16-913

16-913. Campaign finance reports; reporting of
receipts and disbursements; exemptions; civil penalty

A. Except as provided in subsection K of this section, each political committee
shall file campaign finance reports in the format prescribed by the filing officer
setting forth the committee's receipts and disbursements according to the schedule
prescribed in subsections B and C of this section.

B. In any calendar year during which there is a regularly scheduled election at
which any candidates, measures, questions or propositions appear or may appear on the
ballot, the political committee shall file each of the following campaign finance
reports:

1. A report covering the period beginning January 1 through May 31, filed no later
than June 30.

2. A preelection report, which shall be filed not less than twelve days before any
election and which shall be complete through the twentieth day before the election.

3. A postelection report, which shall be filed not more than thirty days after any
election and which shall be complete through the twentieth day after the election.

C. In any other calendar year, the political committee shall file a report covering
the period beginning twenty-one days after the date of the election in the preceding
calendar year through December 31 of the nonelection year filed no later than January 31
of the following calendar year.

D. In the event that a political committee receives no contributions and makes no
expenditures during a period in which it is required to file a campaign finance report,
the committee treasurer or if the treasurer is unavailable the candidate, in lieu of
filing a report required by subsection B of this section, may sign and file a form
prescribed by the secretary of state indicating no activity during the specific reporting
period.

E. In lieu of the reports prescribed in subsections B and C of this section, a
candidate's political committee that remains active after an election due to outstanding
debts may file a document no later than January 31 in a form prescribed by the secretary
of state that states that the committee does not intend to receive any contributions or
make any expenditures during the year. If a candidate's political committee does receive
a contribution or make an expenditure during that year, the committee shall report as
prescribed by subsection B or C of this section.

F. A judge who has filed a declaration of the desire to be retained in office is
exempt from filing any report required by this section if the judge, not later than
twelve days before the general election, files a statement signed and sworn to by the
judge certifying that the judge has received no contributions, has made no expenditures
and has no campaign committee and that the judge does not intend to receive
contributions, make expenditures or have a campaign committee for the purpose of
influencing the result of the vote on the question of the judge's retention. With
respect to superior court judges, a statement filed pursuant to this subsection is
effective until the earlier of twelve days before the third general election following
the filing of this statement or the judge receives contributions, makes expenditures or
authorizes a campaign committee. Such a statement filed by a supreme court justice or a
court of appeals judge is effective until the earlier of twelve days before the fourth
general election following the filing of this statement or the justice or judge receives
contributions, makes expenditures or authorizes a campaign committee.

G. Reports in connection with special or recall elections shall conform to the
filing deadlines set forth in subsection B of this section.

H. Except as provided in section 16-916, subsection B and subsection K of this
section, a political committee shall comply with the requirements of this section in each
jurisdiction in this state in which the committee has filed a statement of organization
until the committee terminates pursuant to section 16-914, and its statements,
designations and reports shall be filed with each officer with whom it has filed a
statement of organization, as appropriate.

I. Each report required to be filed pursuant to this section shall be signed by the
committee treasurer or the candidate or the designating individual if the treasurer is
unavailable and shall contain the certification of the signer under penalty of perjury
that the report is true and complete.

J. A political committee and the candidate, in the case of a candidate's campaign
committee, or the designating individual, in the case of an exploratory committee, who
violate this section are subject to the penalty prescribed in section 16-918.

K. A standing political committee shall file reports with the secretary of state
and is exempt from filing a report with any other jurisdiction in which it is active.
The reports shall be in an electronic format as prescribed by the secretary of state or
by use of the internet. The secretary of state shall promptly make the reports available
to the public on the internet and shall make the reports available by electronic means by
request. The standing committee shall file the following reports:

1. A preelection report that is due as prescribed by subsection B, paragraph 2 of
this section shall be filed for each consolidated election date prescribed by section
16-204.

2. A postelection report that is due as prescribed by subsection B, paragraph 3 of
this section shall be filed for each consolidated election date prescribed by section
16-204.

3. An annual report that is due by January 31 in the year immediately following the
calendar year that is the subject of the report.