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Introduced Version House Bill 4527 History

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Key: Green = existing Code. Red = new code to be enacted

FISCAL NOTEWEST virginia Legislature

2016 regular session

Introduced

House Bill 4527

By Delegates Manchin, Skinner, Caputo, Longstreth, Fluharty and Lynch

[Introduced February 12, 2016; referred to the committee on the Judiciary then Finance.]

A BILL to amend and reenact §3-8-1a, §3-8-2, §3-8-5, §3-8-5a, §3-8-5b, §3-8-7, §3-8-8, §3-8-9 and §3-8-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to further amend said code by adding thereto two new sections, designated §3-8-5c and §3-8-8a, all relating generally to the regulation and control of elections; modifying and adding definitions; modifying what committees qualify for a federal reporting exemption; modifying reporting requirements for independent expenditures; clarifying scope of reporting obligations by committee treasurers; requiring certain contributions be reported to State Election Commission within forty-eight hours of their receipt; requiring financial statements for candidates for State Senate, House of Delegates, circuit judge and family court judge to be filed electronically with the Secretary of State; permitting certain financial statements to be filed by mail, in person or by facsimile or other electronic means; establishing a processing fee for financial statements not filed electronically; requiring Secretary of State to maintain an online searchable database; setting contribution limits to state party executive committee, or subsidiary thereof, or state party legislative caucus committee; prohibiting contributions by foreign nationals; directing Secretary of State to publish an online list of late filing violators; prohibiting contributions to candidates or candidate committees by corporations or membership organizations; clarifying and modifying disclosure requirements for covered organizations; identifying additional lawful election expenses; identifying additional lawful expenditures for excess campaign funds; creating criminal offenses and setting penalties; and setting requirements for disclosures on certain communications.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:


That §3-8-1a, §3-8-2, §3-8-5, §3-8-5a, §3-8-5b, §3-8-7, §3-8-8, §3-8-9 and §3-8-12 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto two new sections, designated §3-8-5c and §3-8-8a, all to read as follows:

ARTICLE 8. REGULATION AND CONTROL OF ELECTIONS.


§3-8-1a. Definitions.

As used in this article, the following terms have the following definitions:

(1) ABallot issue@ means a Constitutional amendment, special levy, bond issue, local option referendum, municipal charter or revision, an increase or decrease of corporate limits or any other question that is placed before the voters for a binding decision.

(2) ABillboard Advertisement@ means a commercially available outdoor advertisement, sign or similar display regularly available for lease or rental to advertise a person, place or product.

(3) ABroadcast, cable or satellite communication@ means a communication that is publicly distributed by a television station, radio station, cable television system or satellite system.

(4) ACandidate@ means an individual who:

(A) Has filed a certificate of announcement under section seven, article five of this chapter or a municipal charter;

(B) Has filed a declaration of candidacy under section twenty-three, article five of this chapter;

(C) Has been named to fill a vacancy on a ballot; or

(D) Has declared a write-in candidacy or otherwise publicly declared his or her intention to seek nomination or election for any state, district, county or municipal office or party office to be filled at any primary, general or special election.

(5) ACandidate=s committee@ or “candidate committee” means a political committee established with the approval of or in cooperation with a candidate or a prospective candidate to explore the possibilities of seeking a particular office or to support or aid his or her nomination or election to an office in an election cycle. If a candidate directs or influences the activities of more than one active committee in a current campaign, those committees shall be considered one committee for the purpose of contribution limits.

(6) AClearly identified@ means that the name, nickname, photograph, drawing or other depiction of the candidate appears or the identity of the candidate is otherwise apparent through an unambiguous reference, such as Athe Governor@, Ayour Senator@ or Athe incumbent@ or through an unambiguous reference to his or her status as a candidate, such as Athe Democratic candidate for Governor@ or Athe Republican candidate for Supreme Court of Appeals House of Delegates”.

(7) AContribution@ means a gift, subscription, loan, assessment, payment for services, dues, advance, donation, pledge, contract, agreement, forbearance or promise of money or other tangible thing of value, whether conditional or legally enforceable, or a transfer of money or other tangible thing of value to a person, made for the purpose of influencing the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate. An offer or tender of a contribution is not a contribution if expressly and unconditionally rejected or returned. A contribution does not include volunteer personal services provided without compensation: Provided, That a nonmonetary contribution is to be considered at fair market value for reporting requirements and contribution limitations.

(8) ACorporate political action committee@ means a political action committee that is a separate segregated fund of a corporation that may only accept contributions from its restricted group as outlined by the rules of the State Election Commission.

(9) ADirect costs of purchasing, producing or disseminating electioneering communications@ means:

(A) Costs charged by a vendor, including, but not limited to, studio rental time, compensation of staff and employees, costs of video or audio recording media and talent, material and printing costs and postage; or

(B) The cost of air time on broadcast, cable or satellite radio and television stations, the costs of disseminating printed materials, studio time, use of facilities and the charges for a broker to purchase air time.

(10) ADisclosure date@ means either of the following:

(A) The first date during any calendar year on which any electioneering communication is disseminated after the person paying for the communication has spent a total of $5,000 or more for the direct costs of purchasing, producing or disseminating electioneering communications; or

(B) Any other date during that calendar year after any previous disclosure date on which the person has made additional expenditures totaling $5,000 or more for the direct costs of purchasing, producing or disseminating electioneering communications.

(11) AElection@ means any primary, general or special election conducted under the provisions of this code or under the charter of any municipality at which the voters nominate or elect candidates for public office. For purposes of this article, each primary, general, special or local election constitutes a separate election. This definition is not intended to modify or abrogate the definition of the term Anomination@ as used in this article.

(12) (A) AElectioneering communication@ means any paid communication made by broadcast, cable or satellite signal, mass mailing, telephone bank, billboard advertisement or published in any newspaper, magazine or other periodical that:

(i) Refers to a clearly identified candidate for Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Auditor, Commissioner of Agriculture, Supreme Court of Appeals or the Legislature;

(ii) Is publicly disseminated within;

(I) Thirty days before a primary election at which the nomination for office sought by the candidate is to be determined;

(II) Sixty days before a general or special election at which the office sought by the candidate is to be filled.

(iii) Is targeted to the relevant electorate. Provided, That for purposes of the general election of 2008 the amendments to this article are effective October 1, 2008.

(B) AElectioneering communication@ does not include:

(i) A news story, commentary or editorial disseminated through the facilities of any broadcast, cable or satellite television or radio station, newspaper, magazine or other periodical publication not owned or controlled by a political party, political committee or candidate: Provided, That a news story disseminated through a medium owned or controlled by a political party, political committee or candidate is nevertheless exempt if the news is:

(I) A bona fide news account communicated in a publication of general circulation or through a licensed broadcasting facility; and

(II) Is part of a general pattern of campaign-related news that gives reasonably equal coverage to all opposing candidates in the circulation, viewing or listening area;

(ii) Activity by a candidate committee, party executive committee or caucus committee, or a political action committee that is required to be reported to the State Election Commission or the Secretary of State as an expenditure pursuant to section five of this article or the rules of the State Election Commission or the Secretary of State promulgated pursuant to such provision: Provided, That independent expenditures by a party executive committee or caucus committee or a political action committee required to be reported pursuant to subsection (b), section two of this article are not exempt from the reporting requirements of this section;

(iii) A candidate debate or forum conducted pursuant to rules adopted by the State Election Commission or the Secretary of State or a communication promoting that debate or forum made by or on behalf of its sponsor;

(iv) A communication paid for by any organization operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

(v) A communication made while the Legislature is in session which, incidental to promoting or opposing a specific piece of legislation pending before the Legislature, urges the audience to communicate with a member or members of the Legislature concerning that piece of legislation;

(vi) A statement or depiction by a membership organization, in existence prior to the date on which the individual named or depicted became a candidate, made in a newsletter or other communication distributed only to bona fide members of that organization;

(vii) A communication made solely for the purpose of attracting public attention to a product or service offered for sale by a candidate or by a business owned or operated by a candidate which does not mention an election, the office sought by the candidate or his or her status as a candidate; or

(viii) A communication, such as a voter=s guide, which refers to all of the candidates for one or more offices, which contains no appearance of endorsement for or opposition to the nomination or election of any candidate and which is intended as nonpartisan public education focused on issues and voting history.

(13) AExpressly advocating@ means any communication that:

(A) Uses phrases such as Avote for the Governor@, Areelect your Senator@, Asupport the Democratic nominee incumbent candidate for Supreme Court@, Acast your ballot for the Republican challenger for House of Delegates@, ASmith for House@, ABob Smith in >04@, Avote Prolife@ or Avote Prochoice@ accompanied by a listing of clearly identified candidates described as Prolife or Prochoice, Avote against Old Hickory@, Adefeat@ accompanied by a picture of one or more candidates, Areject the incumbent@;

(B) Communications of campaign slogans or individual words, that can have no other reasonable meaning than to urge the election or defeat of one or more clearly identified candidates, such as posters, bumper stickers, advertisements, etc., which say ASmith=s the One@, AJones >06@, ABaker@, etc; or

(C) Is susceptible of no reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote for or against a specific candidate.

(14) AFinancial agent@ means any individual acting for and by himself or herself, or any two or more individuals acting together or cooperating in a financial way to aid or take part in the nomination or election of any candidate for public office, or to aid or promote the success or defeat of any political party at any election.

(15) AFund-raising event@ means an event such as a dinner, reception, testimonial, cocktail party, auction or similar affair through which contributions are solicited or received by such means as the purchase of a ticket, payment of an attendance fee or by the purchase of goods or services.

(16) AIndependent expenditure@ means an expenditure by a person:

(A) Expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate; and

(B) That is not made in concert or cooperation with or at the request or suggestion of such candidate, his or her agents, the candidate=s authorized political committee or a political party committee or its agents.

Supporting or opposing the election of a clearly identified candidate includes supporting or opposing the candidates of a political party. An expenditure which does not meet the criteria for an independent expenditure is considered a contribution.

(17) AMass mailing@ means a mailing by United States mail, facsimile or electronic mail of more than five hundred pieces of mail matter of an identical or substantially similar nature within any thirty-day period. For purposes of this subdivision, Asubstantially similar@ includes communications that contain substantially the same template or language, but vary in nonmaterial respects such as communications customized by the recipient's name, occupation or geographic location.

(18) AMembership organization@ means a group that grants bona fide rights and privileges, such as the right to vote, to elect officers or directors and the ability to hold office, to its members and which uses a majority of its membership dues for purposes other than political purposes. AMembership organization@ does not include organizations that grant membership upon receiving a contribution.

(19) “Membership organization political action committee” means a political action committee that is a separate segregated fund of a membership organization that may only accept contributions from its restricted group as outlined by the rules of the State Election Commission.

(19) (20)  AName@ means the full first name, middle name or initial, if any, and full legal last name of an individual and the full name of any association, corporation, committee or other organization of individuals, making the identity of any person who makes a contribution apparent by unambiguous reference.

(20) (21) APerson@ means an individual, corporation, partnership, committee, association and any other organization or group of individuals.

(21) (22) APolitical action committee@ means a committee organized by one or more persons for the purpose of supporting or opposing the nomination or election of one or more candidates. The following are types of political action committees:

(A) A corporate political action committee, as that term is defined by subdivision (8) of this section;

(B) A membership organization political action committee, as that term is defined by subdivision (18) (19) of this section;

(C) An unaffiliated political action committee, as that term is defined by subdivision (29) (30) of this section.

(22) (23) APolitical committee@ means any candidate committee, political action committee or political party committee, as defined in subdivisions (5), (22), (25) or (26) of this section.

(23) (24) APolitical party@ means a political party as that term is defined by section eight, article one of this chapter or any committee established, financed, maintained or controlled by the party, including any subsidiary, branch or local unit thereof and including national or regional affiliates of the party.

(25) “Political party caucus” means the committees that are established by the Republican and Democrat caucuses of both the West Virginia House of Delegates and the West Virginia State Senate, or by any other political party recognized by the State of West Virginia.

(24) (26) APolitical party committee@ means a committee established by a political party or political party caucus for the purposes of engaging in the influencing of the election, nomination or defeat of a candidate in any election.

(25) (27) APolitical purposes@ means supporting or opposing the nomination, election or defeat of one or more candidates or the passage or defeat of a ballot issue, supporting the retirement of the debt of a candidate or political committee or the administration or activities of an established political party or an organization which has declared itself a political party and determining the advisability of becoming a candidate under the precandidacy financing provisions of this chapter.

(26) (28) ATargeted to the relevant electorate@ means a communication which refers to a clearly identified candidate for statewide office or the Legislature and which can be received by one hundred forty thousand or more individuals in the state in the case of a candidacy for statewide office, eight thousand two hundred twenty or more individuals in the district in the case of a candidacy for the State Senate and two thousand four hundred ten or more individuals in the district in the case of a candidacy for the House of Delegates.

(27) (29) ATelephone bank@ means telephone calls that are targeted to the relevant electorate, other than telephone calls made by volunteer workers, regardless of whether paid professionals designed the telephone bank system, developed calling instructions or trained volunteers.

(28) ATwo-year election cycle@ means the twenty-four month period that begins the day after a general election and ends on the day of the subsequent general election.

(29) (30) AUnaffiliated political action committee@ means a political action committee that is not affiliated with a corporation or a membership organization.

§3-8-2. Accounts for receipts and expenditures in elections; requirements for reporting independent expenditures.


(a) Except for: (1) Candidates for party committeeman and committeewoman; and (2) federal committees required to file under the provisions of 2 U.S.C. §434; and (3) candidates for delegate to a national convention, all candidates for nomination or election and all persons supporting, aiding or opposing the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate shall keep for a period of six months records of receipts and expenditures which are made for political purposes: Provided, That any federal committee that makes state level independent expenditures or engages in state level electioneering communications is not exempt from the record keeping and reporting provisions of this article. All of the receipts and expenditures are subject to regulation by the provisions of this article. Verified financial statements of the records and expenditures shall be made and filed as public records by all candidates and by their financial agents, representatives or any person acting for and on behalf of any candidate and by the treasurers of all political party committees.

(b) (1) In addition to any other reporting required by the provisions of this chapter, any person who makes independent expenditures in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $1,000 during a calendar year shall file a disclosure statement, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, that contains all of the requirements set forth in section eight-a of this article. following information:

(A) The name of (i) the person making the expenditure; (ii) the name of any person sharing or exercising direction or control over the activities of the person making the expenditure; and (iii) the name of the custodian of the books and accounts of the person making the expenditure;

(B) If the person making the expenditure is not an individual, the principal place of business of the partnership, corporation, committee, association, organization or group which made the expenditure;

(C) The amount of each expenditure of more than $1,000 made during the period covered by the statement and the name of the person to whom the expenditure was made;

(D) The elections to which the independent expenditure pertain, the names, if known, of the candidates referred to or to be referred to therein, whether the expenditure is intended to support or oppose the identified candidates and the amount of the total expenditure reported pursuant to paragraph (C) of this subdivision spent to support or oppose each of the identified candidates;

(E) The name and address of any person who contributed a total of more than $250 between the first day of the preceding calendar year, and the disclosure date, and whose contributions were made for the purpose of furthering the expenditure.

(F) With regard to the contributors required to be listed pursuant to paragraph (E) of this subdivision, the statement shall also include:

(i) The month, day and year that the contributions of any single contributor exceeded $250;

(ii) If the contributor is a political action committee, the name and address the political action committee registered with the Secretary of State, county clerk or municipal clerk;

(iii) If the contributor is an individual, the name and address of the individual, his or her occupation, the name and address of the individual=s current employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, the name and address of the individual=s business, if any;

(iv) A description of the contribution, if other than money; and

(v) The value in dollars and cents of the contribution.

(G)(1) A certification that such independent expenditure was not made in cooperation, consultation, or concert, with, or at the request or suggestion of, any candidate or any authorized committee or agent of such candidate.

(2) Any person who makes a contribution for the purpose of funding an independent expenditure under this subsection shall, at the time the contribution is made, provide his or her name, address, occupation, his or her current employer, if any, or, if the individual is self-employed, the name of his or her business, if any, to the recipient of the contribution.

(3) The Secretary of State shall expeditiously prepare indices setting forth, on a candidate-by-candidate basis, all independent expenditures separately, made by, or on behalf of, or for, or against each candidate, as reported under this subsection, and for periodically publishing such indices on a timely preelection basis.

(c) (1) A person, including a political committee, who makes or contracts to make independent expenditures aggregating $1,000 or more for any statewide, legislative or multicounty judicial candidate or $500 or more for any county office, single-county judicial candidate, committee supporting or opposing a candidate on the ballot in more than one county, or any municipal candidate on a municipal election ballot, after the fifteenth day, but more than twelve hours, before the date of an election, shall file a report on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, describing the expenditures within twenty-four hours: Provided, That a person making expenditures in the amount of $1,000 or more for any statewide or legislative candidate on or after the fifteenth day but more than twelve hours before the day of any election shall report such expenditures in accordance with section two-b of this article and shall not file an additional report as provided herein.

(2) Any person who files a report under subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall file an additional report within twenty-four hours after each time the person makes or contracts to make independent expenditures aggregating an additional $500 with respect to the same election, for any county office, single-county judicial candidate, committee supporting or opposing a candidate on the ballot in more than one county, or any municipal candidate on a municipal election ballot, as that to which the initial report relates.

(d) (1) A person, including a political committee, who makes or contracts to make independent expenditures aggregating $10,000 or more at any time up to and including the fifteenth day before the date of an election shall file a report on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State, describing the expenditures within forty-eight hours.

(2) A person who files a report under subdivision (1) of this subsection, the person shall file an additional report within forty-eight hours after each time the person makes or contracts to make independent expenditures aggregating an additional $10,000 with respect to the same election as that to which the initial report relates.

(e) (c) Any communication paid for by an independent expenditure must include a clear and conspicuous public notice that:

(1) Clearly states that the communication is not authorized by the candidate or the candidate=s committee; and

(2) Clearly identifies the person making the expenditure: Provided, That if the communication appears on or is disseminated by broadcast, cable or satellite transmission, the statement required by this subsection must be both spoken clearly and appear in clearly readable writing at the end of the communication.

(f) (d) Any person who has spent a total of $5,000 or more for the direct costs of purchasing, producing or disseminating electioneering communications during any calendar year shall maintain all financial records and receipts related to such expenditure for a period of six months following the filing of a disclosure pursuant to subsection (a) of this section and, upon request, shall make such records and receipts available to the Secretary of State or county clerk for the purpose of an audit as provided in section seven of this article.

(g) (e) Any person who willfully fails to comply with this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $500, or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined.

(h) (f) (1) Any person who is required to file a statement under this section may file the statement by facsimile device or electronic mail, in accordance with such rules as the Secretary of State may promulgate.

(2) The Secretary of State shall make any document filed electronically pursuant to this subsection accessible to the public on the Internet not later than twenty-four hours after the document is received by the secretary.

(3) In promulgating a rule under this subsection, the secretary shall provide methods, other than requiring a signature on the document being filed, for verifying the documents covered by the rule. Any document verified under any of the methods shall be treated for all purposes, including penalties for perjury, in the same manner as a document verified by signature.

(i) (g) This section does not apply to candidates for federal office.

(j) (h) The Secretary of State may promulgate emergency and legislative rules, in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to establish guidelines for the administration of this section.

§3-8-5. Detailed accounts and verified financial statements required.


(a) Every candidate, treasurer, person and association of persons, organization of any kind, including every membership organization or corporation, directly, or by an independent expenditure, supporting a political committee established pursuant to paragraph (C), subdivision (1), subsection (b), section eight of this article or engaging in other activities permitted by this section and also including the treasurer or equivalent officer of the association or organization, expressly advocating the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate for state, district, county or municipal office, and the treasurer of every political committee shall keep detailed accounts of every sum of money or other thing of value received by him or her, including all loans of money or things of value and of all expenditures and disbursements made, liabilities incurred, by the candidate, financial agent, person, association or organization or committee, for political purposes, or by any of the officers or members of the committee, or any person acting under its authority or on its behalf.

(b) Every person or association of persons candidate or political committee required to keep detailed accounts under this section shall file with the officers hereinafter prescribed a detailed itemized sworn statement:

(1) Of all financial transactions, whenever the total exceeds $500, which have taken place before the last Saturday in March, to be filed within six days thereafter and annually whenever the total of all financial transactions relating to an election for each candidate or political committee exceeds $500;

(2) Of all financial transactions which have taken place before the fifteenth tenth day preceding each primary or other election and subsequent to the previous statement, if any, to be filed within four business days after the fifteenth tenth day;

(3) Of all financial transactions which have taken place before the thirteenth day after each primary or other election and subsequent to the previous statement, if any, to be filed within twenty business days after the thirteenth day; and

(4) Of all financial transactions, whenever the total exceeds $500 or whenever any loans are outstanding, which have taken place before the forty-third day preceding the general election day, to be filed within four business days after the forty-third day.

(c) Every person who announces as a write-in candidate for any elective office and his or her financial agent or election organization of any kind shall comply with all of the requirements of this section after public announcement of the person's candidacy has been made.

(d) For purposes of this section, the term "financial transactions" includes all political contributions or loans received and all repayments of loans or expenditures made to promote the candidacy of any person by any candidate or any organization advocating or opposing the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate to be voted on political committee.

(e) Candidates for the office of conservation district supervisor elected pursuant to the provisions of article twenty-one-a, chapter nineteen of this code are required to file only the reports required by subdivisions (2) and (3), subsection (b) of this section immediately prior to and after the primary election. Provided, That during the election in the year 2008, the statements required by this subsection shall be filed immediately prior to and after the general election

§3-8-5a. Information required in financial statement.


(a) Each financial statement required by the provisions of this article, other than a disclosure of electioneering communications pursuant to section two-b of this article, shall contain only the following information:

(1) The name, residence and mailing address and telephone number of each candidate, financial agent, treasurer or person and the name, address and telephone number of each association, organization or committee filing a financial statement.

(2) The balance of cash and any other sum of money on hand at the beginning and the end of the period covered by the financial statement.

(3) The name of any person making a contribution and the amount of the contribution. If the total contributions of any one person in any one election cycle amount to more than $250, the residence and mailing address of the contributor and, if the contributor is an individual, his or her major business affiliation and occupation shall also be reported. A contribution totaling more than $50 of currency of the United States or currency of any foreign country by any one contributor is prohibited and a violation of section five-d of this article. The statement on which contributions are required to be reported by this subdivision may not distinguish between contributions made by individuals and contributions made by partnerships, firms, associations, committees, organizations or groups.

(4) The total amount of contributions received during the period covered by the financial statement.

(5) The name, residence and mailing address of any individual or the name and mailing address of each lending institution making a loan or of the spouse cosigning a loan, as appropriate, the amount of any loan received, the date and terms of the loan, including the interest and repayment schedule, and a copy of the loan agreement.

(6) The name, residence and mailing address of any individual or the name and mailing address of each partnership, firm, association, committee, organization or group having previously made or cosigned a loan for which payment is made or a balance is outstanding at the end of the period, together with the amount of repayment on the loan made during the period and the balance at the end of the period.

(7) The total outstanding balance of all loans at the end of the period.

(8) The name, residence and mailing address of any person to whom each expenditure was made or liability incurred, including expenditures made on behalf of a candidate or political committee that otherwise are not made directly by the candidate or political committee, together with the amount and purpose of each expenditure or liability incurred and the date of each transaction.

(9) The total expenditure for the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate or any person supporting, aiding or opposing the nomination, election or defeat of any candidate in whose behalf an expenditure was made or a contribution was given for the primary or other election.

(10) The total amount of expenditures made during the period covered by the financial statement.

(b) Any unexpended balance at the time of making the financial statements herein provided for shall be properly accounted for in that financial statement and shall appear as a beginning balance in the next financial statement.

(c) Each financial statement required by this section shall contain a separate section setting forth the following information for each fund-raising event held during the period covered by the financial statement:

(1) The type of event, date held and address and name, if any, of the place where the event was held.

(2) All of the information required by subdivision (3), subsection (a) of this section.

(3) The total of all moneys received at the fund-raising event.

(4) The expenditures incident to the fund-raising event.

(5) The net receipts of the fund-raising event.

(d) When any lump sum payment is made to any advertising agency or other disbursing person who does not file a report of detailed accounts and verified financial statements as required in this section, such lump sum expenditures shall be accounted for in the same manner as provided for herein.

(e) Any contribution or expenditure made by or on behalf of a candidate for public office, to any other candidate or committee for a candidate for any public office in the same election shall be accounted for in accordance with the provisions of this section.

(f) No person may make any contribution except from his, her or its own funds, unless such person discloses in writing to the person required to report under this section the name, residence, mailing address, major business affiliation and occupation of the person which furnished the funds to the contributor. All such disclosures shall be included in the statement required by this section.

(g) Any firm, association, committee or fund permitted by section eight of this article to be a political committee shall disclose on the financial statement its corporate or other affiliation.

(h) No contribution may be made, directly or indirectly, in a fictitious name, anonymously or by one person through an agent, relative or other person so as to conceal the identity of the source of the contribution or in any other manner so as to effect concealment of the contributor's identity.

(i) No person may accept any contribution for the purpose of influencing the nomination, election or defeat of a candidate or for the passage or defeat of any ballot issue unless the identity of the donor and the amount of the contribution is known and reported.

(j) When any person receives an anonymous contribution which cannot be returned because the donor cannot be identified, that contribution shall be donated to the General Revenue Fund of the state. Any anonymous contribution shall be recorded as such on the candidate's financial statement, but may not be expended for election expenses. At the time of filing, the financial statement shall include a statement of distribution of anonymous contributions, which total amount shall equal the total of all anonymous contributions received during the period.

(k) Any membership organization which raises funds for political purposes by payroll deduction, assessing them as part of its membership dues or as a separate assessment, may report the amount raised as follows:

(1) If the portion of dues or assessments designated for political purposes equals $25 or less per member over the course of a calendar year, the total amount raised for political purposes through membership dues or assessments during the period is reported by showing the amount required to be paid by each member and the number of members.

(2) If the total payroll deduction for political purposes of each participating member equals $25 or less over the course of a calendar or fiscal year, as specified by the organization, the organization shall report the total amount received for political purposes through payroll deductions during the reporting period and, to the maximum extent possible, the amount of each yearly payroll deduction contribution level and the number of members contributing at each such specified level. The membership organization shall maintain records of the name and yearly payroll deduction amounts of each participating member.

(3) If any member contributes to the membership organization through individual voluntary contributions by means other than payroll deduction, membership dues, or assessments as provided in this subsection, the reporting requirements of subdivision (3), subsection (a) of this section shall apply. Funds raised for political purposes must be segregated from the funds for other purposes and listed in its report.

(l) Notwithstanding the provisions of section five of this article or of the provisions of this section to the contrary, an alternative reporting procedure may be followed by a political party committee in filing financial reports for fund-raising events if the total profit does not exceed $5,000 per year. A political party committee may report gross receipts for the sale of food, beverages, services, novelty items, raffle tickets or memorabilia, except that any receipt of more than $50 from an individual or organization shall be reported as a contribution. A political party committee using this alternative method of reporting shall report:

(i) (1) The name of the committee;

(ii) (2) The type of fund-raising activity undertaken;

(iii) (3) The location where the activity occurred;

(iv) (4) The date of the fundraiser;

(v) (5) The name of any individual who contributed more than $50 worth of items to be sold;

(vi) (6) The name and amount received from any person or organization purchasing more than $50 worth of food, beverages, services, novelty items, raffle tickets or memorabilia;

(vii) (7) The gross receipts of the fundraiser; and

(viii) (8) The date, amount, purpose and name and address of each person or organization from whom items with a fair market value of more than $50 were purchased for resale.

§3-8-5b. Where financial statements shall be filed; filing date prescribed.


(a) The financial statements provided for in this article shall be filed, by or on behalf of candidates, with:

(1) The Secretary of State for legislative offices, circuit judge, family court judge and for statewide and other offices to be nominated or elected by the voters of a political division greater than a county;

(2) The clerk of the county commission by candidates for offices to be nominated or elected by the voters of a single county or a political division within a single county, except for legislative offices, circuit judge and family court judge; or

(3) The proper municipal officer by candidates for office to be nominated or elected to municipal office.

(b) The statements may be filed by mail, in person, or by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission: Provided, That the Financial statements filed by or on behalf of candidates for Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, Commissioner of Agriculture, State Senate, House of Delegates, and Supreme Court of Appeals, circuit  judge and family court judge shall be filed electronically by the means of an Internet program to be established by the Secretary of State. Candidates for House of Delegates, State Senate, circuit judge and family court judge may file financial statements in person or by facsimile or other electronic means of submission until the total amount of contributions received by the candidate exceeds $10,000 for the election cycle.  The Secretary of State shall charge a $25 processing fee for any financial statements that are not filed electronically.

(c) Committees required to report electronically may apply to the State Election Commission for an exemption from mandatory electronic filing in the case of hardship. An exemption may be granted at the discretion of the State Election Commission.

(d) Candidates for all other offices than those identified in subsection (b) of this section may file statements by mail, in person or by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission. For purposes of this article, the filing date of a financial statement shall, in the case of mailing, be the date of the postmark of the United States Postal Service, and in the case of hand delivery or delivery by facsimile or other electronic means of transmission, the date delivered to the office of the Secretary of State or to the office of the clerk of the county commission, in accordance with the provisions of subsection (a) of this section, during regular business hours of such office.

(e) The sworn financial statements required to be filed by this section with the Secretary of State shall be posted on the Internet by the Secretary of State within ten business days from the date the financial statement was filed.

(f) The Secretary of State shall maintain an online searchable database accessible to the public on the Secretary of State’s website.  The database shall include the ability to search contribution and expenditure data submitted by the candidates and political action committees.  Information capable of search shall include, but not be limited to, a contributor’s first name, last name, city, state, occupation, employer, contribution amount, date, expenditure payee, city, state, purpose and amount. 


§3-8-5c. Prohibition against contributions by foreign nationals.


(a) Prohibition against contributions by foreign nationals. --

(1) It is unlawful for:

            (A) A foreign national, directly or indirectly, to make:

(i) A contribution or donation of money or other thing of value, or to make an express or implied promise to make a contribution or donation, in connection with a state or local election;

(ii) A contribution or donation to a committee of a political party; or

(iii) A political expenditure, independent expenditure or disbursement for an electioneering communication, as those terms are defined in this article; or

(B) A person to solicit, accept or receive a contribution or donation described in subparagraph (i) or (ii), paragraph (A) of this subdivision.

(2) As used in this section, the term “foreign national” means:

(A) A foreign principal, as such term is defined in 22 U. S. C. § 611(b), which includes:

(i) A government of a foreign country;

(ii) A foreign political party;

(iii) A person outside of the United States, unless it is established that such person;

(I) Is an individual and a citizen of the United States; or

(II) That such person is not an individual and is organized under or created by the laws of the United States or of any state or other place subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and has its principal place of business within the United States.

(iv) A partnership, association, corporation, organization or other combination of persons organized under the laws of or having its principal place of business in a foreign country.

(B) An individual who is not a citizen of the United States or a national of the United States, as defined in 8 U. S. C. §1101(a)(22), and who is not lawfully admitted for permanent residence, as defined by 8 U. S. C. §1101(a)(20).

§3-8-7. Failure to file statement; delinquent or incomplete filing; criminal and civil penalties.


(a) Any person, candidate, financial agent or treasurer of a political party committee who fails to file a sworn, itemized statement required by this article within the time limitations specified in this article or who willfully files a grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate statement is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $500 or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined. Sixty days after any primary or other election, the Secretary of State, county clerk or municipal recorder, as the case may be, shall give notice of any failure to file a sworn statement or the filing of any grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate statement by any person, candidate, financial agent or treasurer of a political party committee and forward copies of any grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate statement to the prosecuting attorney of the county where the person, candidate, financial agent or treasurer resides, is located or has its principal place of business.

(b) (1) Any person, candidate, financial agent or treasurer of a political party committee who fails to file a sworn, itemized statement as required in this article or who files a grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate statement may shall be assessed a civil penalty by the Secretary of State of $25 $10 a day for each day after the due date the statement is delinquent, grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate. Sixty days after any primary or other election, the county clerk shall give notice to the Secretary of State of any failure to file a sworn statement or the filing of any grossly incomplete or grossly inaccurate statement by any person, candidate, financial agent or treasurer of a political party committee and forward copies of such delinquent, incomplete or inaccurate statements to the Secretary of State.

(2) A civil penalty assessed pursuant to this section shall be payable to the State of West Virginia and is collectable as authorized by law for the collection of debts.

(3) The Secretary of State may negotiate and enter into settlement agreements for the payment of civil penalties assessed as a result of the filing of a delinquent, grossly incomplete or inaccurate statement.

(4) The Secretary of State shall publish online a list of all late filing violators for each deadline in an election cycle.  This list shall be maintained and be publicly available online to include late activity for the previous five years to the current year.

(4) (5) The Secretary of State and county clerk may review and audit any sworn statement required to be filed pursuant to this article. The State Election Commission shall propose legislative rules for promulgation, in accordance with chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to establish procedures for the assessment of civil penalties as provided in this section.

(c) (1) Any candidate, whether nominated by primary election or appointed by executive committee or executive committee chair, who has failed to file any sworn statement as required by this article, relating to the immediately preceding primary election for any office by the eighty-fourth day before the general election, is disqualified and may not have his or her name appear on the general election ballot. The provisions of subsection (d), section five-b of this article notwithstanding, any sworn statement filed after the deadline required by section five of this article must be received in the office indicated by subsection (a), section five-b of this article by the close of business on the eighty-fourth day before the general election.

(2) It is unlawful to issue a commission or certificate of election, or to administer the oath of office, to any person elected to any public office who has failed to file any sworn statement required by this article and no person may enter upon the duties of his or her office until he or she has filed such statement, nor may he or she receive any salary or emolument for any period prior to the filing of the statement.

(3) The vacancy on the ballot created by the disqualification in this subsection is subject to section nineteen, article five, chapter three of this code.

(d) As used in this section, Agrossly@ means substantive and material, and specifically includes false or misleading representations and acts of omissions.

(e) The Secretary of State shall provide by rule protocols for written notice via certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person, candidate, financial agent or treasurer of a political party committee that is not in compliance with the requirements of this section. With respect to a violation of subsection (c) of this section, the notice shall be provided sixty days after any primary or other election.

§3-8-8. Corporation and membership organization contributions forbidden; exceptions; penalties; promulgation of rules; additional powers of State Election Commission.


(a) An officer, agent or person acting on behalf of any membership organization or any corporation, whether incorporated under the laws of this or any other state or of a foreign country, may not pay, give, lend or authorize to be paid, any money or other thing of value belonging to the corporation to any candidate or candidate=s campaign for nomination or election to any statewide office or any other elective office in the state or any of its subdivisions.

(b) A person may not solicit or receive any payment, contribution or other thing from any membership organization or any corporation or from any officer, agent or other person acting on behalf of the membership organization or corporation to any candidate or candidate=s campaign for nomination or election to any statewide office or any other elective office in the state or any of its subdivisions.

(c)(1) The provisions of this section do not prohibit a membership organization or corporation from soliciting, through any officer, agent or person acting on behalf of the membership organization or corporation, contributions to a separate segregated fund to be used for political purposes. Any separate segregated fund is considered a political action committee for the purpose of this article and is subject to all reporting requirements applicable to political action committees;

(2) It is unlawful for:

(A) A membership organization corporation or separate segregated fund to make a primary or other election contribution or expenditure by using money or anything of value secured: (i) By physical force, job discrimination or financial reprisal: (ii) by the threat of force, job discrimination or financial reprisal; or (iii) as a condition of employment;

(B) Any person soliciting a membership organization member, stockholder or executive or administrative personnel and members of their families for a contribution to a membership organization corporation or separate segregated fund to fail to inform the person solicited of the political purposes of the separate segregated fund at the time of the solicitation;

(C) Any person soliciting any other person for a contribution to a membership organization, corporation or separate segregated fund to fail to inform the person solicited at the time of the solicitation of his or her right to refuse to contribute without any reprisal;

(D) A separate segregated fund established by a membership organization or corporation: (i) To solicit contributions to the fund from any person other than the membership organization’s members or the corporation=s stockholders and their families and its their executive or administrative personnel and their families; or (ii) to contribute any membership organization or corporate funds;

(E) A separate segregated fund established by a membership organization or corporation to receive contributions to the fund from any person other than the membership organization’s members or corporation=s stockholders and their immediate families and its their executive or administrative personnel and their immediate families;

(F) A membership organization or corporation to engage in job discrimination or to discriminate in job promotion or transfer because of a member’s or an employee=s failure to make a contribution to the membership organization or corporation or a separate segregated fund;

(G) A separate segregated fund to make any contribution, directly or indirectly, in excess of $1,000 in connection with or on behalf of any campaign for nomination or election to any elective office in the state or any of its subdivisions, or in connection with or on behalf of any committee or other organization or person engaged in furthering, advancing, supporting or aiding the nomination or election of any candidate for any such office;

(H) A membership organization or corporation to pay, give or lend or to authorize payment, giving or lending of any moneys or other things of value belonging to the membership organization or corporation to a separate segregated fund for the purpose of making a contribution to a candidate or a candidate=s committee. This provision does not prohibit a separate segregated fund from using the property, real or personal, facilities and equipment of a membership organization or corporation solely to establish, administer and solicit contributions to the fund, subject to the rules of the State Election Commission as provided in subsection (d) of this section: Provided, That any such membership organization or corporation shall also permit any group of its employees represented by a bona fide political action committee to use the real property of the membership organization or corporation solely to establish, administer and solicit contributions to the fund of the political action committee, subject to the rules of the State Election Commission promulgated in accordance with said subsection.

(3) For the purposes of this section, the term Aexecutive or administrative personnel@ means individuals employed by a membership organization or corporation who are paid on a salary rather than hourly basis and who have policy-making, managerial, professional or supervisory responsibilities.

(d) Any person, membership organization or corporation violating any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $10,000. A membership organization or corporation may not reimburse any person the amount of any fine imposed pursuant to this section.

(e) To ensure uniform administration and application of the provisions of this section and of those of the Federal Election Campaign Act Amendments of 1976 relating to membership organization and corporate contributions, the State Election Commission shall propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this section consistent, insofar as practicable, with the rules and regulations promulgated by the Federal Election Commission to carry out similar or identical provisions of 2 U.S.C. §441b.

(f) In addition to the powers and duties set forth in article one-a of this chapter, the State Election Commission has the following powers and duties:

(1) To investigate, upon complaint or on its own initiative, any alleged violations or irregularities of this article.

(2) To administer oaths and affirmations, issue subpoenas for the attendance of witnesses, issue subpoenas duces tecum to compel the production of books, papers, records and all other evidence necessary to any investigation.

(3) To involve the aid of any circuit court in the execution of its subpoena power.

(4) To report any alleged violations of this article to the appropriate prosecuting attorney having jurisdiction, which prosecuting attorney shall present to the grand jury such alleged violations, together with all evidence relating thereto, no later than the next term of court after receiving the report.

(g) The Attorney General shall, when requested, provide legal and investigative assistance to the State Election Commission.

(h) Any investigation, either upon complaint or initiative, shall be conducted in an executive session of the State Election Commission and shall remain undisclosed except upon an indictment by a grand jury.

(i) Any person who discloses the fact of any complaint, investigation or report or any part thereof, or any proceedings thereon, is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $1,000, nor more than $5,000, and shall be confined in jail not less than six months nor more than one year.

(j) The amendments to this section enacted during the second extraordinary session of 2008 are intended to conform to the existing proscription to Constitutionally permissible limits and not to create a new offense or offenses.

(k) The effective date of the amendments to this section enacted during the second extraordinary legislative session of 2008 is October 1, 2008.

§3-8-8a.  Disclosure requirements for covered organizations.


(a) Disclosure statement. --

            (1) Any covered organization that makes political disbursements aggregating more than $1,000 in a calendar year shall, not later than forty-eight hours after the $1,000 threshold is met, file a statement with the Secretary of State that contains the information described in subdivision (2) of this subsection.  Subsequent reports shall be filed within forty-eight hours of each additional campaign-related political expenditure aggregating more than $1,000:

            (A) In the case of the first statement filed under this subsection, for the period beginning on the first day of the preceding calendar year and ending on the first such disclosure date; and

            (B) In the case of any subsequent statement filed under this subsection, for the period beginning on the previous disclosure date and ending on such disclosure date.

            (2) The information to be included in the statement required by this subsection is as follows:

            (A) The name of the covered organization and the principal place of business of that organization.

            (B) The amount of each campaign-related disbursement made by that organization during the period covered by the statement of more than $1,000.

            (C) In the case of a campaign-related disbursement that is not a covered transfer, the election to which the campaign-related disbursement pertains and, if the disbursement is made for a public communication, the name of any candidate identified in that communication and whether that communication is in support of or in opposition to that candidate.

            (D) A certification by the chief executive officer or the head of the covered organization that the campaign-related disbursement is not made in cooperation, consultation or concert with or at the request or suggestion of a candidate, authorized committee or agent of a candidate, political party, or agent of a political party.

            (E) If the covered organization makes campaign-related disbursements exclusively using funds in a segregated bank account consisting of funds that were contributed, donated, transferred or paid directly to that account by persons other than the covered organization that controls the account, for each contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues or other payment to the account:

            (i) The name and address of each person who made that contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues or other payment of more than $250 during the period covered by the statement;

            (ii) The date and amount of that contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues or other payment; and

            (iii) The aggregate amount of all those contributions, donations, transfers, payments of dues and other payments made by the person during the period beginning on the first day of the preceding calendar year and ending on the disclosure date.

            (F) Subject to subdivision (4) of this subsection, if the covered organization makes campaign-related disbursements using funds other than funds in a segregated bank account described in paragraph (E) of this subdivision, for each contribution, donation, transfer or payment of dues to the covered organization:

            (i) The name and address of each person who made that contribution, donation, transfer or payment of dues of more than $250 during the period covered by the statement;

            (ii) The date and amount of that contribution, donation, transfer or payment of dues; and

            (iii) The aggregate amount of all those contributions, donations, transfers and payments of dues made by the person during the period beginning on the first day of the preceding calendar year and ending on the disclosure date.

            (3) Exceptions. --

            (A) The requirement to include in a statement filed under subdivision (1) of this subsection the information described in subdivision (1) of this subsection does not apply to amounts received by the covered organization in the ordinary course of any trade or business conducted by the covered organization or in the form of investments in the covered organization.

            (B) Donor restriction on use of funds. -- The requirement to include in a statement submitted under subdivision (1) of this subsection the information described in paragraph (F), subdivision (2) of this subsection does not apply if:

            (i) The person described in that subdivision prohibited, in writing, the use of the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues or other payment made by that person for campaign-related disbursements; and

            (ii) The covered organization agreed to follow the prohibition and deposited the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues or other payment in an account which is segregated from any account used to make campaign-related disbursements.

            (4) Disclosure date. --

            (A) Except as provided in paragraph (B) of this subdivision, the term “disclosure date” means:

            (i) The first date during any calendar year by which a person has made campaign-related disbursements aggregating more than $1,000; and

            (ii) Each date following the date described in subparagraph (i) of this paragraph during that calendar year by which a person has made campaign-related disbursements aggregating more than $1,000.

            (B) In the case of a statement filed with respect to a campaign-related disbursement which is a covered transfer described in paragraph (E), subdivision (1), subsection (f) of this section, the term “disclosure date” means the date on which the covered organization making that transfer knew or should have known that the recipient of that transfer made campaign-related disbursements in an aggregate amount of $10,000 or more during the two-year period beginning on the date of the transfer.

            (b) Coordination with other provisions. -- A segregated bank account referred to in paragraph (E), subdivision (2), subsection (a) of this section may be treated as a separate segregated fund for purposes of section 527(f)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.

            (c) Filing. -- Statements required to be filed under subsection (a) of this section are subject to the requirements of subsection (h), section two of this article to the same extent and in the same manner as if those reports had been required under said section.

            (d) Campaign-related disbursement defined. -- As used in this section, the term “campaign-related disbursement” means a disbursement by a covered organization for any of the following:

            (1) An independent expenditure consisting of a public communication, as defined in section two of this article;

            (2) An electioneering communication, as defined in section two of this article; or

            (3) A covered transfer.

            (e) Covered organization defined. -- In this section, the term “covered organization” means any of the following:

            (1) A membership organization, corporation and any other legal entity, including, but not limited to, a limited liability company, limited liability partnership, cooperative, estate, trust, partnership or other legal entity authorized to exist by the laws of this state, another state or the federal government;

            (2) An organization described in section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986;

            (3) Any political organization under section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, other than a political committee under this article, except as provided in subdivision (4) of this subsection; or

            (4) A political committee with an account established for the purpose of accepting donations or contributions that do not comply with the contribution limits or source prohibitions under this article, but only with respect to the accounts established for that purpose.

(f) Covered transfer defined. --

(1) General. -- In this section, the term “covered transfer” means any transfer or payment of funds by a covered organization to another person.

(A) If the covered organization designates, requests or suggests that the amounts be used for:

(i) Campaign-related disbursements; or

(ii) Making a transfer to another person for the purpose of making or paying for that campaign-related disbursements.

(B) If the covered organization made that transfer or payment in response to a solicitation or other request for a donation or payment for:

(i) The making of or paying for campaign-related disbursements; or

(ii) Making a transfer to another person for the purpose of making or paying for those campaign-related disbursements.

(C) If the covered organization engaged in discussions with the recipient of the transfer or payment regarding:

(i) The making of or paying for campaign-related disbursements; or

(ii) Donating or transferring any amount of that transfer or payment to another person for the purpose of making or paying for those campaign-related disbursements.

(D) (i) If the covered organization made campaign-related disbursements in an aggregate amount of $10,000 or more during the two- year period ending on the date of the transfer or payment; or

(ii) The person receiving the transfer or payment made campaign related disbursements in an aggregate amount of $10,000 during the two-year period. In making the determination of whether the $10,000 threshold on campaign related disbursements set forth in the subsection has been met, the amount of the transfer at issue shall be included to the extent the proposed transfer is not excluded by the provisions of subsection (f)(2).

(E) If the person receiving the transfer or payment has made campaign-related disbursements in an aggregate amount of $10,000 or more during the two-year period beginning on the date of the transfer or payment at the time of the transfer, it shall so notify the donor at the time of the transfer.  If the person receiving the transfer has not met the aggregate $10,000 threshold at the time of the transfer, but subsequently reaches the threshold, the transfer shall be considered a covered transfer on the date that the threshold is met, and the person receiving the transfer shall so notify the donor. In making the determination of whether the $10,000 threshold on campaign related disbursements set forth in this subsection has been met the amount of the transfer at issue shall be included to the extent the proposed transfer is not excluded from the provisions of subsection (f)(2).

(F) Any person receiving the transfer or payment who, within the two-year period beginning on the date of the transfer or payment, thereafter makes a transfer otherwise constituting a covered transfer under the provisions of this subsection shall notify all donors providing transfers of the subsequent transfer. No recipient of a transfer or payment may make a subsequent transfer or payment of any funds excluded from the provisions of subsection paragraph (B), subdivision (2), subsection (f) of this section.

(2) The term “covered transfer” does not include any of the following:

(A) A disbursement made by a covered organization in the ordinary course of any trade or business conducted by the covered organization or in the form of investments made by the covered organization.

(B) A disbursement made by a covered organization if:

(i) The covered organization prohibited, in writing, the use of that disbursement for campaign-related disbursements; and

(ii) The recipient of the disbursement agreed to follow the prohibition and deposited the disbursement in an account which is segregated from any account used to make campaign-related disbursements.

(3) Exception for certain transfers among affiliates. --

(A) The term “covered transfer” does not include an amount transferred by one covered organization to another covered organization which is treated as a transfer between affiliates under paragraph (B) of this subdivision if the aggregate amount transferred during the year by that covered organization to that same covered organization is equal to or less than $50,000.

(B) A transfer of amounts from one covered organization to another covered organization shall be treated as a transfer between affiliates if:

(i) One of the organizations is an affiliate of the other organization; or

(ii) Each of the organizations is an affiliate of the same organization; except that the transfer shall not be treated as a transfer between affiliates if one of the organizations is established for the purpose of making campaign-related disbursements.

(C) For purposes of paragraph (B) of this subdivision, a covered organization is an affiliate of another covered organization if:

(i) The governing instrument of the organization requires it to be bound by decisions of the other organization;

(ii) The governing board of the organization includes persons who are specifically designated representatives of the other organization or are members of the governing board, officers or paid executive staff members of the other organization, or whose service on the governing board is contingent upon the approval of the other organization; or

(iii) The organization is chartered by the other organization.

(D) This subdivision applies with respect to an amount transferred by a covered organization to an organization described in paragraph (3), section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 in the same manner as this paragraph applies to an amount transferred by a covered organization to another covered organization.

(g) Any person who makes a contribution for the purpose of funding an independent expenditure under this section shall, at the time the contribution is made, provide his or her name, address, occupation, his or her current employer if any, or if the individual is self-employed, the name of his or her business, if any, to the recipient of the contribution.

(h) The Secretary of State shall expeditiously prepare indices setting forth, on a candidate-by-candidate basis, all independent expenditures separately, made by, or on behalf of, or for, or against each candidate, as reported under this subsection, and periodically publish such indices on a timely preelection basis.

(i) Any person who willfully fails to comply with this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $500, or confined in jail for not more than one year, or both fined and confined.

(j) (1) Any person who is required to file a statement under this section may file the statement by facsimile device or electronic mail, in accordance with such rules as the Secretary of State may promulgate.

(k) The Secretary of State shall make any document filed electronically pursuant to this subsection accessible to the public on the Internet not later than twenty-four hours after the document is received by the secretary.

(l) The Secretary of State may promulgate emergency and legislative rules, in accordance with the provisions of chapter twenty-nine-a of this code, to establish guidelines for the administration of this section. In promulgating a rule under this subsection, the secretary shall provide methods, other than requiring a signature on the document being filed, for verifying the documents covered by the rule.  Any document verified under any of the methods shall be treated for all purposes, including penalties for perjury, in the same manner as a document verified by signature.

§3-8-9. Lawful and unlawful election expenses; public opinion polls and limiting their purposes; limitation upon expenses; use of advertising agencies and reporting requirements; delegation of expenditures.


(a) No financial agent or treasurer of a political committee shall pay, give or lend, either directly or indirectly, any money or other thing of value for any election expenses, except for the following purposes:

(1) For rent, maintenance, office equipment and other furnishing of offices to be used as political headquarters and for the payment of necessary clerks, stenographers, typists, janitors and messengers employees actually employed therein;

(2) In the case of a candidate who does not maintain a headquarters, for reasonable office expenses, including, but not limited to, filing cabinets and other office equipment and furnishings, computers, computer hardware and software, scanners, typewriters, calculators, audio visual equipment, the rental of the use of the same, or for the payment for the shared use of same with the candidate's business and for the payment of necessary clerks, stenographers and typists employees actually employed;

(3) For printing and distributing books, pamphlets, circulars and other printed matter and radio and television broadcasting and painting, printing and posting signs, banners and other advertisements, including contributions to charitable, educational or cultural events, for the promotion of the candidate, or the candidate's name; or an issue on the ballot;

(4) For renting and decorating halls for public meetings and political conventions, for advertising public meetings and for the payment of traveling expenses of speakers and musicians at such meetings;

(5) For the necessary traveling and hotel expenses of candidates, political agents and committees and for stationery, postage, telegrams, telephone, express, freight and public messenger service;

(6) For preparing, circulating and filing petitions for nomination of candidates;

(7) For examining the lists of registered voters, securing copies thereof, investigating the right to vote of the persons listed therein and conducting proceedings to prevent unlawful registration or voting;

(8) For conveying voters to and from the polls;

(9) For securing publication in newspapers and by radio and television broadcasting of documents, articles, speeches, arguments and any information relating to any political issue, candidate or question or proposition submitted to a vote;

(10) For conducting public opinion poll or polls. For the purpose of this section, the phrase "conducting of public opinion poll or polls" shall mean and be limited to the gathering, collection, collation and evaluation of information reflecting public opinion, needs and preferences as to any candidate, group of candidates, party, issue or issues. No such poll shall be deceptively designed or intentionally conducted in a manner calculated to advocate the election or defeat of any candidate or group of candidates or calculated to influence any person or persons so polled to vote for or against any candidate, group of candidates, proposition or other matter to be voted on by the public at any election: Provided, That nothing herein shall prevent the use of the results of any such poll or polls to further, promote or enhance the election of any candidate or group of candidates or the approval or defeat of any proposition or other matter to be voted on by the public at any election;

(11) For payment for food and drink for campaign-related purposes and for entertaining of campaign volunteers;

            (12) For payment for legal and accounting services rendered to a candidate or candidate committee if the services are solely related to the candidacy or campaign;

            (13) For the payment of any fees associated with the campaign, except that a candidate may not pay any fines assessed against the candidate or the candidate’s committee pursuant to this article;

(11) (14) For legitimate advertising agency services, including commissions, in connection with any campaign activity for which payment is authorized by subdivisions (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (9) and (10) of this subsection;

(12) (15) For the purchase of memorials, flowers or citations by political party executive committees or political action committees representing a political party;

(13) (16) For the purchase of nominal noncash expressions of appreciation following the close of the polls of an election or within thirty days thereafter;

(14) (17) For the payment of dues or subscriptions to any national, state or local committee of any political party;

(18) For transfers to any national, state or local committee of any political party when that committee is acting in the role of a vendor: Provided, That no such transfer may involve any coordination between the candidate and the political party committee;

(15) (19) For contributions to a county party executive committee, state party executive committee or a state party legislative caucus political committee; and

(16) (20) For contributions to a candidate committee: Provided, That a candidate committee may not contribute to another candidate committee except as otherwise provided by section ten of this article.

(b) A political action committee may not contribute to another political action committee or receive contributions from another political action committee: Provided, That a political action committee may receive contributions from its national affiliate, if any.

(c) Every liability incurred and payment made shall be for the fair market value of the services rendered.

(d) Every advertising agency subject to the provisions of this article shall file, in the manner and form required by section five-a of this article, the financial statements required by section five of this article at the times required therein and include therein, in itemized detail, all receipts from and expenditures made on behalf of a candidate, financial agent or treasurer of a political party committee.

(e) Any candidate may designate a financial agent by a writing duly subscribed by him the candidate which shall be in such form and filed in accordance with the provisions of section four of this article.

§3-8-12. Additional acts forbidden; circulation of written matter; newspaper advertising; solicitation of contributions; intimidation and coercion of employees; promise of employment or other benefits; limitations on contributions; public contractors; penalty.


(a) A person may not publish, issue or circulate, or cause to be published, issued or circulated, any anonymous letter, circular, placard, radio or television advertisement or other publication supporting or aiding the election or defeat of a clearly identified candidate.

(b) An owner, publisher, editor or employee of a newspaper or other periodical may not insert, either in its advertising or reading columns, any matter, paid for or to be paid for, which tends to influence the voting at any election, unless directly designating it as a paid advertisement and stating the name of the person authorizing its publication and the candidate in whose behalf it is published.

(c) A person may not, in any room or building occupied for the discharge of official duties by any officer or employee of the state or a political subdivision of the state, solicit orally or by written communication delivered within the room or building, or in any other manner, any contribution of money or other thing of value for any party or political purpose, from any postmaster or any other officer or employee of the federal government, or officer or employee of the state, or a political subdivision of the state. An officer, agent, clerk or employee of the federal government, or of this state, or any political subdivision of the state, who may have charge or control of any building, office or room, occupied for any official purpose, may not knowingly permit any person to enter any building, office or room, occupied for any official purpose for the purpose of soliciting or receiving any political assessments from, or delivering or giving written solicitations for, or any notice of, any political assessments to, any officer or employee of the state, or a political subdivision of the state.

(d) Except as provided in section eight of this article, a person entering into any contract with the state or its subdivisions, or any department or agency of the state, either for rendition of personal services or furnishing any material, supplies or equipment or selling any land or building to the state, or its subdivisions, or any department or agency of the state, if payment for the performance of the contract or payment for the material, supplies, equipment, land or building is to be made, in whole or in part, from public funds may not, during the period of negotiation for or performance under the contract or furnishing of materials, supplies, equipment, land or buildings, directly or indirectly, make any contribution to any political party, committee or candidate for public office or to any person for political purposes or use; nor may any person or firm solicit any contributions for any purpose during any period.

(e) A person may not, directly or indirectly, promise any employment, position, work, compensation or other benefit provided for, or made possible, in whole or in part, by act of the Legislature, to any person as consideration, favor or reward for any political activity for the support of or opposition to any candidate, or any political party in any election.

(f) Except as provided in section eight of this article, a person may not, directly or indirectly, make any contribution in excess of the value of $1,000 in connection with any campaign for nomination or election to or on behalf of any statewide office, in connection with any other campaign for nomination or election to or on behalf of any other elective office in the state or any of its subdivisions, or in connection with or on behalf of any person engaged in furthering, advancing, supporting or aiding the nomination or election of any candidate for any of the offices.

(g) A political organization (as defined in Section 527(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) may not solicit or accept contributions until it has notified the Secretary of State of its existence and of the purposes for which it was formed. During the two-year election cycle, a political organization (as defined in Section 527 (e) (1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) may not accept contributions totaling more than $1,000 from any one person prior to the primary election and contributions totaling more than $1,000 from any one person after the primary and before the general election.

(h) It is unlawful for any person to create, establish or organize more than one political organization (as defined in Section 527(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986) with the intent to avoid or evade the contribution limitations contained in subsection (g) of this section.

(i) (h) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (f) of this section to the contrary, a person may not, directly or indirectly, make contributions to a state party executive committee or state party legislative caucus committee which, in the aggregate, exceed the value of $1,000 in any calendar year.

(j) (i) The limitations on contributions contained in this section do not apply to transfers between and among a state party executive committee or a state party=s legislative caucus political committee from national committees of the same political party: Provided, That transfers permitted by this subsection may not exceed $50,000 in the aggregate in any calendar year to any state party executive committee or state party legislative caucus political committee: Provided, however, That the moneys transferred may only be used for voter registration and get-out-the-vote activities of the state committees.

(k) (j) A person may not solicit any contribution, other than contributions to a campaign for or against a county or local government ballot issue, from any nonelective salaried employee of the state government or of any of its subdivisions: Provided, That in no event may any person acting in a supervisory role solicit a person who is a subordinate employee for any contribution. A person may not coerce or intimidate any nonelective salaried employee into making a contribution. A person may not coerce or intimidate any nonsalaried employee of the state government or any of its subdivisions into engaging in any form of political activity. The provisions of this subsection may not be construed to prevent any employee from making a contribution or from engaging in political activity voluntarily without coercion, intimidation or solicitation.

(l) (k) A person may not solicit a contribution from any other person without informing the other person at the time of the solicitation of the amount of any commission, remuneration or other compensation that the solicitor or any other person will receive or expect to receive as a direct result of the contribution being successfully collected. Nothing in this subsection may be construed to apply to solicitations of contributions made by any person serving as an unpaid volunteer.

(m) (l) A person may not place any letter, circular, flyer, advertisement, election paraphernalia, solicitation material or other printed or published item tending to influence voting at any election in a roadside receptacle unless it is: (1) Approved for placement into a roadside receptacle by the business or entity owning the receptacle; and (2) contains a written acknowledgment of the approval. This subdivision does not apply to any printed material contained in a newspaper or periodical published or distributed by the owner of the receptacle. The term Aroadside receptacle@ means any container placed by a newspaper or periodical business or entity to facilitate home or personal delivery of a designated newspaper or periodical to its customers.

(n) (m) Any person violating any provision of this section is guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not more than $1,000, or confined in jail for not more than one year, or, both fined and confined.

(o) (n) The provisions of subsection (k) of this section, permitting contributions to a campaign for or against a county or local government ballot issue shall become operable on and after January 1, 2005.

(p) The limitations on contributions established by subsection (g) of this section do not apply to contributions made for the purpose of supporting or opposing a ballot issue, including a Constitutional amendment


 

 

NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to set forth reporting and disclosure requirements relating to election campaign contributions and spending.

Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.

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