Georgia 2023-2024 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SB276 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1	23 LC 28 0578
2	2	S. B. 276
3	3	- 1 -
4	4	Senate Bill 276
5	5	By: Senators Esteves of the 6
6	6	th
7	7	, McLaurin of the 14
8	8	th
9	9	, Islam of the 7
10	10	th
11	11	, Jackson of the 41
12	12	st
13	13	,
14	14	Merritt of the 9
15	15	th
16	16	and others
17	17	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
18	18	AN ACT
19	19	To amend Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated,
20	20	1
21	21	relating to campaign contributions, so as to abolish leadership committees; to provide for the2
22	22	distribution of funds from existing committees; to provide for certain reports; to provide for3
23	23	related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws;4
24	24	and for other purposes.5
25	25	BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:6
26	26	SECTION 1.7
27	27	Article 2 of Chapter 5 of Title 21 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to8
28	28	campaign contributions, is amended by revising Code Section 21-5-34.2, relating to9
29	29	leadership committee defined, operation, and separate from campaign committees, as10
30	30	follows:11
31	31	"21-5-34.2.12
32	32	(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'leadership committee' means a committee,13
33	33	corporation, or organization chaired by the Governor, the Lieutenant Governor, the14
34	34	nominee of a political party for Governor selected in a primary election in the year in15
35	35	which he or she is nominated, or the nominee of a political party for Lieutenant Governor16
36	36	selected in a primary election in the year in which he or she is nominated. Such term shall17 23 LC 28 0578
37	37	S. B. 276
38	38	- 2 -
39	39	also mean up to two political action committees designated by the majority caucus of the
40	40	18
41	41	House of Representatives, the minority caucus of the House of Representatives, the19
42	42	majority caucus of the Senate, and the minority caucus of the Senate. No person may chair
43	43	20
44	44	more than one leadership committee.21
45	45	(b) A Each leadership committee may receive contributions from persons who are22
46	46	members or supporters of the leadership committee and expend such funds as permitted by23
47	47	this Code section existing on July 1, 2023, shall be abolished except for the purpose of24
48	48	filing the reports required by this Code section. Not later than June 30, 2023, all funds held25
49	49	by such leadership committee shall be distributed by the committee to:26
50	50	(1) Any charitable organization described in 26 U.S.C. 1709(c) as such federal statute27
51	51	existed on March 1, 1986, which shall additionally include educational, eleemosynary,28
52	52	and nonprofit organizations, subject to the limitations provided in paragraph (2) of29
53	53	subsection (b) of Code Section 21-5-33;30
54	54	(2) Any national, state, or local committee of any political party; or31
55	55	(3) Any person who contributed to such leadership committee, not to exceed the total32
56	56	cumulative amount contributed by each such transferee.33
57	57	(c) If a person chairing a leadership committee ceases to hold the office or the status as a34
58	58	nominee of a political party as described in subsection (a) of this Code section, such person35
59	59	shall transfer the remaining assets of the leadership committee, if any, to another leadership36
60	60	committee within 60 days, name an eligible person as the new chairperson of the leadership37
61	61	committee within 60 days, or dispose of the leadership committee's assets as provided by38
62	62	Code Section 21-5-33.39
63	63	(d) A leadership committee may accept contributions or make expenditures for the purpose40
64	64	of affecting the outcome of any election or advocating for the election or defeat of any41
65	65	candidate, may defray ordinary and necessary expenses incurred in connection with any42
66	66	candidate's campaign for elective office, and may defray ordinary and necessary expenses43
67	67	incurred in connection with a public officer's fulfillment or retention of such office.44 23 LC 28 0578
68	68	S. B. 276
69	69	- 3 -
70	70	(e)(c) A Any leadership committee which accepts contributions or makes expenditures in45
71	71	excess of $500.00 shall register with the commission within ten days of such accepted46
72	72	contribution or such expenditure and, thereafter, shall file disclosure reports pursuant to the47
73	73	schedule defined for candidates and campaign committees in subsection (c) of Code48
74	74	Section 21-5-34. Such disclosure reports shall be made pursuant to subsection (b) of Code49
75	75	Section 21-5-34. The contribution limits in Code Section 21-5-41 shall not apply to50
76	76	contributions to a leadership committee or expenditures made by a leadership committee51
77	77	in support of a candidate or a group of named candidates. All communications paid for by52
78	78	expenditures of the leadership committee shall contain a disclaimer, either audibly or in53
79	79	writing, that the communication is paid for by the leadership committee, unless such54
80	80	disclaimer is impractical.55
81	81	(f) A leadership committee shall be a separate legal entity from a candidate's campaign56
82	82	committee and shall not be considered an independent committee."57
83	83	SECTION 2.58
84	84	This Act shall become effective upon its approval by the Governor or upon its becoming law59
85	85	without such approval. It is the intent of the General Assembly that this Act shall not affect60
86	86	the prosecution, whether criminal or administrative, of any conduct under the previous law61
87	87	while such law was effective and shall not abate any prosecutions or administrative62
88	88	proceedings thereunder.63
89	89	SECTION 3.64
90	90	All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.65