Source: http://www.wvlegislature.gov/bill_status/bills_text.cfm?billdoc=hb3032%20intr.htm&yr=2013&sesstype=RS&i=3032
Timestamp: 2018-04-26 19:47:43
Document Index: 730291838

Matched Legal Cases: ['§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§3', '§5', '§1', '§3']

hb3032 intr
(By Delegates Skinner, Lawrence, Poore, Stowers,
Miley, Manchin, Hunt, Sponaugle, Lynch,
Reynolds and Fleischauer)
A BILL to amend and reenact §3-8-1, §3-8-1a, §3-8-2 and §3-8-2b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended; and to amend said code by adding thereto a new section, designated §3-8-2d, all relating to the regulation and control of elections; providing certain legislative findings; amending definitions; amending reporting requirements for independent expenditures; providing for electronic filing of reports of independent expenditures; and providing for disclosure of certain transfers of things of value; authorizing the Secretary of State to promulgate rules relating to reports of independent expenditures; retaining prohibition on corporate contribution; and repealing the ban on corporate independent expenditures.
That §3-8-1, §3-8-1a, §3-8-2 and §3-8-2b of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, be amended and reenacted; and that said code be amended by adding thereto a new section, designated §3-8- 2d, all to read as follows:
_____(1) According to the United States Census Bureau, West Virginia's population as of 2012 is 1,808,344 was approximately 1,855,412, ranking 37th 38th among the fifty states.
(2) State Senate districts have a population of approximately one hundred six thousand three hundred seventy-three 109,142, and the average Delegate district has a population of approximately thirty-one thousand, one hundred seventy-eight 27,693. The size of these districts is substantially smaller than the United States Senatorial and Congressional Districts.
(3) When the relatively small size of the state's legislative and other voting districts is combined with the economics and typical uses of various forms of electioneering communication, history shows that nonbroadcast media is and will continue to be a widely used means of making campaign related communications to target relevant audiences. Consequently, nonbroadcast communications are prevalent during elections.
(9) Nonbroadcast media such as mass mailings, telephone banks, leaflets, pamphlets, flyers, outdoor advertising, or publications in newspapers, magazines and other periodicals, newspapers, magazines or other periodicals have proven to be effective means of election communication in West Virginia. Broadcast, satellite and nonbroadcast media have all been used to influence election outcomes.
(11) Nonbroadcast media communications in the final days of a campaign can be particularly damaging to the public's confidence in the election process because they reduce or make impossible an effective response.
(16) Independent expenditures intended to influence candidates' campaigns in the state are increasingly utilizing nonbroadcast media to support or defeat candidates.
(B) Has filed a declaration of candidacy under section twenty- three, article five of this chapter;
_____(8) "Covered transfer" means any transfer or payment of funds by a person, other than an individual, to another person if the person making the transfer or payment:
_____(A) Designates, requests, or suggests that the amounts be used for;
_____(i) Independent expenditures or electioneering communications; or
_____(ii) Making a transfer to another person for the purpose of making or paying for an independent expenditure or an electioneering communication;
_____(B) Made such transfer or payment in response to a solicitation or other request for a donation or payment for;
_____(i) The making of or paying for an independent expenditure or electioneering communication; or
_____(ii) Making a transfer to another person for the purpose of making or paying for such independent expenditure or electioneering communication;
_____(C) Engaged in discussions with the recipient of the transfer or payment regarding.
_____(ii) Donating or transferring any amount of such transfer or payment to another person for the purpose of making or paying for such independent expenditure or electioneering communication;
_____(D) Made independent expenditures or electioneering communications in an aggregate amount of $50,000 or more during the two year period ending on the date of the transfer or payment, or knew or had reason to know that the person receiving the transfer or payment made such disbursements in such an aggregate amount during that two year period; or
_____(E) Knew or had reason to know that the person receiving the transfer or payment would make independent expenditures or electioneering communications in an aggregate amount of $50,000 or more during the two year period beginning on the date of the transfer or payment.
_____(9) "Covered Transfer EXCLUSIONS.-The term 'covered transfer' does not include any of the following:
_____(A) A disbursement made by a person in the ordinary course of any trade or business conducted by the person or in the form of investments made by the person.
_____(B) A disbursement made by a person if-
_____(i) The person prohibited, in writing, the use of such disbursement for independent expenditures, electioneering communications, and covered transfers; 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 independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or covered transfers.
_____(10) "Covered Transfer" EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN TRANSFERS AMONG AFFILIATES-
_____(A) EXCEPTION FOR CERTAIN TRANSFERS AMONG AFFILIATES.-The term "covered transfer" does not include an amount transferred by one person to another person which is treated as a transfer between affiliates under subparagraph (B) if the aggregate amount transferred during the year by such person to that same person is equal to or less than $50,000.
_____(B) DESCRIPTION OF TRANSFERS BETWEEN AFFILIATES- A transfer of amounts from one person to another person shall be treated as a transfer between affiliates if;
_____(i) One of the persons is an affiliate of the other person; or
_____(ii) Each of the persons is an affiliate of the same person; except that the transfer shall not be treated as a transfer between affiliates if one of the persons is established for the purpose of making independent expenditures or electioneering communications.
_____(C) DETERMINATION OF AFFILIATE STATUS- For purposes of subparagraph (B), a person is an affiliate of another person if:
_____(i) The governing instrument of the person requires it to be bound by decisions of the other person;
_____(ii) The governing board of the person includes persons who are specifically designated representatives of the other person or are members of the governing board, officers, or paid executive staff members of the other person, or whose service on the governing board is contingent upon the approval of the other person; or
_____(iii) The person is chartered by the other person.
_____(8)(11) "Direct costs of purchasing, producing or disseminating electioneering communications" means:
(9)(12) "Disclosure date" means either of the following:
(10)(13) "Election" 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 "nomination" as used in this article.
(11)(14) (A) "Electioneering communication" means any paid communication made by broadcast, cable or satellite signal, or published in any newspaper, magazine or other periodical that any paid communication made by broadcast, cable or satellite signal, mass mailing, telephone bank, leaflet, pamphlet, flyer or outdoor advertising or published in any newspaper, magazine or other periodical that:
(I) Thirty Sixty days before a primary election at which the nomination for office sought by the candidate is to be determined; or
(II) Sixty Ninety days before a general or special election at which the office sought by the candidate is to be filled; and
(vi)(v) 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) (vi) 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) (vii) 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.
(12)(15)"Expressly advocating" means any communication that:
(A) Uses phrases such as "vote for the Governor," "reelect your Senator," "support the Democratic nominee for Supreme Court," "cast your ballot for the Republican challenger for House of Delegates," "Smith for House," "Bob Smith in '04," "vote Pro-Life" or "vote Pro-Choice" accompanied by a listing of clearly identified candidates described as Pro-Life or Pro-Choice, "vote against Old Hickory," "defeat" accompanied by a picture of one or more candidates, "reject 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 "Smith's the One," "Jones '06," "Baker", etc; or
(13)(16) "Financial 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.
(14)(17) "Fund-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.
(15)(18) "Independent expenditure" means an expenditure by a person:
(16)(19) "Membership 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. "Membership organization" does not include organizations that grant membership upon receiving a contribution.
(17)(20) "Name" 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.
(18)(21) "Person" means an individual, corporation, partnership, committee, association and any other organization or group of individuals.
(19)(22) "Political 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:
(20)(23) "Political committee" means any candidate committee, political action committee or political party committee.
(21)(24) "Political 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.
(22)(25) "Political 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.
(23)(26) "Political 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.
(24)(27) "Targeted 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.
(25)(28) "Two-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.
(26)(29) "Unaffiliated 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.
(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 following information:
(E) (1) (i) If the person who makes the independent expenditure pays for the expenditure exclusively using funds in a segregated bank account consisting of funds that were contributed, donated, transferred, or paid directly to the account by persons other than the person who controls the account, for each contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment to the account, the name and address of each person who made the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment during the period covered by the statement; but only if the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment was made by a person who made contributions, donations, transfers, payments of dues, or payments to the account in an aggregate amount of more than $250 between the first day of the preceding calendar year, and the disclosure date.
_____(ii) If the person who makes the independent expenditure pays for the expenditure using funds other than funds in a segregated bank account described in subpart (E)(1)(I), the name and address of each person who made the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment during the period covered by the statement; but only if such contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment was made by a person who made contributions, donations, transfers, payments of dues, or payments to the account in an aggregate amount of more than $250 between the first day of the preceding calendar year, and the disclosure date.
_____(2)(i) The requirement to include in a statement filed under this section the information described in subparts (E) and (F) does not apply to amounts received by the person who makes the independent expenditure in the ordinary course of any trade or business conducted by the person who makes the independent expenditure or in the form of investments in the person making the independent expenditure.
_____(ii) The requirement to include in a statement submitted under this section the information described in subparts (E) and (F) does not apply if:
_____(I) The person described in such subpart prohibited, in writing, the use of the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment made by such person for independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or covered transfers; and
_____(II) The person who makes the independent expenditure 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 for independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or covered transfers. 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.
(5) (1)(i) If the person who makes the electioneering communication pays for the expenditure exclusively using funds in a segregated bank account consisting of funds that were contributed, donated, transferred, or paid directly to the account by persons other than the person who controls the account, for each contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment to the account-the name and address of each person who made the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment during the period covered by the statement; but only if the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment was made by a person who made contributions, donations, transfers, payments of dues, or payments to the account in an aggregate amount of more than $1000 between the first day of the preceding calendar year, and the disclosure date.
_____(ii) If the person who makes the electioneering communication pays for the expenditure using funds other than funds in a segregated bank account described in subpart (b)(5)(i)-the name and address of each person who made the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment during the period covered by the statement; but only if the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment was made by a person who made contributions, donations, transfers, payments of dues, or payments to the account in an aggregate amount of more than $1000 between the first day of the preceding calendar year, and the disclosure date.
_____(2)(i) The requirement to include in a statement filed under this section the information described in subparts (5)(1)(i) and (5)(1)(ii) does not apply to amounts received by the person who makes the electioneering communication in the ordinary course of any trade or business conducted by the person who makes the electioneering communication or in the form of investments in the person making the electioneering communication.
_____(ii) The requirement to include in a statement submitted under this section the information described in subparts (5)(1)(i) and (5)(1)(ii) does not apply if:
_____(I) The person described in the subparagraph prohibited, in writing, the use of the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment made by the person for independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or covered transfers; and
_____(II) The person who makes the independent expenditure 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 for independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or covered transfers. The names and addresses of any contributors who contributed a total of more than $1,000 between the first day of the preceding calendar year and the disclosure date and whose contributions were used to pay for electioneering communications.
§3-8-2d. Disclosure of covered transfers.
_____(a) Every person, other than an individual, who makes a covered transfer equal to:
_____(1) A total of §5,000 or more; or
_____(2) A total of §1,000 or more on or after the fifteenth day but more than twelve hours before the day of any election shall, within twenty-four hours of each disclosure date, file with the Secretary of State a statement which contains all of the information listed in subsection (b) of this section.
_____(b)(1) The name of the person who made the covered transfer, the name of any person sharing or exercising direction or control over the activities of the person who made the covered transfer, and the name of the custodian of the books and accounts of the person who made the covered transfer;
_____(2) The principal place of business of the person who made the covered transfer;
_____(3)(i)(I) If the person who makes the covered transfer pays for the transfer exclusively using funds in a segregated bank account consisting of funds that were contributed, donated, transferred, or paid directly to the account by persons other than the person who controls the account, for each contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment to the account-the name and address of each person who made the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment during the period covered by the statement; but only if the contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment was made by a person who made contributions, donations, transfers, payments of dues, or payments to the account in an aggregate amount of more than $1000 between the first day of the preceding calendar year, and the disclosure date.
_____(II) If the person who makes the covered transfer pays for the transfer using funds other than funds in a segregated bank account described in subpart (3)(i)(I)-the name and address of each person who made such contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment during the period covered by the statement; but only if such contribution, donation, transfer, payment of dues, or other payment was made by a person who made contributions, donations, transfers, payments of dues, or payments in an aggregate amount of more than $1000 between the first day of the preceding calendar year, and the disclosure date.
_____(ii) The requirement to include in a statement filed under this section the information described in subparts (3)(i)(I) and (3)(i)(II) does not apply to amounts received by the person who makes the covered transfer in the ordinary course of any trade or business conducted by the person who makes the covered transfer or in the form of investments in the person making the covered transfer.
_____(iii) The requirement to include in a statement submitted under this section the information described in subparts (3)(i)(I) and (3)(i)(II) does not apply if:
_____(II) The person who makes the covered transfer 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 for independent expenditures, electioneering communications, or covered transfers.
_____(c) With regard to the persons required to be listed pursuant to subdivision (3) of this section, the statement shall also include:
_____(1) The month, day and year that the contributions of any single contributor exceeded $250;
_____(2) If the person making the contribution is a political action committee, the name and address the political action committee registered with the State Election Commission;
_____(3) 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;
_____(4) A description of the contribution, if other than money;
_____(5) The value in dollars and cents of the covered transfer.
_____(d) Within five business days after receiving a disclosure of covered transfer statement pursuant to this section, the Secretary of State shall make information in the statement available to the public through the Internet.
_____(e) For the purposes of this section, a person is considered to have made a covered transfer when the person has entered into a contract to make the covered transfer at a future time.
_____(f) The Secretary of State is hereby directed to propose legislative rules and emergency rules implementing this section for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code.
_____(g) This section does not apply to candidates for federal office. This section is not intended to restrict or to expand any limitations on, obligations of or prohibitions against any candidate, committee, agent, contributor or contribution contained in any other provision of this chapter.
NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to amend provisions relating to the regulation and control of elections.
§3-8-2d is new; therefore, it has been completely underscored.