Democracy Dollars Act

To establish the Democracy Dollars Program under which citizens may direct the making of payments to candidates in elections for Federal office and to political committees supporting campaigns for election for Federal office, and for other purposes. 1. Short title; table of contents (a) Short title This Act may be cited as the Democracy Dollars Act (b) Table of contents The table of contents of this Act is as follows: Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. Title I—Democracy Dollars Program Subtitle A—Availability of Democracy Dollars to Qualified Candidates Sec. 101. Establishment of Democracy Dollars Program. Sec. 102. Eligibility of individuals to participate in Program. Sec. 103. Eligibility of candidates and authorized committees to receive payments; use of payments. Sec. 104. Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund. Sec. 105. Eligibility of other political committees to receive payments; use of payments. Sec. 106. Reports on disbursements of funds received under Program. Subtitle B—Payments of Democracy Dollars Sec. 111. Amount available for eligible individuals to direct for payments. Sec. 112. Payments to candidates and committees from available amounts. Sec. 113. Limitations on amount of payments to candidates and committees. Sec. 114. Protecting privacy of eligible individuals. Sec. 115. Remitting unexpended payments. Subtitle C—Public Outreach and Education Sec. 121. Public outreach and education program. Sec. 122. Requiring materials to be provided in minority languages. Sec. 123. Authorization of appropriations. Title II—Democracy Fund Commission Sec. 201. Establishment. Sec. 202. Membership. Sec. 203. Staff. Sec. 204. Functions. Sec. 205. State responsibility for implementation of Program. Sec. 206. Administration of program in case of States without approved implementation plans in effect. Title III—Democracy Dollars Fund Sec. 301. Democracy Dollars Fund. Sec. 302. Termination of Presidential Election Campaign Fund; transfer of balance to Democracy Dollars Fund. Title IV—Miscellaneous Provisions Sec. 401. Violations and penalties. Sec. 402. Democracy Dollar Administrator defined. Sec. 403. Other definitions. Title V—Severability Sec. 501. Severability. I Democracy Dollars Program A Availability of Democracy Dollars to Qualified Candidates 101. Establishment of Democracy Dollars Program In accordance with this Act, the Democracy Fund Commission (as established under title II) shall establish and operate a program to be known as the Democracy Dollars Program 102. Eligibility of individuals to participate in Program (a) Eligibility of registered voters An individual is eligible to participate in the Democracy Dollars Program with respect to an election for Federal office if the individual is registered to vote in any election for Federal office during the year in which the election will be held, as determined on the basis of the most recent version of the computerized statewide voter registration list maintained under section 303 of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 ( 52 U.S.C. 21083 (b) Special rule for residents of States without voter registration In the case of an individual who is a resident of a State in which there is no voter registration requirement for any voter in the State with respect to an election for Federal office, an individual is eligible to participate in the Program with respect to an election for Federal office if the individual is eligible to vote in any election for Federal office in that State. 103. Eligibility of candidates and authorized committees to receive payments; use of payments (a) Eligibility A candidate (including the authorized committees of the candidate) is eligible to receive payments under the Democracy Dollars Program if— (1) the candidate and each authorized committee of the candidate registers with the Democracy Fund Commission to participate in the Program; (2) each such committee certifies to such Commission that it has established a Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund in accordance with section 104; (3) except as provided in subsection (d), each such committee certifies to such Commission that, in accordance with section 104, the aggregate amount of qualified contributions that it has accepted, or that it will accept, to such Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund is equal to the applicable threshold under such section; (4) each such committee certifies to such Commission that it will maintain a separate account for payments received under the Program; and (5) each such committee certifies to such Commission that it will meet the applicable requirements of this title, including the requirements of subsection (c) (relating to restrictions on the source of the contributions the candidate and committees may accept and the expenditures the candidate and committees may make). (b) Exclusive use of Democracy Dollars payments for authorized campaign expenditures (1) Authorized campaign expenditures of candidate (A) In general Except as provided in paragraph (2), a candidate (including an authorized committee of the candidate) may use a payment received under the Program only for otherwise authorized expenditures in connection with the campaign for Federal office of the candidate, and may not convert the payment to personal use. (B) Application of rules applicable to contributions to candidates under Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 For purposes of this paragraph, section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30114 (2) Contributions to other candidates A candidate (including an authorized committee of a candidate) may use a payment received under the Program to make a contribution to the authorized committee of another candidate, except that the aggregate amount of contributions made to such a committee using such payments with respect to an election may not exceed the limit on the amount of contributions which may be made to such a committee with respect to the election under section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30116(a) (c) Democracy Dollars payments as exclusive source of contributions and expenditures A candidate (including an authorized committee of the candidate) receiving a payment under the Democracy Dollars Program with respect to an election may not accept any contributions or make any expenditures in connection with any election occurring during the election cycle for the office involved other than the following: (1) Payments made under the Democracy Dollars Program. (2) Amounts accepted and deposited in the candidate’s Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund under section 104, so long as such amounts do not exceed the applicable threshold for the candidate under such section. (3) Personal funds (including personal funds of the candidate or any immediate family member of the candidate) in an amount that does not exceed an aggregate amount of $50,000 for all such elections. (d) Permitting certification by candidates and committees accepting excess contributions to Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund A candidate (including an authorized committee of the candidate) which has accepted an aggregate amount of qualified contributions to a Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund under section 104 which is greater than the applicable threshold under such section shall be considered to meet the requirements of paragraph (3) of subsection (a) if, not later than 5 business days after the date on which the aggregate amount of qualified contributions deposited into such Fund was first equal to such applicable threshold, the candidate provides the Democracy Fund Commission with— (1) a statement of the amount of contributions in such Fund; and (2) a certification that the candidate or committee returned all contributions accepted after such date to the persons who made such contributions. 104. Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund (a) Requiring establishment and minimum balance as condition of eligibility As a condition of eligibility to receive payments under the Democracy Dollars Program, a candidate (including the authorized committees of a candidate) shall— (1) establish a separate account to be known as the Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund (2) accept a qualified contribution (as described in subsection (b)) from a number of individuals equal to or greater than the applicable donor threshold described in subsection (c); and (3) deposit into Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund an aggregate amount of qualified contributions accepted by the candidate or the committee which is equal to the applicable dollar threshold described in subsection (d). (b) Qualified contribution described In this section, a qualified contribution (c) Applicable donor threshold described In this section, the applicable donor threshold (1) 125 individuals, in the case of a candidate for a House election; (2) 250 individuals, in the case of a candidate for election for the office of Senator; or (3) 500 individuals, in the case of a candidate for election for the office of President or Vice President. (d) Applicable threshold described In this section, the applicable dollar threshold (1) $50,000, in the case of a candidate for a House election; (2) $500,000, in the case of a candidate for election for the office of Senator; or (3) $1,000,000, in the case of a candidate for election for the office of President or Vice President. 105. Eligibility of other political committees to receive payments; use of payments (a) Eligibility A political committee which is not an authorized committee of a candidate is eligible to receive payments under the Democracy Dollars Program if— (1) the committee registers with the Democracy Fund Commission to participate in the Program; and (2) the committee certifies that it will maintain a separate account for payments received under the Program. (b) Exclusive use of Democracy Dollars payments for contributions to candidates and other authorized campaign expenditures (1) In general A political committee which is not an authorized committee of a candidate may use a payment received under the Democracy Dollars Program only to make a contribution to the authorized committee of a candidate, except that a political committee of a political party may also use a payment received under the Program for otherwise authorized expenditures in connection with the campaigns for Federal office of candidates who are members of the political party, so long as the payment is not converted to personal use. For purposes of this paragraph, section 313 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30114 (2) Limit on amount of contribution The aggregate amount of contributions made by a committee under this section to the authorized committee of a candidate using payments received under the Democracy Dollars Program with respect to an election may not exceed the limit on the amount of contributions which may be made to such an authorized committee with respect to the election under section 315(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30116(a) 106. Reports on disbursements of funds received under Program (a) Requiring committees To file reports Each authorized committee of a candidate or other political committee which receives payments under the Democracy Dollars Program shall file reports with the Democracy Fund Commission listing the name and address of each person who has received any disbursement from the separate account maintained by the committee for payments received under the Program (and, if applicable, from the Democracy Dollars Exploratory Fund established pursuant to section 104) in an aggregate amount or value in excess of $200 during the period covered by the report, together with the date and amount of any such disbursement. (b) Timing of reports; period of coverage A committee shall file a report required under this section with respect to an election at the same time as the committee files a report required under section 304(a) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30104 (c) Electronic filing; public availability (1) Mandatory electronic filing In accordance with regulations promulgated by the Democracy Fund Commission, a committee shall file each report required under this section in electronic form accessible by computers. (2) Public availability The Commission shall make a report filed under this section available for inspection by the public in the offices of the Commission and accessible to the public on the internet not later than 24 hours after the Commission receives the report. (3) Methods for verification In promulgating regulations under this subsection, the Commission shall provide methods (other than requiring a signature on the document being filed) for verifying reports filed under this section. 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. B Payments of Democracy Dollars 111. Amount available for eligible individuals to direct for payments (a) In general Effective on the first day of each odd-numbered year (beginning with 2019), an eligible individual may direct the Democracy Dollar Administrator to make payments with respect to elections for Federal office held in the following year (or, in the case of special elections, an election held in either such odd-numbered year or the following year) in an aggregate amount equal to the sum of the following: (1) A House election share of— (A) for 2019, $10; or (B) for 2021 and each subsequent odd-numbered year, the amount established under this paragraph for the previous odd-numbered year increased by the adjustment percentage for House elections (as described in paragraph (1) of subsection (b)) for the year. (2) If a regularly scheduled election for the office of Senator will be held during the following year in the State in which the individual resides, a Senate election share of— (A) for 2019, $15; or (B) for 2021 and each subsequent odd-numbered year, the amount established under this paragraph for the previous odd-numbered year increased by the adjustment percentage for Senate elections (as described in paragraph (2) of subsection (b)) for the year. (3) If an election for the office of President and Vice President will be held during the following year, a presidential election share of— (A) for 2019, $25; or (B) for 2023 and each fourth year thereafter, the amount established under this paragraph for the previous odd-numbered year increased by the adjustment percentage for presidential elections (as described in paragraph (3) of subsection (b)) for the year. (b) Adjustment percentages described (1) House elections The adjustment percentage for House elections for an odd-numbered year is the greater of 100 percent or the percentage (if any) by which— (A) the aggregate amount of contributions made to authorized committees of candidates for House elections in the previous year from sources other than payments under the Democracy Dollars Program; exceeded (B) the aggregate of amount of contributions made to such authorized committees for such elections that consisted of payments under the Program, including payments made to such authorized committees by other political committees using payments under the Program (as described in section 105(b)). (2) Senate elections The adjustment percentage for Senate elections for an odd-numbered year is the greater of 100 percent or the percentage (if any) by which— (A) the aggregate amount of contributions made to authorized committees of candidates for elections for the office of Senator in the previous year from sources other than payments under the Democracy Dollars Program; exceeded (B) the aggregate of amount of contributions made to such authorized committees for such elections that consisted of payments under the Program, including payments made to such authorized committees by other political committees using payments under the Program (as described in section 105(b)). (3) Presidential elections The adjustment percentage for presidential elections for a year is the greater of 100 percent or the percentage (if any) by which— (A) the aggregate amount of contributions made to authorized committees of candidates for the most recent election for the office of President from sources other than payments under the Democracy Dollars Program; exceeded (B) the aggregate amount of contributions made to such authorized committees for such election that consisted of payments under the Program, including payments made to such authorized committees by other political committees using payments under the Program (as described in section 105(b)). (c) Treatment of special elections (1) House elections If an eligible individual is a resident of a congressional district in which a special House election will be held, the House election share amount set forth under paragraph (1) of subsection (a) for the individual shall be increased by $10. (2) Senate elections If an eligible individual is a resident of a State in which a special election will be held for the office of Senator, the Senate election share amount set forth under paragraph (2) for the individual shall be increased by $15. (d) No carry-Over of amounts On the last day of each even-numbered year, the amount available under this section with respect to an eligible individual shall be reduced to $0, and no further payments may be made under this Act with respect to elections held in such year. (e) Indexing of amounts In any calendar year after 2019, section 315(c)(1)(B) of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30116(c)(1)(B) base period (f) Prohibiting paying individuals To direct payments to candidates and committees It shall be unlawful— (1) for any person to provide money or anything of value to an eligible individual, or to make an express promise to provide money or anything of value to an eligible individual, in exchange for the eligible individual directing the Democracy Dollar Administrator to make payments to a candidate or committee under the Democracy Dollars Program; or (2) for an eligible individual to solicit money or anything of value from another person in exchange for the eligible individual directing the Democracy Dollar Administrator to make payments to a candidate or committee under the Democracy Dollars Program. 112. Payments to candidates and committees from available amounts (a) Requests by eligible individuals An eligible individual may submit to the Democracy Dollar Administrator a request to make a payment from the amount available to the eligible individual under section 111 to an eligible candidate or political committee identified by the eligible individual, in such amount as the eligible individual may specify. (b) Payments by Democracy Dollar Administrator Upon the expiration of the 5-day period which begins on the date the eligible individual submits a request under subsection (a), the Democracy Dollar Administrator shall make a payment to the eligible candidate or political committee identified by the individual in the request, in the amount specified in the request, unless during such 5-day period, the individual notifies the Administrator that the individual cancels the request. (c) Statement of balance of amounts remaining After making a payment to an eligible candidate or political committee at the direction of an individual, the Democracy Dollar Administrator shall transmit to the individual (as promptly as the Administrator determines to be feasible, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Commission) a statement of the amount remaining for the individual to use for payments under the Democracy Dollars Program during the year. 113. Limitations on amount of payments to candidates and committees (a) Limitations based on type of election The total amount of payments made at the direction of an eligible individual to candidates and the authorized committees of candidates may not exceed— (1) in the case of candidates for House elections, the House election share amount set forth under paragraph (1) of section 111(a); (2) in the case of candidates for election for the office of Senator, the Senate election share amount set forth under paragraph (2) of section 111(a); and (3) in the case of candidates for election for the office of President, the presidential election share amount set forth under paragraph (3) of section 111(a). (b) Special rule for certain Presidential elections In the case of elections for the office of President held in a year in which the incumbent is a candidate— (1) the total amount of payments made at the direction of an eligible individual to candidates and the authorized committees of candidates in primary elections for such office may not exceed 40 percent of the presidential election share amount set forth under paragraph (3) of section 111(a); and (2) the total amount of payments made at the direction of an eligible individual to candidates and the authorized committees of candidates in the general election for such office may not exceed 60 percent of the presidential election share amount set forth under paragraph (3) of section 111(a). 114. Protecting privacy of eligible individuals (a) No treatment of payments as contributions made by individuals to candidates or committees A payment made to a candidate or committee under the Democracy Dollars Program at the direction of an eligible individual, as described in this subtitle, shall not be treated as a contribution made to the candidate or committee by the eligible individual for purposes of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 ( 52 U.S.C. 30101 (b) Ensuring anonymity of individuals directing payments to candidates and committees In making payments to candidates and political committees under this section at the request of an eligible individual, the Democracy Dollar Administrator shall take all practicable steps to ensure that no information relating to the identity of the individual who requests that the payment be made to the candidate or committee is disclosed or otherwise made known to the candidate or the committee, including through the use of blind trusts or similar devices. 115. Remitting unexpended payments (a) Remittance required Not later than the date that is 10 days after the date on which a candidate withdraws from an election or no longer qualifies to be on the ballot for an election, any authorized committee of the candidate to which payments were made under the Program shall remit to the Democracy Dollars Fund under section 301 any amounts in the separate account established by the committee for payments received under the Program (as described in section 103(a)(3)) which remain unexpended as of such date. (b) Reallocation to amounts available for payments at direction of eligible individuals To the greatest extent practicable, the Democracy Dollar Administrator shall increase the amounts available under this subtitle for an eligible individual to make payments under the Democracy Dollars Program to take into account the remittance of unspent amounts under this section by an authorized committee that were attributable to payments made at the request of the eligible individual, and shall allocate such increase— (1) to the House election share set forth for the individual under paragraph (1) of section 111(a), in the case of an authorized committee of a candidate for a House election; (2) to the Senate election share set forth for the individual under paragraph (2) of section 111(a), in the case of an authorized committee of a candidate for election to the office of Senator; and (3) to the presidential election share set forth for the individual under paragraph (3) of section 111(a), in the case of an authorized committee of a candidate for election to the office of President or Vice President. C Public Outreach and Education 121. Public outreach and education program (a) Program required As part of carrying out the Democracy Dollar Program, the Democracy Dollar Administrator, in consultation with the Democracy Fund Commission and such other persons as the Administrator determines to be appropriate, shall develop and carry out a State-based public outreach and education campaign to increase public awareness regarding the ability of eligible individuals to direct that payments to be made to candidates and committees under the Program. (b) Grants authorized In carrying out the public outreach and education program under this subtitle, the Democracy Dollar Administration may make grants to local election officials and nonprofit organizations (including organizations described in section 504(c) (c) Website In carrying out the public outreach and education program under this subtitle, the Democracy Dollar Administrator, in consultation with the Democracy Fund Commission and such other persons as the Administrator determines to be appropriate, shall develop, establish, and update as necessary, a single State-sponsored public website through which the public may obtain, in an easy to understand and user-friendly format, information about the Democracy Dollar Program, including the ability of eligible individuals to direct payments to be made to candidates and committees under the Program. (d) Social media The Democracy Dollar Administrator may use publicly available social media platforms to supplement the public outreach and education program under this subtitle and to support the operation of the pubic website developed and established under subsection (c). 122. Requiring materials to be provided in minority languages As part of carrying out the Democracy Dollar Program, the Democracy Dollar Administrator shall ensure that forms, materials, and information relating to the Program are provided in the applicable language of language minority groups, as defined in section 203 of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 ( 52 U.S.C. 10503 123. Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this subtitle such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2019 through 2023. II Democracy Fund Commission 201. Establishment There is hereby established the Democracy Fund Commission (in this Act referred to as the Commission 202. Membership (a) Appointment (1) In general The Commission shall be composed of 5 members appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. (2) Qualifications An individual is eligible to serve as a Member of the Commission if the individual is a retired judge of the United States. (3) Restrictions on outside employment A member of the Commission may not engage in any other business, vocation, or employment. Any individual who is engaging in any other business, vocation, or employment at the time of the individual’s appointment to the Commission shall terminate or liquidate such activity no later than 90 days after such appointment. (4) Vacancies; no effect on authority of remaining members A vacancy in the membership of the Commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment, and shall have no effect on the authority of the remaining members of the Commission to carry out their duties under this Act. (b) Term of service (1) Single 10-year term Except as provided in paragraphs (2) and (3), a member of the Commission shall serve for a term of 10 years, and may not be reappointed to an additional term, except that an individual may serve after the expiration of that individual’s term until a successor has begun serving as a member of the Commission. (2) Staggering of initial terms Of the members first appointed to the Commission— (A) one (as designated at the time of appointment) shall serve for a term of 2 years; (B) one (as designated at the time of appointment) shall serve for a term of 4 years; (C) one (as designated at the time of appointment) shall serve for a term of 6 years; and (D) one (as designated at the time of appointment) shall serve for a term of 8 years. (3) Permitting individuals serving initial staggered term to be reappointed to a full term An individual who is one of the members first appointed to the Commission to serve for an initial term of 2 years under subparagraph (A) of paragraph (2) or to serve for an initial term of 4 years under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (2) may be appointed subsequently to serve a term of 10 years under paragraph (1). (4) Vacancy An individual appointed to fill a vacancy occurring in the membership of the Commission before the expiration of the term for which the individual’s predecessor was appointed shall serve only for the remainder of that term. (c) Compensation Each member of the Commission shall receive compensation at a rate equivalent to the most recent rate of compensation applicable to the individual as a judge of the United States. (d) Process in event of deadlock If a vote by the members of the Commission on any matter results in a tie, the vote of the longest-serving member (or, in the case of members first appointed to serve for initial terms under paragraph (2) of subsection (b), the vote of the member appointed for the longest term) shall prevail. (e) Conforming amendment to Executive Schedule Level IV Positions Section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following: Member, Democracy Fund Commission. . 203. Staff (a) Authority To appoint staff The Commission may appoint and fix the pay of such personnel as the Commission considers appropriate. (b) Applicability of certain civil service laws The personnel of the Commission may be appointed without regard to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, governing appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of that title relating to classification and General Schedule pay rates, except that an individual so appointed may not receive pay in excess of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule. (c) Experts and consultants The Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services to the same extent as is authorized by section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not to exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay in effect for grade GS–15 of the General Schedule ( 5 U.S.C. 5332 (d) Staff of Federal agencies Upon request of the Commission, the head of any Federal department or agency may detail, on a reimbursable basis, any of the personnel of that department or agency to the Commission to assist it in carrying out its duties. 204. Functions The Commission shall administer the Democracy Dollars Program under this Act. In administering the Program, the Commission shall carry out the following: (1) The Commission shall promulgate regulations to carry out the Democracy Dollars Program, including regulations applicable to State implementation plans under section 205, and shall review the regulations not less frequently than every 4 years. (2) The Commission shall solicit and review applications from States for the approval of State implementation plans under section 205(b). (3) In the case of States whose implementation plans are approved under section 205(b), the Commission shall monitor and audit the performance of such States in carrying out such plans. (4) In accordance with section 206, the Commission carry out the Democracy Dollars Program with respect to States that do not have an approved implementation plan in effect. (5) The Commission shall carry out such other activities as the Commission considers appropriate to administer the Democracy Dollars Program. 205. State responsibility for implementation of Program (a) Responsibility for administration of Program Except as provided in section 206, each State shall administer the Democracy Dollars Program with respect to individuals who are residents of the State, in accordance with a State implementation plan approved by the Commission under subsection (b). (b) Approval of State implementation plans (1) Approval by Commission Each State shall submit its plan for administering the Democracy Dollars Program to the Commission, who shall approve the plan if the Commission finds that the plan meets each of the following conditions: (A) The plan includes such provisions and safeguards as are necessary to ensure the effective administration of the Program in the State in a nonpartisan and competent manner. (B) If the plan permits the use of private financial intermediaries to assist in the processing of requests made by eligible individuals to make payments to candidates and political committees under subtitle B of title I— (i) to the greatest extent feasible, the State uses a competitive bidding process to select such intermediaries for participation in the implementation of the plan; and (ii) the plan requires these intermediaries to meet the requirements of section 114(b) (relating to ensuring the anonymity of such individuals) and to take actions to deter fraud and abuse. (C) The plan is overseen by a certified authority designated by the State. (D) The plan meets such other requirements as the Commission may by regulation require. (2) Period for which approved plan is in effect If the Commission approves a State plan under this subsection, the plan shall be in effect for a 4-year period, and the Commission may extend the plan for additional 4-year periods at the request of the State if the Commission finds that the plan continues to meet the conditions set forth in paragraph (1). (c) Payment of costs of implementation (1) Authorization to receive payments A State whose implementation plan under this subtitle is approved and in effect with respect to a year may receive payments from the Commission to cover the costs of carrying out the plan during the year, in the form of advance payments in accordance with paragraph (2) or reimbursement in accordance with paragraph (3), at the option of the State. (2) Eligibility to receive advance payments A State is eligible to receive advance payments under this subsection with respect to a year if the State submits to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an application containing— (A) a statement of the reasonable and necessary costs the State expects to incur in carrying out its implementation plan under this subtitle during the year; and (B) such other information and assurances as the Commission may require. (3) Eligibility to receive reimbursement A State is eligible to receive reimbursement under this subsection for the reasonable and necessary costs the State incurred in carrying out its implementation plan during a year if the State submits to the Commission, at such time and in such form as the Commission may require, an application containing— (A) a statement of the reasonable and necessary costs the State incurred in carrying out its implementation plan during the year; and (B) such other information and assurances as the Commission may require. (4) Authorization of appropriations There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as are necessary for payments under this subsection. (d) Revocation of approval; recapture of advance payments If the Commission determines that the implementation plan of a State whose implementation plan under this subtitle is approved is no longer in compliance with the applicable requirements for such a plan, or if the Commission determines that the State is administering the plan in a biased or incompetent manner— (1) the Commission shall revoke the approval of the plan; and (2) the State shall repay the Commission for any advance payments made under subsection (c) with respect to any period during which the plan was not in compliance with such requirements or was administered in a biased or incompetent manner. 206. Administration of program in case of States without approved implementation plans in effect (a) Administration by Commission authorized If a State does not have an approved State implementation plan in effect with respect to a year under section 205, the Commission shall administer the Democracy Dollars Program during the year with respect to individuals who are residents of the State, in accordance with a Federal implementation plan for the State that meets the requirements of subsection (b). (b) Availability of Federal receivership in case of revocation on grounds of bias or incompetence (1) Receivership If a State does not have an approved State implementation plan in effect because, in accordance with subsection (d) of section 205, the Commission revoked its approval of a State implementation plan on the grounds that the State administered the plan in a biased or incompetent manner, the Commission may file an action to appoint a receiver to administer the Democracy Dollars Program in the State. (2) Procedures for consideration of request for receivership In any action brought by the Commission to appoint a receiver under this subsection, the following rules shall apply: (A) The action shall be filed in the appropriate district court of the United States and shall be heard by a 3-judge court convened pursuant to section 2284 of title 28, United States Code. (B) A final decision in the action shall be reviewable only by appeal directly to the Supreme Court of the United States. Such appeal shall be taken by the filing of a notice of appeal within 10 days, and the filing of a jurisdictional statement within 30 days, of the entry of the final decision. (C) It shall be the duty of the appropriate district court of the United States and the Supreme Court of the United States to advance on the docket and to expedite to the greatest extent possible the disposition of the action and the appeal. (c) Federal implementation plan described A Federal implementation plan for a State meets the requirements of this subsection if— (1) the plan meets the conditions described in paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 205(b) which would apply to a State implementation plan of the State under such section; (2) to the extent that the Commission requests information and assistance from the State in order to carry out the plan, the plan provides for a method by which the Commission may reimburse the State for the costs incurred in providing such information and assistance; and (3) the plan meets such other requirements as the Commission may require. III Democracy Dollars Fund 301. Democracy Dollars Fund (a) Establishment There is established in the Treasury of the United States a fund to be known as the Democracy Dollars Fund Fund (b) Uses of Fund Amounts in the Fund shall be used— (1) for payments to candidates and political committees under subtitle B of title I; (2) for advance payments and reimbursements to States under section 205; (3) for payments to States as described in paragraph (2) of section 206(b); and (4) for the administration of the Democracy Dollars Program by the Democracy Fund Commission. (c) Contents of Fund The Fund shall consist of— (1) amounts appropriated or transferred to the Fund under law, including amounts transferred under section 9006(d)(2) (2) repayments made by States under paragraph (2) of section 205(d); (3) unspent payments under the Program which are remitted under section 115; (4) civil penalties assessed under section 401; and (5) interest earned on balances of the Fund. (d) Authority To make payments at request of State or Democracy Fund Commission With respect to a payment made under the Program at the direction of an eligible individual pursuant to section 112, the Secretary of the Treasury shall make such payment from the Fund upon the request of the Democracy Dollar Administrator for the individual involved. 302. Termination of Presidential Election Campaign Fund; transfer of balance to Democracy Dollars Fund (a) Termination of designation of income tax payments Section 6096 (d) Termination This section shall not apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2016. . (b) Termination of fund and account (1) Termination of presidential election campaign fund (A) In general Chapter 95 of subtitle H of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 9014. Termination The provisions of this chapter shall not apply with respect to any presidential election (or any presidential nominating convention) after the date of the enactment of this section, or to any candidate in such an election. . (B) Transfer of remaining funds Section 9006 of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection: (d) Transfer of funds remaining after termination Of the amounts in the fund as of the date of the enactment of this subsection— (1) the Secretary shall transfer $63,002,400 to the 10-Year Pediatric Research Initiative Fund described in section 9008(i)(2), to be available as described in such section; and (2) the Secretary shall transfer the remainder to the Democracy Dollars Fund under title III of the Democracy Dollars Act. . (2) Termination of account Chapter 96 of subtitle H of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new section: 9043. Termination The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to any candidate with respect to any presidential election after the date of the enactment of this section. . (c) Clerical amendments (1) The table of sections for chapter 95 of subtitle H of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Sec. 9014. Termination. . (2) The table of sections for chapter 96 of subtitle H of such Code is amended by adding at the end the following new item: Sec. 9043. Termination. . IV Miscellaneous Provisions 401. Violations and penalties (a) Improper use of Democracy Dollars payments If the Democracy Dollar Administrator determines that any payment made under this Act to a candidate or committee was not used as provided for in this Act, the Administrator shall so notify the candidate or committee, and may impose a civil penalty on the candidate or committee in an amount equal to 500 percent of the amount of the payment that was used improperly. (b) Improper use of outside funds by candidates and authorized committees receiving Democracy Dollar payments If the Democracy Dollar Administrator determines that a candidate, including an authorized committee of the candidate, receiving a payment under this Act with respect to an election used amounts in connection with an election occurring in the election cycle involved in violation of section 103(c), the Administrator shall so notify the candidate or committee, and may impose a civil penalty on the candidate or committee in an amount equal to 200 percent of the amounts used by the candidate or committee in violation of section 103(c) in connection with the election. (c) Criminal penalties (1) Imposition of penalty Any person who knowingly and willfully commits a violation of this Act which involves the making, receiving, or reporting of any amounts— (A) aggregating $25,000 or more during a calendar year shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 5 years, or both; or (B) aggregating $2,000 or more (but less than $25,000) during a calendar year shall be fined under title 18, United States Code, or imprisoned for not more than 1 year, or both. (2) Referral to Attorney General If the Democracy Dollar Administrator determines that there is probable cause to believe that a knowing and willful violation of this Act has occurred, the Administrator may refer such apparent violation to the Attorney General. 402. Democracy Dollar Administrator defined In this Act, the Democracy Dollar Administrator (1) in the case of an individual who is a resident of a State with a State implementation plan approved by the Democracy Fund Commission under section 205(b), the official of the State who is designated to administer the Democracy Dollars Program in the State under such plan; or (2) in the case of an individual who is not a resident of a State described in paragraph (1), the Democracy Fund Commission under section 206. 403. Other definitions In this Act— (1) each of the terms candidate election authorized committee political committee 52 U.S.C. 30101 (2) the term election cycle (3) the term House election (4) the term State V Severability 501. Severability If any provision of this Act or any amendment made by this Act, or the application of a provision of this Act or an amendment made by this Act to any person or circumstance, is held to be unconstitutional, the remainder of this Act, and the application of the provisions to any person or circumstance, shall not be affected by the holding.

Summary: Democracy Dollars Act This bill establishes the Democracy Fund Commission to operate a Democracy Dollars Program under which individuals eligible to vote may direct payments to (1) candidates for federal office who meet specified donor thresholds, or (2) eligible political committees.