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 FOR MOST CANDIDATES AND THE $250 DISCLOSURE THRESHOLD FOR COUNTY CANDIDATES 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 COMMITTEE, A POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE OR AN ORGANIZED POLITICAL PARTY, BUT NOT TO EXCEED $50 ON AN INDIVIDUAL TAX RETURN OR $100 ON A JOINT RETURN;
REQUIRING AN ORGANIZED POLITICAL PARTY AS DEFINED IN ARKANSAS CODE 7-1-101(1) TO FILE ANNUAL REPORTS WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE ITEMIZING CONTRIBUTORS TO THE PARTY WHO CONTRIBUTE MORE THAN $250 IN THE AGGREGATE ANNUALLY AND DISCLOSING THE AMOUNT AND THE DATE OF THE CONTRIBUTION;
AUTHORIZING MUNICIPALITIES, COUNTIES AND TOWNSHIPS TO ESTABLISH: REASONABLE LIMITATIONS ON THE TIME PERIODS CANDIDATES FOR LOCAL OFFICE SHALL BE ALLOWED TO SOLICIT CONTRIBUTIONS; LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO LOCAL CANDIDATES AT AMOUNTS LOWER THAN THOSE SET BY STATE LAW; AND VOLUNTARY CAMPAIGN EXPENDITURE LIMITS FOR CANDIDATES SEEKING ELECTION TO THEIR RESPECTIVE GOVERNING BODIES;
MAKING THE PROVISIONS OF THE INITIATED ACT EFFECTIVE ON JANUARY 1, 1997 EXCEPT THAT THE PROVISIONS ESTABLISHING LIMITS ON CONTRIBUTIONS TO CANDIDATES AND INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE COMMITTEES SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON NOVEMBER 6, 1996; REPEALING ALL LAWS OR PARTS OF LAWS IN CONFLICT WITH THE INITIATED ACT; MAKING THE PROVISIONS OF THE INITIATED ACT SEVERABLE AND AMENDATORY TO THE ARKANSAS CODE OF 1987; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.
Pursuant to A.C.A. § 7-9-108, instructions to canvassers and signers are enclosed herewith.
Sincerely,
WINSTON BRYANT Attorney General