission not later than eleven fifty-nine o'clock 153 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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p.m. on the day the statement is required to be filed, or (3) for a 154
statement required to be filed pursuant to section 9-601d, section 9-706 155
or section 9-712, by the deadline specified in each such section. [Any 156
other filing required to be filed with a town clerk pursuant to this section 157
shall be deemed to be filed in a timely manner if it is delivered by hand 158
to the office of the town clerk in accordance with the provisions of 159
section 9-603 before four-thirty o'clock p.m. or postmarked by the 160
United States Postal Service before midnight on the required filing day.] 161
If the day for any filing falls on a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, the 162
statement shall be filed on the next business day thereafter. The State 163
Elections Enforcement Commission shall not levy a penalty upon a 164
treasurer for failure to file a hard copy of a statement in a timely manner 165
in accordance with the provisions of this section if such treasurer has a 166
copy of the statement time stamped by the State Elections Enforcement 167
Commission that shows timely receipt of the statement or the treasurer 168
has a return receipt from the United States Postal Service or a similar 169
receipt from a commercial delivery service confirming timely delivery 170
of such statement was made or should have been made to said 171
commission. 172
Sec. 4. Subdivision (2) of subsection (f) of section 9-610 of the general 173
statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof 174
(Effective January 1, 2029): 175
(2) A political committee established for ongoing political activities, 176
[and required pursuant to subsection (a) of section 9-603 to file 177
statements with the commission] other than a committee established 178
solely for the purpose of aiding or promoting any candidate or 179
candidates for municipal office or the success or defeat of a referendum 180
question, shall be subject to the prohibition on making contributions 181
under subsection (e) of this section unless the treasurer of the committee 182
has filed a registration statement as described in subsection (b) of section 183
9-605 with the commission, on forms prescribed by the commission, on 184
or before November 15, 2012, for all such political committees in 185
existence on such date, or, if the committee is not in existence on such 186
date, not later than ten days after the organization of the committee 187 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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pursuant to subsection (a) of section 9-605, as amended by this act, and 188
on or before November fifteenth of each even-numbered year thereafter. 189
Such statements shall be filed even if there are no changes, additions or 190
deletions to the registration statement previously filed with the 191
commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision, if an 192
officer of the committee has changed since the last registration statement 193
filed with the commission, such registration statement shall be filed by 194
the chairperson of the committee. 195
Sec. 5. Subsection (b) of section 9-623 of the general statutes is 196
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 197
1, 2029): 198
(b) (1) If any treasurer fails to file any statement required by section 199
9-608, as amended by this act, or if any candidate fails to file either (A) 200
a statement for the formation of a candidate committee as required by 201
section 9-604, as amended by this act, or (B) a certification pursuant to 202
section 9-603, as amended by this act, that the candidate is exempt from 203
forming a candidate committee as required by section 9-604, as 204
amended by this act, within the time required, the treasurer or 205
candidate, as the case may be, shall pay a late filing fee of one hundred 206
dollars. 207
(2) In the case of any such statement or certification that is required 208
to be filed with the State Elections Enforcement Commission, the 209
commission shall, not later than ten days after the filing deadline is, or 210
should be, known to have passed, notify by certified mail, return receipt 211
requested, the person required to file that, if such statement or 212
certification is not filed not later than twenty-one days after such notice, 213
the person is in violation of section 9-603, as amended by this act, 9-604, 214
as amended by this act, or 9-608, as amended by this act. 215
[(3) In the case of any such statement or certification that is required 216
to be filed with a town clerk, the town clerk shall forthwith after the 217
filing deadline is, or should be, known to have passed, notify by certified 218
mail, return receipt requested, the person required to file that, if such 219 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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statement or certification is not filed not later than seven days after the 220
town clerk mails such notice, the town clerk shall notify the State 221
Elections Enforcement Commission that the person is in violation of 222
section 9-603, 9-604 or 9-608.] 223
[(4)] (3) The penalty for any violation of section 9-603, as amended by 224
this act, 9-604, as amended by this act, or 9-608, as amended by this act, 225
shall be a fine of not less than two hundred dollars or more than two 226
thousand dollars or imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. 227
(4) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (1) of this 228
subsection, the commission may waive any late filing fee described in 229
said subdivision for any treasurer or candidate in a municipality in 230
which a primary or election for municipal office is being held in 2029. 231
Sec. 6. Section 9-624 of the general statutes is repealed and the 232
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2029): 233
[(a)] The State Elections Enforcement Commission shall prepare and 234
print the forms required for compliance with this chapter and distribute 235
them upon request to candidates and treasurers. 236
[(b) The State Elections Enforcement Commission shall, at the 237
expense of the state, prepare and print all forms for statements required 238
to be returned under the provisions of this chapter and shall furnish to 239
each town clerk a sufficient supply of each of such blank forms as are 240
required to be filed with or returned to the town clerk. The town clerk 241
of each town shall, upon request, distribute to treasurers the forms 242
required for compliance with this chapter and, if not salaried, shall be 243
entitled to receive from the town the sum of ten cents for each copy.] 244
Sec. 7. Section 9-675 of the general statutes is repealed and the 245
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 1, 2029): 246
(a) The State Elections Enforcement Commission shall (1) create a 247
web-based program for the preparation and electronic submission of 248
registration, certification of exemption from registration and financial 249 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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disclosure statements required by chapters 155 to 157, inclusive, and (2) 250
prescribe the standard reporting format and specifications for any 251
software program created by a vendor for such purpose. No software 252
program created by a vendor may be used for the electronic submission 253
of such financial disclosure statements unless the commission 254
determines that the software program provides for the standard 255
reporting format and complies with the specifications prescribed under 256
subdivision (2) of this subsection for any such software program. The 257
commission shall provide training in the use of the web-based program 258
created by the commission. 259
(b) [On and after July 1, 2017, the] The following shall file all financial 260
disclosure statements required by chapters 155 to 157, inclusive, by 261
electronic submission pursuant to subsection (a) of this section: (1) The 262
treasurer of the candidate committee or exploratory committee for each 263
candidate for nomination or election to [the office of Governor, 264
Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, State 265
Treasurer, Secretary of the State, state senator, state representative or 266
judge of probate] public office or the position of town committee 267
member that raises or spends one thousand dollars or more, (2) the 268
treasurer of any state central committee, legislative caucus committee or 269
legislative leadership committee, (3) the treasurer of any other political 270
committee or town committee [required to be registered with the 271
commission] that (A) raises or spends one thousand dollars or more 272
during the current calendar year, or (B) raised or spent one thousand 273
dollars or more in the preceding regular election cycle, and (4) the 274
treasurer of any committee, or any other person, who makes or obligates 275
to make any independent expenditure and who is required to file a 276
financial disclosure statement of any such independent expenditure 277
[with the State Elections Enforcement Commission] in accordance with 278
the provisions of section 9-601d. Once any such candidate committee or 279
exploratory committee has raised or spent one thousand dollars or more 280
during an election campaign, all previously filed statements required by 281
chapters 155 to 157, inclusive, which were not filed by electronic 282
submission shall be refiled in such manner not later than the date on 283 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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which the treasurer of such committee is required to file its next 284
financial disclosure statement. 285
(c) (1) The treasurer of the candidate committee for any other 286
candidate, as defined in section 9-601, that neither raises nor spends one 287
thousand dollars or more who is required to file the financial disclosure 288
statements required by chapters 155 to 157, inclusive, [with the 289
commission,] and (2) the treasurer of any other political committee or 290
town committee that neither raises nor spends one thousand dollars or 291
more who is required to file the financial disclosure statements required 292
by chapters 155 to 157, inclusive, [with the State Elections Enforcement 293
Commission] may file any such financial disclosure statements by 294
electronic submission pursuant to subsection (a) of this section. 295
(d) All registration and certification of exemption from registration 296
statements required of candidates by chapters 155 to 157, inclusive, shall 297
be filed by electronic submission pursuant to subdivision (1) of 298
subsection (a) of this section. Any amendment to any such statement 299
shall be filed by electronic submission not later than ten days after the 300
addition or change specified by such amendment, or within the time 301
period otherwise required by chapters 155 to 157, inclusive. 302
[(d)] (e) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, upon the 303
written request of a treasurer or any other person described in 304
subdivisions (1) to (4), inclusive, of subsection (b) of this section, or a 305
candidate in subsection (d) of this section, the commission may waive 306
the requirement to file by electronic submission pursuant to subsection 307
(a) of this section if such treasurer, [or] other person or candidate 308
demonstrates good cause. 309
Sec. 8. Subsections (b) and (c) of section 9-602 of the general statutes 310
are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective 311
January 1, 2029): 312
(b) No contribution in aid of or in opposition to the candidacy of any 313
person or to any party or referendum question shall be made at any 314
time, except to the committee's treasurer whose designation is on file 315 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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with the [proper authority] State Elections Enforcement Commission, a 316
solicitor or a candidate who is exempt from the requirement to form a 317
candidate committee and has filed a certification. 318
(c) An individual who is designated as treasurer of a committee shall 319
be responsible for all duties required of him under this chapter until the 320
committee is terminated. The treasurer shall be relieved of such duties 321
upon his permanent incapacity, resignation or replacement, provided a 322
statement to that effect is filed with the [proper authority] State Elections 323
Enforcement Commission, as provided in section 9-603, as amended by 324
this act. In the event of the death of the treasurer or after a statement has 325
been filed concerning the treasurer's incapacity, resignation or 326
replacement, if a deputy treasurer has been designated, the deputy 327
treasurer shall be responsible for all duties required of the treasurer 328
under this chapter until the candidate or chairman of the committee files 329
with the [proper authority] State Elections Enforcement Commission a 330
designation of a successor treasurer. If a deputy treasurer has not been 331
designated, the candidate or chairman shall designate a successor 332
treasurer and file such designation with the [proper authority] State 333
Elections Enforcement Commission not more than ten days after the 334
death of the treasurer or the filing of the statement of his incapacity, 335
resignation or replacement. 336
Sec. 9. Subsection (a) of section 9-605 of the general statutes is 337
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 338
1, 2029): 339
(a) The chairperson of each political committee shall designate a 340
treasurer and may designate a deputy treasurer. The treasurer and any 341
deputy treasurer so designated shall sign a statement accepting the 342
designation. The chairperson of each political committee shall file a 343
registration statement described in subsection (b) of this section along 344
with the statement signed by the designated treasurer and deputy 345
treasurer with the [proper authority] State Elections Enforcement 346
Commission, within ten days after its organization, provided that the 347
chairperson of any political committee organized within ten days prior 348 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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to any primary, election or referendum in connection with which it 349
intends to make any contributions or expenditures, shall immediately 350
file a registration statement. 351
Sec. 10. Subsection (c) of section 9-605 of the general statutes is 352
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 353
1, 2029): 354
(c) The treasurer of each political committee shall report any addition 355
to or change in information previously submitted in a statement of 356
organization to the [proper authority] State Elections Enforcement 357
Commission not later than ten days after the addition or change, 358
provided if an officer of the committee has changed, such amended 359
statement shall be filed by the chairperson of the committee. 360
Sec. 11. Subsection (m) of section 9-607 of the general statutes is 361
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 362
1, 2029): 363
(m) Any obligation or restriction imposed by this section and sections 364
9-608, as amended by this act, 9-610, as amended by this act, 9-611, 9-365
613, 9-615, 9-616, 9-618, 9-620, 9-621, 9-622 and 9-623, as amended by this 366
act, on a treasurer or a candidate committee shall be deemed to be 367
imposed on any candidate who is exempt from forming a candidate 368
committee and has filed a certification pursuant to subsection (b) of 369
section 9-604, as amended by this act, with the [proper authority] State 370
Elections Enforcement Commission. 371
Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 9-608 of the general statutes is 372
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 373
1, 2029): 374
(a) (1) Each treasurer of a committee, other than a state central 375
committee, shall file a statement, sworn under penalty of false statement 376
with the [proper authority] State Elections Enforcement Commission in 377
accordance with the provisions of section 9-603, as amended by this act, 378
(A) on the tenth calendar day in the months of January, April, July and 379 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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October, provided, if such tenth calendar day is a Saturday, Sunday or 380
legal holiday, the statement shall be filed on the next business day, 381
except that in the case of a candidate or exploratory committee 382
established for an office to be elected at a special election, statements 383
pursuant to this subparagraph shall not be required, (B) on the seventh 384
day preceding each regular state election, except that (i) in the case of a 385
candidate or exploratory committee established for an office to be 386
elected at a municipal election, the statement shall be filed on the 387
seventh day preceding a regular municipal election in lieu of such date, 388
except if the candidate's name is not eligible to appear on the ballot, in 389
which case such statement shall not be required, (ii) in the case of a town 390
committee, the statement shall be filed on the seventh day preceding 391
each municipal election in addition to such date, (iii) in the case of a 392
candidate committee in a state election that is required to file any 393
supplemental campaign finance statements pursuant to subdivisions (1) 394
and (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-712, such supplemental campaign 395
finance statements shall satisfy the filing requirement under this 396
subdivision, and (iv) in the case of a candidate committee established by 397
a candidate whose name is not eligible to appear on the ballot, such 398
statement shall not be required, and (C) if the committee has made or 399
received a contribution or expenditure in connection with any other 400
election, a primary or a referendum, on the seventh day preceding the 401
election, primary or referendum, except that in the case of a candidate 402
committee in a primary that is required to file statements pursuant to 403
subdivisions (1) and (2) of subsection (a) of section 9-712, such 404
statements shall satisfy the filing requirement under this subdivision. 405
The statement shall be complete as of eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. of 406
the last day of the month preceding the month in which the statement is 407
required to be filed, except that for the statement required to be filed on 408
the seventh day preceding the election, primary or referendum, the 409
statement shall be complete as of eleven fifty-nine o'clock p.m. of the 410
second day immediately preceding the required filing day. The 411
statement shall cover a period to begin with the first day not included 412
in the last filed statement. In the case of a candidate committee, the 413
statement required to be filed in January shall be in lieu of the statement 414 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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formerly required to be filed within forty-five days following an 415
election. 416
(2) Each treasurer of a candidate committee established by a 417
candidate in a primary, not later than thirty days after such primary, 418
and each treasurer of a political committee formed for a single primary, 419
election or referendum, not later than forty-five days after any election 420
or referendum not held in November, shall file statements in the same 421
manner as is required of them under subdivision (1) of this subsection. 422
A candidate committee established by a candidate who is unsuccessful 423
in the primary shall not be required to file any statements required 424
under subdivision (1) of this subsection following the primary unless 425
the candidate is eligible to appear on the general election ballot. If the 426
treasurer of a candidate committee established by a candidate, who is 427
unsuccessful in the primary or has terminated his candidacy prior to the 428
primary, distributes all surplus funds within thirty days following the 429
scheduled primary and discloses the distribution on the postprimary 430
statement, such treasurer shall not be required to file any subsequent 431
statement unless the committee has a deficit, in which case he shall file 432
any required statements in accordance with the provisions of 433
subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of this section. 434
(3) In the case of state central committees, (A) on the tenth calendar 435
day in the months of January, April and July, provided, if such tenth 436
calendar day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, on the next business 437
day, (B) on the twelfth day preceding any regular election, and (C) if the 438
committee has made or received a contribution or expenditure in 439
connection with any other election, or any primary or referendum, on 440
the twelfth day preceding the election, primary or referendum, the 441
treasurer of each such committee shall file with the [proper authority] 442
State Elections Enforcement Commission, a statement, sworn under 443
penalty of false statement, complete as of the last day of the month 444
immediately preceding the month in which such statement is to be filed 445
in the case of statements required to be filed in January, April and July, 446
and complete as of the nineteenth day preceding an election, primary or 447
referendum in the case of the statement required to be filed on the 448 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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twelfth day preceding an election, primary or referendum, and in each 449
case covering a period to begin with the first day not included in the last 450
filed statement. 451
Sec. 13. Subdivisions (3) and (4) of subsection (e) of section 9-608 of 452
the general statutes are repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 453
thereof (Effective January 1, 2029): 454
(3) Not later than seven days after such distribution or not later than 455
seven days after all funds have been expended in accordance with 456
subparagraph (D) of subdivision (1) of this subsection, the treasurer 457
shall file a supplemental statement, sworn under penalty of false 458
statement, with the [proper authority] State Elections Enforcement 459
Commission, identifying all further contributions received since the 460
previous statement and explaining how any surplus has been 461
distributed or expended in accordance with this section. No surplus 462
may be distributed or expended until after the election, primary or 463
referendum. 464
(4) In the event of a deficit, the treasurer shall file a supplemental 465
statement ninety days after an election, primary or referendum not held 466
in November or on the seventh calendar day in February, or the next 467
business day if such day is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, after an 468
election or referendum held in November, with the [proper authority] 469
State Elections Enforcement Commission and, thereafter, on the seventh 470
day of each month following if on the last day of the previous month 471
there was an increase or decrease in the deficit in excess of five hundred 472
dollars from that reported on the last statement filed. The treasurer shall 473
file such supplemental statements as required until the deficit is 474
eliminated. If any such committee does not have a surplus or a deficit, 475
the statement required to be filed not later than forty-five days following 476
any election or referendum not held in November or on the seventh 477
calendar day in January, or the next business day if such day is a 478
Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, following an election or referendum 479
held in November, or not later than thirty days following any primary 480
shall be the last required statement. 481 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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Sec. 14. Subsection (f) of section 9-608 of the general statutes is 482
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 483
1, 2029): 484
(f) If an exploratory committee has been established by a candidate 485
pursuant to subsection (c) of section 9-604, as amended by this act, the 486
treasurer of the committee shall file a notice of intent to dissolve it with 487
the [appropriate authority] State Elections Enforcement Commission 488
not later than fifteen days after the candidate's declaration of intent to 489
seek nomination or election to a particular public office, except that in 490
the case of an exploratory committee established by a candidate for 491
purposes that include aiding or promoting the candidate's candidacy for 492
nomination or election to the General Assembly or a state office, the 493
treasurer of the committee shall file such notice of intent to dissolve the 494
committee not later than fifteen days after the earlier of: (1) The 495
candidate's declaration of intent to seek nomination or election to a 496
particular public office, (2) the candidate's endorsement at a convention, 497
caucus or town committee meeting, or (3) the candidate's filing of a 498
candidacy for nomination under section 9-400 or 9-405. The treasurer 499
shall also file a statement identifying all contributions received or 500
expenditures made by the exploratory committee since the previous 501
statement and the balance on hand or deficit, as the case may be. In the 502
event of a surplus, the treasurer shall, not later than the filing of the 503
statement, distribute the surplus to the candidate committee established 504
pursuant to said section, except that (A) in the case of a surplus of an 505
exploratory committee established by a candidate who intends to be a 506
participating candidate, as defined in section 9-703, as amended by this 507
act, in the Citizens' Election Program, the treasurer may distribute to the 508
candidate committee only that portion of such surplus that is 509
attributable to contributions that meet the criteria for qualifying 510
contributions for the candidate committee under section 9-704 and shall 511
distribute the remainder of such surplus to the Citizens' Election Fund 512
established in section 9-701, and (B) in the case of a surplus of an 513
exploratory committee established for nomination or election to an 514
office other than the General Assembly or a state office (i) the treasurer 515 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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may only distribute to the candidate committee for nomination or 516
election to the General Assembly or state office of such candidate that 517
portion of such surplus which is in excess of the total contributions 518
which the exploratory committee received from lobbyists or political 519
committees established by lobbyists, during any period in which the 520
prohibitions in subsection (e) of section 9-610 apply, and (ii) any 521
remaining amount shall be returned to all such lobbyists and political 522
committees established by or on behalf of lobbyists, on a prorated basis 523
of contribution, or distributed to any charitable organization which is a 524
tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue 525
Code of 1986, or any subsequent corresponding internal revenue code 526
of the United States, as from time to time amended. If the candidate 527
decides not to seek nomination or election to any office, the treasurer 528
shall, within fifteen days after such decision, comply with the provisions 529
of this subsection and distribute any surplus in the manner provided by 530
this section for political committees other than those formed for ongoing 531
political activities, except that if the surplus is from an exploratory 532
committee established by the State Treasurer, any portion of the surplus 533
that is received from a principal of an investment services firm or a 534
political committee established by such firm shall be returned to such 535
principal or committee on a prorated basis of contribution. In the event 536
of a deficit, the treasurer shall file a statement thirty days after the 537
decision or declaration with the [proper authority] State Elections 538
Enforcement Commission and, thereafter, on the seventh day of each 539
month following if on the last day of the previous month there was an 540
increase or decrease in such deficit in excess of five hundred dollars 541
from that reported on the last statement filed. The treasurer shall file 542
supplemental statements until the deficit is eliminated. If the 543
exploratory committee does not have a surplus or deficit, the statement 544
filed after the candidate's declaration or decision shall be the last 545
required statement. If a candidate certifies on the statement of 546
organization for the exploratory committee pursuant to subsection (c) of 547
section 9-604, as amended by this act, that the candidate will not be a 548
candidate for the office of state representative and subsequently 549
establishes a candidate committee for the office of state representative, 550 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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the treasurer of the candidate committee shall pay to the State Treasurer, 551
for deposit in the General Fund, an amount equal to the portion of any 552
contribution received by said exploratory committee that exceeded two 553
hundred fifty dollars. As used in this subsection, "principal of an 554
investment services firm" has the meaning set forth in subsection (e) of 555
section 9-612 and "state office" has the same meaning set forth in 556
subsection (e) of section 9-610. 557
Sec. 15. Subsection (a) of section 9-609 of the general statutes is 558
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 559
1, 2029): 560
(a) The chairman of each party committee shall designate a treasurer 561
and may designate a deputy treasurer, or in the case of a state central 562
committee, not more than two deputy treasurers. The treasurer and any 563
deputy treasurers so designated shall sign a statement accepting the 564
designation, which shall be filed with the [proper authority] State 565
Elections Enforcement Commission with the statement of designation 566
required under subdivision (1) of subsection (a) of section 9-602. No 567
state central committee or town committee shall establish a committee 568
other than a single party committee for purposes of this chapter. A party 569
committee or a political committee organized for ongoing political 570
activities shall form no other political committees, except that two or 571
more such committees may join to form a political committee for the 572
purpose of a single fund-raising event. 573
Sec. 16. Subsection (a) of section 9-703 of the general statutes is 574
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 575
1, 2029): 576
(a) Each candidate for nomination or election to the office of state 577
senator or state representative in 2008, or thereafter, or the office of 578
Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, State Comptroller, 579
Secretary of the State or State Treasurer in 2010, or thereafter, shall file 580
an affidavit with the State Elections Enforcement Commission. The 581
affidavit shall include a written certification that the candidate either 582 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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intends to abide by the expenditure limits under the Citizens' Election 583
Program set forth in subsection (c) of section 9-702, or does not intend 584
to abide by said limits. If the candidate intends to abide by said limits, 585
the affidavit shall also include written certifications (1) that the treasurer 586
of the candidate committee for said candidate shall expend any moneys 587
received from the Citizens' Election Fund in accordance with the 588
provisions of subsection (g) of section 9-607 and regulations adopted by 589
the State Elections Enforcement Commission under subsection (e) of 590
section 9-706, (2) that the candidate shall repay to the fund any such 591
moneys that are not expended in accordance with subsection (g) of 592
section 9-607 and said regulations, (3) that the candidate and the 593
treasurer shall comply with the provisions of subdivision (1) of 594
subsection (a) of section 9-711, and (4) stating the candidate's status as a 595
major party, minor party or petitioning party candidate and, in the case 596
of a major party or minor party candidate, the name of such party. The 597
written certification described in subdivision (3) of this subsection shall 598
be made by both the candidate and the treasurer of the candidate 599
committee for said candidate. A candidate for nomination or election to 600
any such office shall file such affidavit not later than four o'clock p.m. 601
on the twenty-fifth day before the day of a primary, if applicable, or on 602
the fortieth day before the day of the election for such office, except that 603
in the case of a special election for the office of state senator or state 604
representative, the candidate shall file such affidavit not later than four 605
o'clock p.m. on the twenty-fifth day before the day of such special 606
election. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection, a candidate 607
who is not required to form a candidate committee pursuant to 608
subdivision (3) or (4) of subsection (b) of section 9-604, as amended by 609
this act, files a certification with the commission pursuant to subsection 610
[(c)] (b) of section 9-603, as amended by this act, and does not intend to 611
participate in the Citizens' Election Program shall not be required to file 612
such affidavit of intent not to abide by the expenditure limits of said 613
program. Any such candidate shall be referred to as a nonparticipating 614
candidate, in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. 615
Sec. 17. Subsection (b) of section 9-709 of the general statutes is 616 Substitute Bill No. 1409
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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective January 617
1, 2029): 618
(b) If a candidate for nomination or election to the office of Lieutenant 619
Governor is campaigning jointly with a candidate for nomination or 620
election to the office of Governor, the candidate committee and any 621
exploratory committee for the candidate for the office of Lieutenant 622
Governor shall be dissolved as of the applicable date set forth in 623
subsection (a) of this section. Not later than fifteen days after said date, 624
the treasurer of the candidate committee formed to aid or promote the 625
success of said candidate for nomination or election to the office of 626
Lieutenant Governor shall file a statement with the [proper authority] 627
State Elections Enforcement Commission under section 9-603, as 628
amended by this act, identifying all contributions received or 629
expenditures made by the committee since the previous statement and 630
the balance on hand or deficit, as the case may be. Not later than thirty 631
days after the applicable date set forth in subsection (a) of this section, 632
(1) the treasurer of a qualified candidate committee formed to aid or 633
promote the success of said candidate for nomination or election to the 634
office of Lieutenant Governor shall distribute any surplus to the fund, 635
and (2) the treasurer of a nonqualified candidate committee formed to 636
aid or promote the success of said candidate for nomination or election 637
to the office of Lieutenant Governor shall distribute such surplus in 638
accordance with the provisions of subsection (e) of section 9-608, as 639
amended by this act. 640
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 January 1, 2029 9-603
Sec. 2 January 1, 2029 9-604
Sec. 3 January 1, 2029 9-608(d)
Sec. 4 January 1, 2029 9-610(f)(2)
Sec. 5 January 1, 2029 9-623(b)
Sec. 6 January 1, 2029 9-624
Sec. 7 January 1, 2029 9-675
Sec. 8 January 1, 2029 9-602(b) and (c) Substitute Bill No. 1409
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Sec. 9 January 1, 2029 9-605(a)
Sec. 10 January 1, 2029 9-605(c)
Sec. 11 January 1, 2029 9-607(m)
Sec. 12 January 1, 2029 9-608(a)
Sec. 13 January 1, 2029 9-608(e)(3) and (4)
Sec. 14 January 1, 2029 9-608(f)
Sec. 15 January 1, 2029 9-609(a)
Sec. 16 January 1, 2029 9-703(a)
Sec. 17 January 1, 2029 9-709(b)
Statement of Legislative Commissioners:
In Section 1(a), "covered persons" was changed to "persons covered
under said chapters" for clarity; in Section 7(d), "of candidates" was
added in the first sentence for clarity; and in Section 7(e), "a candidate"
and "or candidate" were added for clarity.
GOS Joint Favorable Subst. -LCO