DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of
the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of
the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Tim Burns HB No. 1079
Abstract: Requires the report of each campaign expenditure to include a detailed explanation of
the purpose of each expenditure containing sufficient information to relate the
expenditure to an acceptable use.
Present law (Campaign Finance Disclosure Law) requires political committees, candidates, and
other persons to file reports disclosing contributions, expenditures, receipts, disbursements, and
other specified information. Present law (R.S. 18:1505.2(I)) permits a candidate or a political
committee to expend campaign contributions for any lawful purpose, but prohibits the use, loan,
or pledging of such funds by any person for personal use unrelated to a political campaign, the
holding of a public office or party position, or, in the case of a political committee other than a
candidate's principal campaign committee or subsidiary committee, the administrative costs or
operating expenses of the political committee. Provides that excess campaign funds may be
returned to contributors on a pro rata basis; given as a charitable contribution as provided in
federal law (26 U.S.C. 170(c)); given to a charitable organization as defined in federal law (26
U.S.C. 501(c)(3)); expended in support of or in opposition to a proposition, political party, or
candidacy of any person; or maintained in a segregated fund for use in future political campaigns
or activity related to preparing for future candidacy to elective office. Present law prohibits
campaign funds from being used to pay a fine, fee, or penalty imposed pursuant to the Code of
Governmental Ethics and prohibits a candidate from using campaign funds to make any payment
or expenditure to an immediate family member, with specified exceptions. Present law does not
apply to campaign funds received prior to July 15, 1988.
Present law (R.S. 18:1491.7(B)(13) and 1495.5(B)(12)) relative to the disclosure of expenditures,
requires that the amount, purpose, and date of each such expenditure be reported and requires
that political committees include the name and address of and office sought by candidates on
whose behalf each such expenditure was made.
Proposed law further requires that a detailed explanation of the purpose of each expenditure,
containing sufficient information to relate the expenditure to an acceptable use as provided in
present law (R.S. 18:1505.2(I)), be reported.
Effective Jan. 1, 2015.
(Amends R.S. 18:1491.7(B)(13) and 1495.5(B)(12))