96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
State of Illinois
2009 and 2010
SB2470

 

Introduced 10/14/2009, by Sen. Michael Noland

 

SYNOPSIS AS INTRODUCED:
 
10 ILCS 5/Art. 9 heading
10 ILCS 5/9-1   from Ch. 46, par. 9-1
10 ILCS 5/9-1.4   from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.4
10 ILCS 5/9-1.5   from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.5
10 ILCS 5/9-1.6   from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.6
10 ILCS 5/9-1.16 new
10 ILCS 5/9-1.17 new
10 ILCS 5/9-1.18 new
10 ILCS 5/9-1.19 new
10 ILCS 5/9-1.20 new
10 ILCS 5/9-1.21 new
10 ILCS 5/9-1.22 new
10 ILCS 5/9-1.23 new
10 ILCS 5/9-1.24 new
10 ILCS 5/9-1.25 new
10 ILCS 5/9-2.5 new
10 ILCS 5/9-2.7 new
10 ILCS 5/9-8.5 new
10 ILCS 5/9-8.7 new
10 ILCS 5/9-10   from Ch. 46, par. 9-10
10 ILCS 5/9-14.5 new
10 ILCS 5/9-29 new

    Amends the Election Code. Makes changes with respect to the disclosure and regulation of campaign finances, including the imposition of contribution limits.


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FISCAL NOTE ACT MAY APPLY

 

 

A BILL FOR

 

SB2470 LRB096 14876 JAM 29742 b

1     AN ACT concerning elections.
 
2     Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois,
3 represented in the General Assembly:
 
4     "Section 5. The Election Code is amended by changing the
5 heading of Article 9 and Sections 9-1, 9-1.4, 9-1.5, 9-1.6, and
6 9-10 and by adding Sections 9-1.16, 9-1.17, 9-1.18, 9-1.19,
7 9-1.20, 9-1.21, 9-1.22, 9-1.23, 9-1.24, 9-1.25, 9-2.5, 9-2.7,
8 9-8.5, 9-8.7, 9-14.5, and 9-29 as follows:
 
9     (10 ILCS 5/Art. 9 heading)
10
ARTICLE 9. DISCLOSURE AND REGULATION OF CAMPAIGN
11
CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

 
12     (10 ILCS 5/9-1)  (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1)
13     Sec. 9-1. As used in this Article, unless the context
14 otherwise requires, the terms defined in Sections 9-1.1 through
15 9-1.25 9-1.13, have the respective meanings as defined in those
16 Sections.
17 (Source: P.A. 86-873.)
 
18     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.4)  (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.4)
19     Sec. 9-1.4. Contribution.
20     (a) "Contribution" means:
21         (1) any gift, subscription, donation, dues, loan,

 

 

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1     advance, deposit of money, or anything of value, knowingly
2     received in connection with the nomination for election,
3     election, or retention of any person to or in public
4     office, in connection with the election of any person as
5     ward or township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or
6     more population, or in connection with any question of
7     public policy;
8         (2) any gift, subscription, donation, dues, loan,
9     advance, deposit of money, or anything of value that
10     constitutes an electioneering communication regardless of
11     whether the communication is made in concert or cooperation
12     with or at the request, suggestion, or knowledge of a
13     candidate, a candidate's authorized local political
14     committee, a State political committee, a political
15     committee in support of or opposition to a question of
16     public policy, or any of their agents;
17         (3) the purchase of tickets for fund-raising events,
18     including but not limited to dinners, luncheons, cocktail
19     parties, and rallies made in connection with the nomination
20     for election, election, or retention of any person to or in
21     public office, in connection with the election of any
22     person as ward or township committeeman in counties of
23     3,000,000 or more population, or in connection with any
24     question of public policy;
25         (4) any transfer of funds between political
26     committees;

 

 

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1         (5) the services of an employee donated by an employer,
2     in which case the contribution shall be listed in the name
3     of the employer, except that any individual services
4     provided voluntarily and without promise or expectation of
5     compensation from any source shall not be deemed a
6     contribution; and
7         (6) any expenditure made in cooperation, consultation,
8     or concert with the committee.
9     (b) "Contribution" does not include:
10         (1) the use of real or personal property and the cost
11     of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily provided
12     by an individual in rendering voluntary personal services
13     on the individual's residential premises for
14     candidate-related activities; provided the value of the
15     service provided does not exceed an aggregate of $150 in a
16     reporting period;
17         (2) communications on any subject by a corporation to
18     its stockholders and executive or administrative personnel
19     and their families, by a labor organization to its members
20     and their families, or by an association to its members and
21     their families;
22         (3) voter registration and other get-out-the-vote
23     campaigns that make no mention of any clearly identified
24     candidate, public question, political party or group, or
25     combination thereof;
26         (4) the establishment, administration, and

 

 

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1     solicitation of contributions to a separate segregated
2     fund to be used for political purposes by a corporation,
3     labor organization, or association; or
4         (5) any secured loan of money by a national or State
5     bank or credit union made in accordance with the applicable
6     banking laws and regulations and in the ordinary course of
7     business; however, the use, ownership, or control of any
8     security for such a loan, if provided by a person other
9     than the candidate or his or her committee, qualifies as a
10     contribution.
11     (c) Interest or other investment income, earnings or
12 proceeds, and refunds or returns of all or part of a
13 committee's previous expenditures shall not be considered
14 contributions for the purposes of Section 9-8.5 but shall be
15 listed with contributions on disclosure reports required by
16 this Article.
17     "Contribution" means-
18         (1) a gift, subscription, donation, dues, loan,
19     advance, or deposit of money or anything of value,
20     knowingly received in connection with the nomination for
21     election, or election, of any person to public office, in
22     connection with the election of any person as ward or
23     township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more
24     population, or in connection with any question of public
25     policy;
26         (1.5) a gift, subscription, donation, dues, loan,

 

 

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1     advance, deposit of money, or anything of value that
2     constitutes an electioneering communication regardless of
3     whether the communication is made in concert or cooperation
4     with or at the request, suggestion, or knowledge of a
5     candidate, a candidate's authorized local political
6     committee, a State political committee, a political
7     committee in support of or opposition to a question of
8     public policy, or any of their agents;
9         (2) the purchase of tickets for fund-raising events,
10     including but not limited to dinners, luncheons, cocktail
11     parties, and rallies made in connection with the nomination
12     for election, or election, of any person to public office,
13     in connection with the election of any person as ward or
14     township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more
15     population, or in connection with any question of public
16     policy;
17         (3) a transfer of funds between political committees;
18     and
19         (4) the services of an employee donated by an employer,
20     in which case the contribution shall be listed in the name
21     of the employer, except that any individual services
22     provided voluntarily and without promise or expectation of
23     compensation from any source shall not be deemed a
24     contribution; but
25          (5) does not include--
26              (a) the use of real or personal property and the

 

 

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1         cost of invitations, food, and beverages, voluntarily
2         provided by an individual in rendering voluntary
3         personal services on the individual's residential
4         premises for candidate-related activities; provided
5         the value of the service provided does not exceed an
6         aggregate of $150 in a reporting period;
7             (b) the sale of any food or beverage by a vendor
8         for use in a candidate's campaign at a charge less than
9         the normal comparable charge, if such charge for use in
10         a candidate's campaign is at least equal to the cost of
11         such food or beverage to the vendor.
12 (Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05.)
 
13     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.5)  (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.5)
14     Sec. 9-1.5. Expenditure defined.
15     (a) "Expenditure" means:
16         (1) any payment, distribution, purchase, loan,
17     advance, deposit, gift of money, or anything of value in
18     connection with the nomination for election, election, or
19     retention of any person to or in public office, in
20     connection with the election of any person as ward or
21     township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more
22     population, or in connection with any question of public
23     policy.
24         (2) any payment, distribution, purchase, loan,
25     advance, deposit, gift of money, or anything of value that

 

 

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1     constitutes an electioneering communication, regardless of
2     whether the communication is made in concert or in
3     cooperation with or at the request, suggestion, or
4     knowledge of a candidate, a candidate's authorized local
5     political committee, a State political committee, a
6     political committee in support of or in opposition to a
7     question of public policy, or any of their agents.
8         (3) a payment, distribution, purchase, loan, advance,
9     deposit, or gift of money or anything of value for any
10     communication aimed at voters that is susceptible of no
11     reasonable interpretation other than as an appeal to vote
12     for or against a specific candidate. A communication is
13     susceptible of no other reasonable interpretation if:
14                 (i) it is made within (A) 60 days before a
15             general election or consolidated election or (B)
16             30 days before a primary election;
17                 (ii) it includes a reference to or description
18             of a clearly identified candidate; or
19                 (iii) it includes statements that (A) refer to
20             the personal qualities, character, or fitness of
21             that candidate, (B) support or condemn that
22             candidate's position or stance on issues, or (C)
23             support or condemn that candidate's public record.
24         (4) any transfer of funds between political
25     committees.
26         (5) a payment for an independent expenditure as defined

 

 

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1     in Section 9-1.16.
2     (b) "Expenditure" does not include – the use of real or
3 personal property and the cost of invitations, food, and
4 beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual in rendering
5 voluntary personal services on the individual's residential
6 premises for candidate-related activities; provided the value
7 of the service provided does not exceed an aggregate of $150 in
8 a reporting period.
9     "Expenditure" means-
10     (1) a payment, distribution, purchase, loan, advance,
11 deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, in connection
12 with the nomination for election, or election, of any person to
13 public office, in connection with the election of any person as
14 ward or township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more
15 population, or in connection with any question of public
16 policy.
17      "Expenditure" also includes a payment, distribution,
18 purchase, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything
19 of value that constitutes an electioneering communication
20 regardless of whether the communication is made in concert or
21 cooperation with or at the request, suggestion, or knowledge of
22 a candidate, a candidate's authorized local political
23 committee, a State political committee, a political committee
24 in support of or opposition to a question of public policy, or
25 any of their agents.
26     However, expenditure does not include - (a) the use of real

 

 

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1 or personal property and the cost of invitations, food, and
2 beverages, voluntarily provided by an individual in rendering
3 voluntary personal services on the individual's residential
4 premises for candidate-related activities; provided the value
5 of the service provided does not exceed an aggregate of $150 in
6 a reporting period;
7         (b) the sale of any food or beverage by a vendor for
8     use in a candidate's campaign at a charge less than the
9     normal comparable charge, if such charge for use in a
10     candidate's campaign is at least equal to the cost of such
11     food or beverage to the vendor.
12     (2) a transfer of funds between political committees.
13 (Source: P.A. 93-574, eff. 8-21-03; 93-615, eff. 11-19-03;
14 93-847, eff. 7-30-04.)
 
15     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.6)  (from Ch. 46, par. 9-1.6)
16     Sec. 9-1.6. Person; whoever. "Person" or "whoever" means an
17 individual, trust, partnership, committee, association,
18 corporation, or any other organization or group of persons as
19 required by the context; however, "natural person" means one
20 human being.
21 (Source: P.A. 78-1183.)
 
22     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.16 new)
23     Sec. 9-1.16. Independent expenditure. "Independent
24 expenditure" means an expenditure by a person:

 

 

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1         (1) expressly advocating the election or defeat of a
2     clearly identified candidate, and
3         (2) that is not made in cooperation, consultation, or
4     concert with or at the request or suggestion of the
5     candidate, candidate's authorized political committee or
6     agents, or agents thereof.
7     For the purpose of this Section, "expressly advocating"
8 includes, but is not limited to, disseminating messages by any
9 means that feature words like "vote for", "vote against",
10 "elect", "support", "cast your ballot for", "Smith for
11 (office)", "defeat", "reject", "retain", or "remove".
 
12     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.17 new)
13     Sec. 9-1.17. Clearly identified or identifiable. "Clearly
14 identified" or "clearly identifiable" means that:
15         (1) the name, voice, image, or likeness of a candidate
16     appears; or
17         (2) the identity of the candidate is apparent by
18     unambiguous reference.
 
19     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.18 new)
20     Sec. 9-1.18. Regular election period. "Regular election
21 period" means any of:
22         (1) the period beginning on January 1 immediately
23     following the date of the general election for the office
24     to which a candidate seeks nomination or election and

 

 

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1     ending the day of the general primary election for that
2     office;
3         (2) the period beginning on the day after the general
4     primary election for the office to which the candidate
5     seeks nomination or election and ending on the December 31
6     after the general election for that office; or
7         (3) the period beginning on the date on which a sitting
8     judge declares for retention and ending 90 days after the
9     retention election.
 
10     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.19 new)
11     Sec. 9-1.19. Municipal election period. "Municipal
12 election period" means the period beginning on July 1
13 immediately following the date of the consolidated primary
14 election or consolidated election at which the office for which
15 the candidate seeks nomination or election is filled and ending
16 on June 30 immediately preceding the date of the next
17 consolidated primary election for that office, unless the
18 office is not filled at the consolidated primary election, in
19 which instance candidates who will seek office in the next
20 upcoming consolidated election may begin a new municipal
21 election period the day after the consolidated primary election
22 and ending on the next June 30.
 
23     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.20 new)
24     Sec. 9-1.20. Labor organization. For the purpose of this

 

 

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1 Article, the term "labor organization" means any organization
2 of any kind or any agency or employee representation committee
3 or plan in which employees participate and that exists for the
4 purpose, in whole or in part, of dealing with employers
5 concerning grievances, labor disputes, wages, rates of pay,
6 hours of employment, or conditions of work.
 
7     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.21 new)
8     Sec. 9-1.21. Corporation. For the purpose of this Article,
9 the term "corporation" includes a limited liability company,
10 partnership, professional practice, cooperative, sole
11 proprietorship, or any incorporated entity or corporation,
12 whether organized on a for-profit or non-profit basis.
 
13     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.22 new)
14     Sec. 9-1.22. Association. For the purpose of this Article,
15 the term "association" means any group, club, collective,
16 membership organization, collection of persons, entity
17 organized under Section 501 or 527 of the Internal Revenue
18 Code, or other entity other than a natural person, except that
19 an association does not include a political committee organized
20 under this Article.
 
21     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.23 new)
22     Sec. 9-1.23. Earmarked. The term "earmarked" means a
23 designation, instruction, or encumbrance, whether direct or

 

 

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1 indirect, express or implied, oral or written, that results in
2 all or any part of a contribution or expenditure being made to,
3 or expended on behalf of, a clearly identified candidate, a
4 candidate's designated committee, or a committee in support of
5 or opposition to a public question.
 
6     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.24 new)
7     Sec. 9-1.24. Conduit and intermediary. The terms "conduit"
8 and "intermediary" are interchangeable and mean any person who
9 receives a contribution earmarked by the contributor to be
10 forwarded or transmitted to another.
 
11     (10 ILCS 5/9-1.25 new)
12     Sec. 9-1.25. Affiliated entity. "Affiliated entity" means
13 (i) any parent or subsidiary of the entity, (ii) any member of
14 the same unitary business group, (iii) any organization
15 recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a
16 tax-exempt organization described in Section 501(c) of the
17 Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of
18 federal tax law) established by the entity, or (iv) any
19 political committee for which any of the aforementioned is the
20 sponsoring entity.
 
21     (10 ILCS 5/9-2.5 new)
22     Sec. 9-2.5. Single political committee.
23     (a) Except as provided by this Section, no public official

 

 

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1 or candidate for public office may establish more than one
2 political committee for each office that public official or
3 candidate occupies or is seeking.
4     (b) A public official with one or more pre-existing
5 committees bound by the limits of any subsection of Section
6 9-8.5 considering a candidacy for any office covered by the
7 limits of any different subsection of Section 9-8.5 must form a
8 new committee. A pre-existing committee created for the primary
9 purpose of aiding that candidate's election to other offices
10 that ceases all fundraising after the creation of an
11 exploratory committee may transfer funds without limit to an
12 exploratory committee. If the candidate decides against
13 running for the new office, fails to qualify for the ballot at
14 the next election, or loses the next election, then any
15 remaining funds held by the exploratory committee shall be
16 returned to contributors or donated to charity, and the
17 committee shall be closed, within 90 days.
18     (c) The public officials elected President of the Senate,
19 Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the House of
20 Representatives, and Minority Leader of the House of
21 Representatives may each establish and operate one additional
22 political committee for the purpose of supporting the election
23 of candidates to the General Assembly. The committees provided
24 for in this subsection (c) shall not be considered established
25 by the President of the Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate,
26 Speaker of the House of Representatives, or Minority Leader of

 

 

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1 the House of Representatives for the purposes of Section 9-8.5.
 
2     (10 ILCS 5/9-2.7 new)
3     Sec. 9-2.7. Political committee designations.
4     (a) Candidate committees.
5         (1) Each candidate shall designate in writing one and
6     only one political committee to serve as the political
7     committee of the candidate. The designation shall be made
8     no later than 15 days after becoming a candidate or
9     establishing the committee and shall be filed with the
10     State Board of Elections. Any committee so designated may,
11     within 10 business days after notification of the
12     designation, reject the designation. If a committee
13     rejects a candidate designation, the committee must return
14     to donors any funds raised as a result of the designation
15     and the candidate must create and designate a new committee
16     within 5 business days after the rejection.
17         (2) The name of the designated committee shall include
18     the name of the candidate who authorized the committee
19     under paragraph (1). No political committee that is not an
20     authorized candidate committee may include the full name of
21     the candidate in its name.
22     (b) Party committees.
23         (1) Any political organization or party may designate
24     in writing one and only one political committee to serve as
25     the political committee of that organization or party for

 

 

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1     elections to State or local office. The designation shall
2     be made no later than 15 days after the effective date of
3     this amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, or 15
4     days after formation of the committee, whichever occurs
5     later, and shall be filed with the State Board of
6     Elections. The designation of a party or organization
7     committee may be changed only upon the replacement of the
8     party or organization chairman.
9         (2) The name of the designated committee shall include
10     the name of the party or organization that authorized the
11     committee under paragraph (1). No political committee that
12     is not authorized by a party or organization may include
13     the full name of that party or organization in its name.
14     (c) Caucus committees.
15         (1) The public officials elected President of the
16     Senate, Minority Leader of the Senate, Speaker of the House
17     of Representatives, and Minority Leader of the House of
18     Representatives may each designate in writing one and only
19     one political committee to serve as the political committee
20     of his or her caucus. The designation shall be made no
21     later than 15 days after the second Wednesday in January of
22     each odd-numbered year and shall be filed with the State
23     Board of Elections. The designation of a caucus committee
24     may not be changed, revoked, or altered until the second
25     Wednesday in January of the next odd-numbered year unless a
26     different person is elected to the office authorized to

 

 

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1     designate the caucus committee; the new leader may
2     designate a new committee within 15 days after taking the
3     leadership office. All contributions from all committees
4     designated for the caucus committee for a particular caucus
5     made during a single election period shall be aggregated
6     for the purpose of Section 9-8.5.
7         (2) The name of the designated committee shall include
8     a clear and unambiguous reference to the caucus that
9     authorized the committee under paragraph (1). No political
10     committee that is not an authorized caucus committee may
11     include the name of that caucus in its name.
12     (d) All designations, statements, and reports required to
13 be filed under this Section shall be filed with the Board. The
14 Board shall retain and make the designations, statements, and
15 reports received under this Section available for public
16 inspection and copying in the same manner as statements of
17 organization.
 
18     (10 ILCS 5/9-8.5 new)
19     Sec. 9-8.5. Limitation on contributions.
20     (a) It shall be unlawful for any person to make
21 contributions to a political committee except as provided in
22 this Section.
23     (b) For political committees designated by a candidate for
24 legislative office:
25         (1) Natural persons may contribute no more than $2,400

 

 

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1     during any regular election period in which the candidate
2     who designated the committee is seeking nomination or
3     election.
4         (2) Political committees established by a State
5     political party may contribute not more than $30,000 during
6     the regular election period that includes the general
7     election at which the candidate who designated the
8     committee is seeking election; provided that all
9     committees established by a State political party, under
10     State or federal law, shall be considered as one committee
11     for the purpose of this Section.
12         (3) Political committees established by a partisan
13     legislative caucus may contribute not more than $30,000
14     during any regular election period in which the candidate
15     who designated the committee is seeking nomination or
16     election.
17         (4) Any other political committee not designated or
18     controlled by the candidate may contribute no more than
19     $5,000 during a regular election period in which the
20     candidate who designated the committee is seeking
21     nomination or election.
22         (5) Any corporation, labor organization, or
23     association may contribute from its own treasuries no more
24     than $5,000 during each election period. All contributions
25     from associated entities, including political committees
26     for which the corporation, labor organization, or

 

 

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1     association is the sponsoring entity, shall be aggregated
2     for the purpose of this Section.
3     (c) For political committees designated by a candidate for
4 ward or township committeeman in counties of 3,000,000 or more
5 population or for local office;
6         (1) Natural persons may contribute no more than $2,4000
7     during any regular election period in which the candidate
8     who designated the committee is seeking nomination or
9     election.
10         (2) The candidate may designate one and only one
11     political party whose political committees may contribute
12     not more than $10,000 during the regular election period
13     that includes the general election at which the candidate
14     who designated the committee is seeking election; provided
15     that all committees established by the political party,
16     under State or federal law, shall be considered as one
17     committee for the purpose of this Section.
18         (3) Any other political committee not designated or
19     controlled by the candidate may contribute no more than
20     $5,000 during a regular election period in which the
21     candidate who designated the committee is seeking
22     nomination or election.
23         (4) Any corporation, labor organization, or
24     association may contribute from its own treasuries no more
25     than $5,000 during each election period. All contributions
26     from associated entities, including political committees

 

 

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1     for which the corporation, labor organization, or
2     association is the sponsoring entity, shall be aggregated
3     for the purpose of this Section.
4         (5) Committees designated by one or more candidates for
5     any office required to file a statement of economic
6     interests with a county clerk may select to follow the
7     municipal election calendar. Committees that select to
8     follow the municipal election calendar must make that
9     decision at least 18 months prior to the next consolidated
10     primary election or within 30 days after creation. The
11     selection to follow the municipal election calendar is
12     irrevocable. For committees that select to follow the
13     municipal election calendar;
14             (A) Natural persons may contribute no more than
15         $2,400 during any Municipal election period in which
16         the candidate who designated the committee is seeking
17         nomination or election.
18             (B) The candidate may designate one and only one
19         political party whose political committees may
20         contribute not more than $10,000 during the regular
21         election period that includes the consolidated
22         election at which the candidate who designated the
23         committee is seeking election; provided that all
24         committees established by the political party, under
25         State or federal law, shall be considered as one
26         committee for the purpose of this Section.

 

 

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1             (C) Any other political committee not designated
2         or controlled by the candidate may contribute no more
3         than $5,000 during any municipal election period in
4         which the candidate who designated the committee is
5         seeking nomination or election.
6             (D) Any corporation, labor organization, or
7         association may contribute from its own treasuries no
8         more than $5,000 during each election period. All
9         contributions from associated entities, including
10         political committees for which the corporation, labor
11         organization, or association is the sponsoring entity,
12         shall be aggregated for the purpose of this Section.
13     (d) For political committees designated by a candidate for
14 State office, other than for legislative or statewide office:
15         (1) Natural persons may contribute no more than $2,400
16     during any regular election period in which the candidate
17     who designated the committee is seeking nomination,
18     election, or retention.
19         (2) The candidate may designate one and only one
20     political party whose political committees may contribute
21     not more than $10,000 during the regular election period
22     that includes the general election at which the candidate
23     who designated the committee is seeking election; provided
24     that all committees established by the political party,
25     under State or federal law, shall be considered as one
26     committee for the purpose of this Section.

 

 

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1         (3) And other political committee not designated or
2     controlled by the candidate may contribute no more than
3     $5,000 during a regular election period in which the
4     candidate who designated the committee is seeking
5     nomination, election, or retention.
6         (4) A corporation, labor organization, or association
7     may contribute from its own treasuries no more than $5,000
8     during each election period. All contributions from
9     associated entities, including political committees for
10     which the corporation, labor organization, or association
11     is the sponsoring entity, shall be aggregated for the
12     purposes of this Section.
13     (e) For political committees designated by a candidate for
14 statewide office:
15         (1) Natural persons may contribute no more than $2,400
16     during any regular election period.
17         (2) The candidate may designate one and only one
18     political party whose political committees may contribute
19     not more than $125,000 during the regular election period
20     in which the candidate who designated the committee is
21     seeking election; provided that all committees established
22     by the political party, under State or federal law, shall
23     be considered as one committee for the purpose of this
24     Section.
25         (3) Any other political committee not designated or
26     controlled by the candidate may contribute no more than

 

 

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1     $5,000 during a regular election period.
2         (4) Any corporation, labor organization, or
3     association may contribute from its own treasuries no more
4     than $5,000 during each election period. All contributions
5     from associated entities, including political committees
6     for which the corporation, labor organization, or
7     association is the sponsoring entity, shall be aggregated
8     for the purposes of this Section.
9     (f) For political committees designated by an established
10 political party;
11         (1) Natural persons may contribute no more than $2,400
12     during any regular election period during which any
13     candidate actively supported by the party is seeking
14     nomination or election.
15         (2) Any other political committee may contribute no
16     more than $5,000 during any regular election period during
17     which any candidate actively supported by the party is
18     seeking nomination or election.
19         (3) Any corporation, labor organization, or
20     association may contribute from its own treasuries no more
21     than $5,000 during each election period. All contributions
22     from associated entities, including political committees
23     for which the corporation, labor organization, or
24     association is the sponsoring entity, shall be aggregated
25     for the purposes of this Section.
26     (g) For political committees designated by a legislative

 

 

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1 caucus:
2         (1) Natural persons may contribute no more than $2,400
3     during any regular election period during which any
4     candidate actively supported by the caucus is seeking
5     nomination or election.
6         (2) Any other political committee may contribute no
7     more than $5,000 during any regular election period during
8     which any candidate actively supported by the caucus is
9     seeking nomination or election.
10         (3) Any corporation, labor organization, or
11     association may contribute from its own treasuries no more
12     than $5,000 during each election period. All contributions
13     from associated entities, including political committees
14     for which the corporation, labor organization, or
15     association is the sponsoring entity, shall be aggregated
16     for the purposes of this Section.
17     (h) For any other political committee:
18         (1) Natural persons may contribute no more than $4,800
19     during any period beginning on January 1 of an odd-numbered
20     year and ending on December 31 of the next even-numbered
21     year.
22         (2) Any corporation, labor organization, association,
23     or other political committee may contribute no more than
24     $5,000 during each election period. All contributions from
25     associated entities, including political committees for
26     which the corporation, labor organization, or association

 

 

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1     is the sponsoring entity, shall be aggregated for the
2     purposes of this Section.
3     (i) Nothing in this Section shall prohibit political
4 committees from dividing the proceeds of joint fun raising
5 efforts; provided that no political committee may receive more
6 than the limit from any one donor and all donations shall be
7 listed from their true origin.
8     (j) No natural person, corporation, labor organization, or
9 association may contribute in the aggregate more than $80,000
10 to political committees during any period beginning on January
11 1 of an odd-numbered year and ending on December 31 of the next
12 even-numbered year.
13     (k) On January 1 of every odd-numbered year, the State
14 Board of Elections shall adjust the limits established in
15 subsections (b), (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), and (j) for inflation
16 as determined by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
17 Consumers as issued by the United States Department of Labor
18 and rounded to the nearest $100.
19     (l) When a corporation and any of its subsidiaries,
20 branches, divisions, departments, or local units; a labor
21 organization and any of its subsidiaries, branches, divisions,
22 departments, or local units; or an association and any of its
23 affiliates, subsidiaries, branches, divisions, departments, or
24 local units contribute to one or more political committees or
25 establish, maintain, or control more than one separate
26 segregated fund qualified as a political committee, all of the

 

 

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1 related contributing entities shall be treated as a single
2 contributing entity for the purposes of the limitations
3 provided by this Section.
4     (m) Expenditures.
5         (1) Expenditures made by any person in cooperation,
6     consultation, or concert with a candidate, his or her
7     authorized committee, or the their agents shall be
8     considered a contribution to the candidate's designated
9     political committee for the purpose of this Section.
10         (2) The financing by any person of the dissemination,
11     distribution, or republication, in whole or in part, of any
12     broadcast or any written, graphic, or other form of
13     campaign materials prepared by the candidate, his or her
14     political committee, or their authorized agents shall be
15     considered to be a contribution to the candidate's
16     designated political committee for the purposes of this
17     Section.
18     (n) For the purposes of the limitations designated by this
19 Section, all contributions made by a person, either directly or
20 indirectly, to a particular committee, including contributions
21 that are in any way earmarked or otherwise directed through an
22 intermediary or conduit to a committee, shall be treated as
23 contributions from the person to the committee. A conduit's or
24 intermediary's contribution limits are not affected by the
25 forwarding of an earmarked contribution except where the
26 conduit or intermediary exercises any direction or control over

 

 

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1 the choice of the recipient.
2     (o) No candidate or political committee shall knowingly
3 accept any contribution or make any expenditure in violation of
4 the provisions of this Section. No officer or employee of a
5 political committee shall knowingly accept a contribution made
6 for the benefit or use of a candidate or knowingly make any
7 expenditure on behalf of a candidate in violation of any
8 limitation designated for contributions and expenditures under
9 this Section.
10     (p) Multiple designations.
11         (1) No committee may accept donations larger than those
12     specified in this Section, regardless of the number of
13     candidates that may designate that committee under Section
14     9-2.7.
15         (2) Any committee designated by candidates who
16     individually qualify under different subsections of this
17     Section shall be bound by the lower limit.
18     (q) Complaints.
19         (1) The Board shall receive complaints alleging
20     violations of this Section. The Board may bring complaints
21     and investigations on its own initiative when the Board has
22     reason to believe that a violation of this Section has
23     occurred.
24         (2) Upon receipt of a complaint, the Board shall hold a
25     closed preliminary hearing to determine whether or not the
26     complaint appears to have been filed on justifiable

 

 

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1     grounds. The closed preliminary hearing shall be conducted
2     as soon as practicable after affording reasonable notice, a
3     copy of the complaint, and an opportunity to testify at the
4     hearing to both the person making the complaint and the
5     person against whom the complaint is directed. If the Board
6     determines that the complaint has not been filed on
7     justifiable grounds, it shall issue a written order to
8     dismiss the complaint without further hearing, specifying
9     the defect in the original complaint.
10         (3) The Board shall have the authority to promulgate
11     procedural rules governing the filing and hearing of
12     complaints under this Section that are not inconsistent
13     with this Section.
14         (4) In addition to any other penalties authorized by
15     this Article, the State Board of Elections, any political
16     committee, or any person may apply to the circuit court for
17     a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent
18     injunction against a political committee or any other
19     entity to cease the expenditure of funds in violation of
20     this Section and to cease operations until the Board
21     determines that the committee or entity is in compliance
22     with this Section.
23     (r) Penalties.
24         (1) Any person or entity that knowingly violates this
25     Section shall be fined the greater of $10,000 or 3 times
26     the value of the excess contribution or expenditure.

 

 

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1         (2) The State Board of Elections shall assess a penalty
2     of up to $5,000 for each violation against the recipient of
3     any contribution in violation of this Section if the
4     recipient knew that the donation was in violation of this
5     Section. For purposes of this Section, a recipient knows
6     that the donation is in violation of this Section if the
7     candidate, the committee chairman or treasurer, or any
8     natural person paid to perform regular campaign tasks knows
9     that the donation is in violation of this Section.
 
10     (10 ILCS 5/9-8.7 new)
11     Sec. 9-8.7. Soliciting of contributions by associations,
12 corporations, or labor organizations.
13     (a) It is unlawful for any person affiliated in any way
14 with a corporation to knowingly solicit an employee of that
15 corporation for a contribution to a political committee and
16 fail to inform the employee at the time of the solicitation of
17 the political purposes of the fund. It is unlawful for any
18 person affiliated in any way with a labor organization or an
19 association to knowingly solicit a member of that labor
20 organization or association for a contribution to a political
21 committee and fail to inform the member at the time of the
22 solicitation of the political purposes of the fund.
23     (b) It is unlawful for any person affiliated in any way
24 with a corporation to knowingly solicit an employee of that
25 corporation for a contribution to a political committee and

 

 

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1 fail to inform the employee at the time of the solicitation of
2 the employee's right to refuse to contribute without any
3 reprisal. It is unlawful for any person affiliated in any way
4 with a labor organization or an association to knowingly
5 solicit any member of that labor organization or association
6 for a contribution to a political committee and fail to inform
7 the member at the time of the solicitation of the member's
8 right to refuse to contribute without any reprisal.
9     (c) Complaints.
10         (1) The Board shall receive complaints alleging
11     violations of this Section. The Board may bring complaints
12     and investigations on its own initiative when the Board has
13     reason to believe that a violation of this Section has
14     occurred.
15         (2) Upon receipt of a complaint, the Board shall hold a
16     closed preliminary hearing to determine whether or not the
17     complaint appears to have been filed on justifiable
18     grounds. The closed preliminary hearing shall be conducted
19     as soon as practicable after affording reasonable notice, a
20     copy of the complaint, and an opportunity to testify at the
21     hearing to both the person making the complaint and the
22     person against whom the complaint is directed. If the Board
23     determines that the complaint has not been filed on
24     justifiable grounds, it shall issue a written order to
25     dismiss the complaint without further hearing, specifying
26     the defect in the original complaint.

 

 

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1         (3) The Board shall have the authority to promulgate
2     procedural rules governing the filing and hearing of
3     complaints under this Section that are not inconsistent
4     with this Section.
5         (4) In addition to any other penalties authorized by
6     this Article, the State Board of Elections, any political
7     committee, or any person may apply to the circuit court for
8     a temporary restraining order or a preliminary or permanent
9     injunction against a political committee or any other
10     entity to cease the expenditure of funds in violation of
11     this Section and to cease operations until the Board
12     determines that the committee or entity is in compliance
13     with this Section.
14     (d) Any person who violates this Section shall be fined
15 $200 for each person improperly solicited. Contributions
16 received from any donor within 6 months after an improper
17 solicitation of that donor must be returned to the donor.
 
18     (10 ILCS 5/9-10)  (from Ch. 46, par. 9-10)
19     Sec. 9-10. Financial reports.
20     (a) The treasurer of every State political committee, and
21 the treasurer of every local political committee shall file
22 with the Board, and the treasurer of every local political
23 committee shall file with the county clerk, reports of campaign
24 contributions and quarterly reports of campaign contributions
25 and expenditures on forms to be prescribed or approved by the

 

 

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1 Board. The treasurer of every political committee that acts as
2 both a State political committee and a local political
3 committee shall file a copy of each report with the State Board
4 of Elections and the county clerk. Entities subject to Section
5 9-7.5 shall file reports required by that Section at the times
6 provided in this Section and are subject to the penalties
7 provided in this Section.
8     (b) A political committee that does not make an expenditure
9 or expenditures in an aggregate amount of more than $500 on
10 behalf of or in opposition to any (i) candidate or candidates,
11 (ii) public question or questions, or (iii) candidate or
12 candidates and public question or questions on the ballot at an
13 election shall not be required to file reports prescribed in
14 subsection (c) but may file in lieu thereof a Statement of
15 Nonparticipation in the Election with the Board or the Board
16 and the county clerk; except that if the political committee,
17 by the terms of its statement of organization filed in
18 accordance with this Article, is organized to support or oppose
19 a candidate or public question on the ballot at the next
20 election or primary, that committee must file reports required
21 by subsection (c). If a political committee is not organized to
22 support or oppose a candidate or public question on the ballot
23 at the next election or primary and the political committee
24 does not file a Statement of Nonparticipation, then the
25 committee shall be deemed to have filed a Statement of
26 Nonparticipation. If that political committee participates in

 

 

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1 that election then the committee shall be considered in
2 violation of this subsection as if it had filed a Statement of
3 Nonparticipation, unless the political committee files the
4 required reports within 5 days after the political committee
5 makes the contribution or, during the 5 days prior to the
6 election, within 24 hours after the committee makes the
7 contribution.
8     (c) Every committee shall file a report of any contribution
9 of more than $500 received (i) with respect to elections other
10 than the consolidated election, in the interim between the last
11 date of the period covered by the last report filed under
12 subsection (b) prior to the election and the date of the
13 election or (ii) with respect to the consolidated election, in
14 the period beginning January 1 of the year of the consolidated
15 election through the date of the election. Each report under
16 this subsection shall be filed with and must actually be
17 received by the State Board of Elections within 2 business days
18 after receipt of the contribution.
19     (d) Every committee shall file a report of any contribution
20 or contributions aggregating more than $1,000 received in the
21 interim since the last quarterly report with the State Board of
22 Elections within 5 business days.
23     (e) For the purpose of this Section, a contribution is
24 considered received on the date the public official, candidate,
25 or political committee (or equivalent person in the case of a
26 reporting entity other than a political committee) actually

 

 

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1 receives it or, in the case of goods or services, 2 business
2 days after the date the public official, candidate, committee,
3 or other reporting entity receives the certification required
4 under subsection (b) of Section 9-6.
5     (f) Failure to report each contribution is a separate
6 violation of this Section. In the final disposition of any
7 matter by the Board on or after the effective date of this
8 amendatory Act of the 96th General Assembly, the Board may
9 impose fines for violations of this Section not to exceed 150%
10 of the total amount of the contributions that were untimely
11 reported, but in no case when a fine is imposed shall it be
12 less than 10% of the total amount of the contributions that
13 were untimely reported. When considering the amount of the fine
14 to be imposed, the Board shall consider , but is not limited
15 to, the following factors:
16         (1) the amount by which a contribution exceeded the
17     threshold;
18         (2) the number of days the contribution was reported
19     late; and
20         (3) past violations of this Section or Section 9-3 by
21     the committee.
22     (g) The Board may impose fines for negligent, inadvertent,
23 or technical violations of this Section of not more than 50%,
24 nor less than 5%, of the total amount of the contributions that
25 were untimely Reported. When considering the amount of the fine
26 to be imposed, the Board shall consider, but is not limited to,

 

 

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1 the following factors:
2         (1) whether the violation was negligent or inadvertent
3     in nature;
4         (2) whether the contribution at issue was disclosed but
5     a violation arose because the disclosure was incorrectly
6     characterized or reported inadvertently by another related
7     committee;
8         (3) whether the violation arose from an apparent
9     discrepancy between the date of the contribution reported
10     by the transferring committee and the date reported by the
11     receiving committee, if there appears to be no attempt to
12     delay disclosure;
13         (4) the amount by which a contribution exceeded the
14     threshold;
15         (5) the number of days the contribution was reported
16     late; and
17         (6) past violations of this Section or Section 9-3 by
18     the committee.
19     (h) In addition to such reports the treasurer of every
20 political committee shall file quarterly reports of campaign
21 contributions and expenditures. The reports shall cover the
22 period January 1 through March 31, April 1 through June 30,
23 July 1 through September 30, and October 1 through December 31
24 of each year. Reports shall be filed no later than 20 days
25 after the close of the reporting period. Reports of
26 contributions and expenditures must be filed to cover the

 

 

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1 prescribed time periods even though no contributions or
2 expenditures may have been received or made during the period.
3 The Board shall assess a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for
4 a violation of this subsection, except that for State officers
5 and candidates and political committees formed for statewide
6 office, the civil penalty may not exceed $10,000. The fine,
7 however, shall not exceed $500 for a first filing violation for
8 filing less than 10 days after the deadline. There shall be no
9 fine if the report is mailed and postmarked at least 72 hours
10 prior to the filing deadline. For the purpose of this
11 subsection, "statewide office" and State officer" mean the
12 Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of
13 State, Comptroller, and Treasurer. In addition to any fine
14 imposed under this subsection, the State Board of Elections may
15 order any political committee that has failed to file 2
16 successive quarterly reports within 30 days after the day the
17 report was due to conduct an audit of all financial records
18 required to be maintained by the committee at the time the
19 audit is ordered. The committee ordered to conduct an audit
20 shall deliver a certified copy of the audit to the Board within
21 90 calendar days after the day the audit was ordered. If the
22 committee fails to deliver a certified audit in the time
23 required, the Board shall assess a civil penalty of $250 per
24 day that the audit is late, not to exceed $5,000.
25     (i) A political committee that acts as either (i) a State
26 and local political committee or (ii) a local political

 

 

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1 committee and that files reports electronically under Section
2 9-28 is not required to file copies of the reports with the
3 appropriate county clerk If the county clerk has a system that
4 permits access to, and duplication of, reports that are filed
5 with the State Board of Elections. A State and local political
6 committee or local political committee shall file with the
7 county clerk a copy of its statement of organization pursuant
8 to Section 9-3.
9     (j) A copy of each report or statement filed under this
10 Article shall be preserved by the person filing it for a period
11 of 2 years from the date of filing.
12     (a) The treasurer of every state political committee and
13 the treasurer of every local political committee shall file
14 with the Board, and the treasurer of every local political
15 committee shall file with the county clerk, reports of campaign
16 contributions, and semi-annual reports of campaign
17 contributions and expenditures on forms to be prescribed or
18 approved by the Board. The treasurer of every political
19 committee that acts as both a state political committee and a
20 local political committee shall file a copy of each report with
21 the State Board of Elections and the county clerk. Entities
22 subject to Section 9-7.5 shall file reports required by that
23 Section at times provided in this Section and are subject to
24 the penalties provided in this Section.
25     (b) This subsection does not apply with respect to general
26 primary elections. Reports of campaign contributions shall be

 

 

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1 filed no later than the 15th day next preceding each election
2 in connection with which the political committee has accepted
3 or is accepting contributions or has made or is making
4 expenditures. Such reports shall be complete as of the 30th day
5 next preceding each election. The Board shall assess a civil
6 penalty not to exceed $5,000 for a violation of this
7 subsection, except that for State officers and candidates and
8 political committees formed for statewide office, the civil
9 penalty may not exceed $10,000. The fine, however, shall not
10 exceed $500 for a first filing violation for filing less than
11 10 days after the deadline. There shall be no fine if the
12 report is mailed and postmarked at least 72 hours prior to the
13 filing deadline. For the purpose of this subsection, "statewide
14 office" and "State officer" means the Governor, Lieutenant
15 Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, Comptroller,
16 and Treasurer. However, a continuing political committee that
17 does not make an expenditure or expenditures in an aggregate
18 amount of more than $500 on behalf of or in opposition to any
19 (i) candidate or candidates, (ii) public question or questions,
20 or (iii) candidate or candidates and public question or
21 questions on the ballot at an election shall not be required to
22 file the reports prescribed in this subsection (b) and
23 subsection (b-5) but may file in lieu thereof a Statement of
24 Nonparticipation in the Election with the Board or the Board
25 and the county clerk; except that if the political committee,
26 by the terms of its statement of organization filed in

 

 

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1 accordance with this Article, is organized to support or oppose
2 a candidate or public question on the ballot at the next
3 election or primary, that committee must file reports required
4 by this subsection (b) and by subsection (b-5).
5     (b-5) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (b) and
6 Section 1.25 of the Statute on Statutes, any contribution of
7 more than $500 received (i) with respect to elections other
8 than the general primary election, in the interim between the
9 last date of the period covered by the last report filed under
10 subsection (b) prior to the election and the date of the
11 election or (ii) with respect to general primary elections, in
12 the period beginning January 1 of the year of the general
13 primary election and prior to the date of the general primary
14 election shall be filed with and must actually be received by
15 the State Board of Elections within 2 business days after
16 receipt of such contribution.
17     A continuing political committee that does not support or
18 oppose a candidate or public question on the ballot at a
19 general primary election and does not make expenditures in
20 excess of $500 on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate
21 or public question on the ballot at the general primary
22 election shall not be required to file the report prescribed in
23 this subsection unless the committee makes an expenditure in
24 excess of $500 on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate
25 or public question on the ballot at the general primary
26 election. The committee shall timely file the report required

 

 

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1 under this subsection beginning with the date the expenditure
2 that triggered participation was made. The State Board shall
3 allow filings of reports of contributions of more than $500
4 under this subsection (b-5) by political committees that are
5 not required to file electronically to be made by facsimile
6 transmission.
7      For the purpose of this subsection, a contribution is
8 considered received on the date the public official, candidate,
9 or political committee (or equivalent person in the case of a
10 reporting entity other than a political committee) actually
11 receives it or, in the case of goods or services, 2 business
12 days after the date the public official, candidate, committee,
13 or other reporting entity receives the certification required
14 under subsection (b) of Section 9-6.
15     Failure to report each contribution is a separate violation
16 of this subsection. In the final disposition of any matter by
17 the Board on or after the effective date of this amendatory Act
18 of the 93rd General Assembly, the Board may impose fines for
19 violations of this subsection not to exceed 100% of the total
20 amount of the contributions that were untimely reported, but in
21 no case when a fine is imposed shall it be less than 10% of the
22 total amount of the contributions that were untimely reported.
23 When considering the amount of the fine to be imposed, the
24 Board shall consider, but is not limited to, the following
25 factors:
26         (1) whether in the Board's opinion the violation was

 

 

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1     committed inadvertently, negligently, knowingly, or
2     intentionally;
3         (2) the number of days the contribution was reported
4     late; and
5         (3) past violations of Sections 9-3 and 9-10 of this
6     Article by the committee.
7     (c) In addition to such reports the treasurer of every
8 political committee shall file semi-annual reports of campaign
9 contributions and expenditures no later than July 20th,
10 covering the period from January 1st through June 30th
11 immediately preceding, and no later than January 20th, covering
12 the period from July 1st through December 31st of the preceding
13 calendar year. Reports of contributions and expenditures must
14 be filed to cover the prescribed time periods even though no
15 contributions or expenditures may have been received or made
16 during the period. The Board shall assess a civil penalty not
17 to exceed $5,000 for a violation of this subsection, except
18 that for State officers and candidates and political committees
19 formed for statewide office, the civil penalty may not exceed
20 $10,000. The fine, however, shall not exceed $500 for a first
21 filing violation for filing less than 10 days after the
22 deadline. There shall be no fine if the report is mailed and
23 postmarked at least 72 hours prior to the filing deadline. For
24 the purpose of this subsection, "statewide office" and "State
25 officer" means the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Attorney
26 General, Secretary of State, Comptroller, and Treasurer.

 

 

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1     (c-5) A political committee that acts as either (i) a State
2 and local political committee or (ii) a local political
3 committee and that files reports electronically under Section
4 9-28 is not required to file copies of the reports with the
5 appropriate county clerk if the county clerk has a system that
6 permits access to, and duplication of, reports that are filed
7 with the State Board of Elections. A State and local political
8 committee or a local political committee shall file with the
9 county clerk a copy of its statement of organization pursuant
10 to Section 9-3.
11     (d) A copy of each report or statement filed under this
12 Article shall be preserved by the person filing it for a period
13 of two years from the date of filing.
14 (Source: P.A. 94-645, eff. 8-22-05; 95-6, eff. 6-20-07; 95-957,
15 eff. 1-1-09.)
 
16     (10 ILCS 5/9-14.5 new)
17     Sec. 9-14.5. Disclosure by contribution coordinator.
18     (a) As used in this Section:
19         (1) "Contribution bundle" means one or more
20     contributions earmarked for a committee, other than the
21     contribution coordinator, that are made by at least one
22     contributor other than the contribution coordinator and
23     that are delivered by or credited by the recipient to the
24     contribution coordinator with an aggregate value of at
25     least $3,000 during the interim since the last quarterly

 

 

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1     disclosure period.
2         (2) "Contribution coordinator" means a Natural person
3     or entity that: (i) functions as a conduit or intermediary
4     with respect to a political committee; (ii) is credited by
5     a candidate, public official, or political committee,
6     through records, designations, or other means of
7     recognition, with raising contributions made by one or more
8     other persons to benefit that candidate, public official,
9     or political committee; or (iii) a political committee
10     knows, or reasonably should know, has raised contributions
11     earmarked by one or more other persons to the political
12     committee. "Contribution coordinator" does not include any
13     person who is an officer or paid employee of a committee
14     with respect to that committee, nor does it include any
15     form of electronic clearinghouse used solely for
16     processing financial transactions by credit card or other
17     means.
18     (b) No political committee shall accept from a contribution
19 coordinator a contribution bundle unless the bundle is
20 accompanied by the coordinator's written disclosure, with
21 respect to each contribution in the contribution bundle, of all
22 of the contribution information required for reports filed
23 under Section 9-10, and the original date of each individual
24 contribution, together with the name, address, occupation, and
25 employer of the contribution coordinator. That disclosure
26 shall be filed with the State Board of Elections within 5 days

 

 

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1 after receipt, or upon transmittal to the intended recipient,
2 whichever is earlier.
3     (c) A political committee that receives a disclosure under
4 subsection (b) must electronically file the disclosure with the
5 State Board of Elections within 5 business days after receipt.
6 During the 30 days before a general or consolidated election,
7 or in the period beginning January 1 of the year of a general
8 primary election and prior to the date of the general primary
9 election, the disclosures must be made within 2 working days.
10     (d) For the purpose of the contribution limits established
11 by this Article, each contribution in a contribution bundle is
12 attributed to the person that made the contribution through the
13 contribution coordinator and is not attributed to the
14 contribution coordinator unless the contribution coordinator
15 made that contribution or unless the coordinator exercised
16 direction or control over the destination of the contribution.
17     (e) A candidate, public official, or political committee
18 that accepts a contribution in violation of this Section shall
19 return the contribution to the contribution coordinator, or
20 donate the contribution to a charitable organization approved
21 by the State Board of Elections, within 5 business days after
22 receipt. A contribution accepted in violation of this Section
23 and not disposed of as provided in this subsection shall
24 escheat to the State treasury.
25     (f) No person or entity that is prohibited from making
26 contributions to a committee may serve as a contribution

 

 

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1 coordinator with respect to that committee, and any person or
2 entity that is prohibited from contributing to a committee and
3 that receives an earmarked contribution to that committee,
4 shall return the contribution to the contributor and shall not
5 transmit the contribution or any report of the contribution to
6 the committee.
 
7     (10 ILCS 5/9-29 new)
8     Sec. 9-29. Audit.
9     (a) As part of the verification required of each report
10 filed under Section 9-14, political committees organized under
11 this Article shall conduct audits of their finances and reports
12 when directed to do so by the State Board of Elections. An
13 audit shall be paid for by the committee and shall cover all
14 financial records required to be maintained by the committee at
15 the time the audit is ordered.
16     (b) The State Board of Elections shall order political
17 committees to conduct an audit under this Section as follows:
18         (1) Twice a year, within 30 days after the filing
19     deadline for quarterly reports, the Board shall divide
20     committees into groups based on the sum total of reported
21     receipts. The groups shall include committees that have (A)
22     less than $3,000; (B) at least $3,000 but not more than
23     $10,000; (C) more than $10,000 but not more than $25,000;
24     (D) more than $25,000 but not more than $100,000; and (E)
25     more than $100,000 or have not filed reports by the 30th

 

 

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1     day after the filing deadline. The Board shall, by a random
2     method of its choosing, select 1.0% of the committees in
3     Group (A), 2.0% of the committees in Group (B), 3.0% of the
4     committees in Group (C), 4.0% of the committees in Group
5     (D), and 5.0% of the committees in Group (E) and order that
6     they conduct audits.
7         (2) By affirmative vote of any 4 of the Board members.
8     Board members voting to order an audit shall publicly state
9     their reasons for so doing and may limit the audit to a
10     particular matter or time frame.
11     (c) Audits shall conform to generally accepted accounting
12 principles.
13     (d) Committees ordered to conduct audits shall deliver a
14 certified copy of the audit to the Board within 45 calendar
15 days after the date of the Board meeting at which the audit was
16 ordered. The Board by affirmative vote of any 4 of its members
17 may grant one 45-day extension to complete the audit. Copies
18 shall be delivered in both written and electronic formats. The
19 Board shall post copies of all audits on its website.
20     (e) Failure to deliver a certified audit in a timely manner
21 is a business offense punishable by a fine of $250 per day that
22 the audit is late, up to a maximum of $5,000. In the event that
23 a committee dissolves before paying any part of a fine issued
24 under this Section, the chairman and the treasurer of the
25 committee shall be personally, jointly, and severably liable
26 for any outstanding balance.
 

 

 

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1     Section 97. Severability. The provisions of this Act are
2 severable. If any provision of this Act is held invalid by a
3 court of competent jurisdiction, the invalidity does not affect
4 other provisions of the Act that can be given effect without
5 the invalid provision.