Mr. Neil Sealy, ACORN 523 West 15th Little Rock, Arkansas 72204
This is in response to your request for certification, pursuant to A.C.A. § 7-9-107, of the following popular name and ballot title for a proposed initiated act:
(Popular Name) THE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS AND DISCLOSURE ACT (Ballot Title) AN ACT AMENDING ARKANSAS LAWS BY SPECIFYING REGISTRATION, RESTRICTIONS, AND DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS FOR SMALL DONOR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES, INCLUDING AN ANNUAL LIMITATION OF $25 PER INDIVIDUAL ON CONTRIBUTIONS ACCEPTED BY SMALL DONOR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES AND AN ANNUAL LIMITATION OF $500 PER PERSON ON CONTRIBUTIONS ACCEPTED BY INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES;
DEFINING A SMALL DONOR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE AS ANY PERSON, EXCLUDING AN ORGANIZED POLITICAL PARTY, THE CANDIDATE'S CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE, OR AN EXPLORATORY COMMITTEE, WHO IS REGISTERED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND RECEIVES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ONE OR MORE INDIVIDUALS IN ORDER TO MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES; DEFINING AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE AS ONE EXPRESSLY ADVOCATING THE ELECTION OR DEFEAT OF A CLEARLY IDENTIFIED CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE AND AS ONE MADE INDEPENDENTLY OF THE CANDIDATE AND THE CANDIDATE'S AUTHORIZED COMMITTEES OR AGENTS; DEFINING AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEE AS ANY PERSON WHO IS REGISTERED WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND RECEIVES CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANY PERSON IN ORDER TO MAKE AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE;
REQUIRING SMALL DONOR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEES TO REGISTER ANNUALLY WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND DISCLOSE THE SAME INFORMATION WHICH BY LAW AN APPROVED POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE MUST DISCLOSE;
REQUIRING PERSONS AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES MAKING INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURES IN EXCESS OF $500 TO FILE REPORTS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE 30 DAYS BEFORE, 7 DAYS BEFORE AND 30 DAYS AFTER SPECIFIED CANDIDATE ELECTIONS AND TO DISCLOSE IDENTIFYING INFORMATION ABOUT THE PERSONS OR COMMITTEES AND THE SAME INFORMATION REGARDING CONTRIBUTIONS, CONTRIBUTORS AND EXPENDITURES AS REQUIRED OF CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE OTHER THAN SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWNSHIP, MUNICIPAL, OR COUNTY OFFICE, AS SET FORTH IN ARKANSAS CODE 7-6-207(b)(1)(A) THROUGH (E); REQUIRING ANY PERSON MAKING AN EXPENDITURE TO CLEARLY NAME AND IDENTIFY THE PERSON IN ALL OF THE PERSON'S COMMUNICATIONS CONCERNING A CANDIDATE AND INCLUDE A NOTICE THAT THE COMMUNICATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE;
REDUCING THE CURRENT $1,000 CONTRIBUTION LIMIT TO $100 PER ELECTION FROM ANY PERSON TO A CANDIDATE FOR ANY OFFICE EXCEPT GOVERNOR, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, SECRETARY OF STATE, TREASURER OF STATE, AUDITOR OF STATE, ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND COMMISSIONER OF STATE LANDS, WHILE LIMITING TO $300 PER ELECTION CONTRIBUTIONS FROM ANY PERSON TO A CANDIDATE FOR THE ABOVE-NAMED OFFICES; PROVIDING, HOWEVER, THAT AN ORGANIZED POLITICAL PARTY OR SMALL DONOR POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE MAY CONTRIBUTE UP TO $2,500 TO A CANDIDATE PER ELECTION;
REQUIRING CANDIDATES WHEN FILING REPORTS OF CONTRIBUTIONS TO DISCLOSE CONTRIBUTORS WHO DONATE MORE THAN $50 (A REDUCTION FROM THE $100 DISCLOSURE THRESHOLD FOUND IN CURRENT LAW);
PURSUANT TO REGULATIONS TO BE ADOPTED BY THE ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION, PERMITTING A SINGLE ANNUAL CREDIT AGAINST INDIVIDUAL ARKANSAS INCOME TAXES EQUAL TO THE TAXPAYER'S AGGREGATE MONEY CONTRIBUTIONS TO A CANDIDATE, A SMALL DONOR POLITICAL ACTION