Arkansas Administrative Code › Agency 153 - Arkansas Ethics Commission › Rule 153.00.21-002 - Rules on Campaign Contribution Limit

Current through Register Vol. 49, No. 6, June, 2024
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Definitions
(a)
Approved political
		  action committee
- As used in these rules, the term
		  "approved political action committee" means any person that receives
		  contributions from one (1) or more persons in order to make contributions to
		  candidates, ballot question committees, legislative question committees,
		  political parties, county political party committees, or other political action
		  committees; does not accept any contribution or cumulative contributions in
		  excess of five thousand dollars ($5,000) from any person in any calendar year;
		  and has registered pursuant to Ark. Code Ann. §
								7-6-215
		  prior to making contributions. "Approved political action committee" does not
		  include political parties, county political party committees, the candidate's
		  own campaign committee, exploratory committees, ballot question committees, or
		  legislative question committees.
(b)
Candidate
- As used in these rules, the
		  term "candidate" means any individual who has knowingly and willingly taken
		  affirmative action, including solicitation of funds, for the purpose of seeking
		  nomination for or election to any public office.
(c)
Contribution
- As used in these rules,
		  the term "contribution" means, whether direct or indirect, advances, deposits,
		  or transfers of funds, contracts, or obligations, whether or not legally
		  enforceable, payments, gifts, subscriptions, assessments, payment for services,
		  dues, advancements, forbearance, loans, or pledges or promises of money or
		  anything of value, whether or not legally enforceable, to a candidate,
		  committee, or holder of elective office made for the purpose of influencing the
		  nomination or election of any candidate;
"Contribution" includes the purchase of tickets for events such
			 as dinners, luncheons, rallies, and similar fundraising events; the granting of
			 discounts or rebates by television stations, radio stations, and newspapers not
			 extended on an equal basis to all candidates for the same office; and any
			 payments for the services of any person serving as an agent of a candidate or
			 committee by a person other than the candidate or committee or persons whose
			 expenditures the candidates or committee must report under subchapter 2,
			 Chapter 6 of Title 7 of the Arkansas Code. The term "contribution" further
			 includes any transfer of anything of value received by a committee from another
			 committee. "Contribution" shall not include noncompensated, nonreimbursed,
			 volunteer personal services or travel.
"Contribution and expenditure" shall not include activity
			 sponsored and funded by a political party to promote its candidates or nominees
			 through events such as dinners, luncheons, rallies, or similar gatherings and
			 shall not include nonpartisan activity designed to encourage individuals to
			 register to vote or to vote or any communication by any membership organization
			 to its members or stockholders if the membership organization or corporation is
			 not organized primarily for the purpose of influencing the nomination for
			 election or election of any candidate.
(d)
County political party
		  committee
- As used in these rules, the term "county
		  political party committee" means a person that is organized at the county level
		  for the purpose of supporting its affiliate party and making contributions; is
		  recognized by an organized political party, as defined in Ark. Code Ann. §
								7-1-101, as being
		  affiliated with that political party; receives contributions from one (1) or
		  more persons in order to make contributions to candidates, ballot question
		  committees, legislative question committees, political parties, political
		  action committees, or other county political party committees; does not accept
		  any contribution or cumulative contributions in excess of five thousand dollars
		  ($5,000) from any person in any calendar year; and registers pursuant to Ark.
		  Code Ann. §
								7-6-226
		  prior to making contributions.
(e)
Election
- As used in these rules, the
		  term "election" means each election to be held to nominate or elect a candidate
		  to any public office, including school elections. For the purposes of these
		  rules, a preferential primary election, a general primary election, a runoff
		  election, a special election, and a general election shall each constitute a
		  separate election.
(f)
Individual
- As used in these rules, the
		  term "individual" means a human being.
(g)
Legislative caucus
		  committee
- As used in these rules, the term "legislative
		  caucus committee" means a person that is composed exclusively of members of the
		  General Assembly, that elects or appoints officers and recognizes identified
		  legislators as members of the organization, and that exists for research and
		  other support of policy development and interests that the membership hold in
		  common. A "legislative caucus committee" includes, but is not limited to, a
		  political party caucus of the General Assembly, the Senate, or the House of
		  Representatives. An organization whose only nonlegislator members are the
		  Lieutenant Governor or the Governor is a "legislative caucus committee" under
		  these rules.
(h)
Person
- As used in these rules, the term
		  "person" means any individual, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint
		  venture, syndicate, labor union, business trust, company, corporation,
		  association, committee, or any other organization or group of persons acting in
		  concert. It shall also include a political party, a county political party
		  committee, and a legislative caucus committee.
(i)
Political
		  party
- As used in these rules, the term "political party"
		  means any group of voters which, at the last-preceding general election, polled
		  for its candidate for Governor in the state or nominees for presidential
		  electors at least three percent (3%) of the entire vote cast for the office; or
		  which has filed a petition with the Secretary of State containing at the time
		  of filing the signatures of at least ten thousand (10,000) registered voters in
		  the State of Arkansas, declaring the intention of organizing a political party,
		  the name of which shall be stated in the declaration, and of participating in
		  the next general election, and which has been declared a new political party by
		  the Secretary of State. When any political party fails to obtain three percent
		  (3%) of the total votes cast at an election for the Office of Governor or
		  nominees for presidential electors, it shall cease to be a political
		  party.