SENATE, No. 141

 

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

 

Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel

 

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 1996 SESSION

 

 

By Senator LYNCH

 

 

An Act concerning campaign contributions and amending P.L.1993, c.65.

 

    Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

 

    1. Section 18 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.3) is amended to read as follows:

    18. a. No individual, other than an individual who is a candidate, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, or any group shall: (1) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee which in the aggregate exceeds[$1,500] $1,800 per election, or (2) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds[$1,500] $1,800 per election per candidate, or (3) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds[$1,500] $1,800 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee shall knowingly accept from an individual, other than an individual who is a candidate, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, or any group any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$1,500] $1,800 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, or their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$1,500] $1,800 per election per candidate, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$1,500] $1,800 per election.

    b. (1) No political committee or continuing political committee shall: (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer or deputy campaign treasurer, or the joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, shall knowingly accept from any political committee or continuing political committee any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds [$5,000] $1,800 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds [$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election.

    (2) The limitation upon the knowing acceptance by a candidate, campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any contribution of money or other thing of value from a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection shall also be applicable to the knowing acceptance of any such contribution from the county committee of a political party by a candidate or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate for any elective public office in another county or, in the case of a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature, in a legislative district in which, according to the federal decennial census upon the basis of which legislative districts shall have been established, less than 20% of the population resides within the county of that county committee. In addition, all contributor reporting requirements and other restrictions and regulations applicable to a contribution of money or other thing of value by a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) shall likewise be applicable to the making or payment of such a contribution by such a county committee.

    The limitation upon the knowing acceptance by a candidate, campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of any contribution of money or other thing of value from a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of paragraph (1) of this subsection, except that the amount of any contribution of money or other thing of value shall be in an amount which in the aggregate does not exceed[$25,000] $10,000, shall also be applicable to the knowing acceptance of any such contribution from the county committee of a political party by a candidate, or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of a candidate, for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature in a legislative district in which, according to the federal decennial census upon the basis of which legislative districts shall have been established, at least 20% but less than 40% of the population resides within the county of that county committee. In addition, all contributor reporting requirements and other restrictions and regulations applicable to a contribution of money or other thing of value by a political committee or continuing political committee under the provisions of P.L.1973, c.83 (C.19:44A-1 et al.) shall likewise be applicable to the making or payment of such a contribution by such a county committee.

    With respect to the limitations in this paragraph, the Legislature finds and declares that:

    (a) Persons making contributions to the county committee of a political party have a right to expect that their money will be used, for the most part, to support candidates for elective office who will most directly represent the interest of that county;

    (b) The practice of allowing a county committee to use funds raised with this expectation to make unlimited contributions to candidates for the Legislature who may have a limited, or even nonexistent, connection with that county serves to undermine public confidence in the integrity of the electoral process;

    (c) Furthermore, the risk of actual or perceived corruption is raised by the potential for contributors to circumvent limits on contributions to candidates by funnelling money to candidates through county committees;

    (d) The State has a compelling interest in preventing the actuality or appearance of corruption and in protecting public confidence in democratic institutions by limiting amounts which a county committee may contribute to legislative candidates whose districts are not located in close proximity to that county; and

    (e) It is, therefore, reasonable for the State to promote this compelling interest by limiting the amount a county committee may give to a legislative candidate based upon the degree to which the population of the legislative district overlaps with the population of that county.

    (3) No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee shall knowingly accept from the State committee of a political party or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of that State committee, from legislative leadership committees or the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers or other representatives of such legislative leadership committees, and from the county committees and municipal committees of a political party or the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or other representatives of such county and municipal committees contributions of money or other thing of value which cumulatively and in the aggregate exceed $25,000 per election; no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from all such sources contributions of money or other thing of value which cumulatively and in the aggregate exceed $25,000 per election per candidate; and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from all such sources contributions of money or other thing of value which cumulatively and in the aggregate exceed $25,000 per election.

    c. (1) No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate in the recipient committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of the Governor, shall knowingly accept from another candidatewho has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate in the recipient committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election.

    (2) No candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, shall knowingly accept from other candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing committee, [$5,000] $1,800 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, on the basis of each candidate in the contributing joint candidates committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election.

    (3) No candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall (a) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election, or (b) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, or (c) pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or candidate committee, other than a candidate for nomination for election or for election for the office of Governor, shall knowingly accept from a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate in the recipient joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee, the campaign treasurers, deputy campaign treasurers, or candidate committee or joint candidates committee shall knowingly accept from any such source any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per election.

    (4) Expenditures by a candidate for nomination for election or for election to the office of member of the Legislature or to an office of a political subdivision of the State, or by the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer, candidate committee or joint candidates committee of such a candidate, which are made in furtherance of the nomination or election, respectively, of another candidate for the same office in the same legislative district or the same political subdivision shall not be construed to be subject to any limitation under this subsection; for the purposes of this sentence, the offices of member of the State Senate and member of the General Assembly shall be deemed to be the same office.

    d. Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to impose any limitation on contributions by a candidate, or by a corporation, 100% of the stock in which is owned by a candidate or the candidate's spouse, child, parent or sibling residing in the same household, to that candidate's campaign.

    e. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given to or by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution to or by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.

(cf: P.L.1993, c.65, s.18)

 

    2. Section 19 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.4) is amended to read as follows:

    19. a. (1) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2) of this subsection, no individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group, shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party or the campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of any legislative leadership committee, which in the aggregate exceeds[$25,000] $1,800 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates,[$25,000] $1,800 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate,[$25,000] $1,800 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party or campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of any legislative leadership committee shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$25,000] $1,800 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates, [$25,000] $1,800 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate,[$25,000] $1,800 per year from that candidate.

    (2) No national committee of a political party shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to the campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party which in the aggregate exceeds $50,000 per year, and no campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of the State committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from the national committee of a political party any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds $50,000 per year.

    b. No individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group, shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to any county committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds[$25,000] $1,800 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates,[$25,000] $1,800 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate,[$25,000] $1,800 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a county committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$25,000] $1,800 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates,[$25,000] $1,800 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate,[$25,000] $1,800 per year from that candidate.

    c. No individual, no corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, no labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, no political committee, continuing political committee, candidate committee or joint candidates committee or any other group shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to any municipal committee of a political party, which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates,[$5,000] $1,800 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate,[$5,000] $1,800 per year from that candidate. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a municipal committee of a political party shall knowingly accept from an individual, a corporation of any kind organized and incorporated under the laws of this State or any other state or any country other than the United States, a labor organization of any kind which exists or is constituted for the purpose, in whole or in part, of collective bargaining, or of dealing with employers concerning the grievances, terms or conditions of employment, or of other mutual aid or protection in connection with employment, a political committee, a continuing political committee, a candidate committee or a joint candidates committee or any other group, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds[$5,000] $1,800 per year, or in the case of a joint candidates committee when that is the only committee established by the candidates,[$5,000] $1,800 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee when both are established by a candidate,[$5,000] $1,800 per year from that candidate.

    No county committee of a political party in any county shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a municipal committee of a political party in a municipality not located in that county which in the aggregate exceeds the amount of aggregate contributions which, under this subsection, a continuing political committee is permitted to pay or make to a municipal committee of a political party. No campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or other representative of a municipal committee of a political party in any municipality shall knowingly accept from any county committee of a political party in any county other than the county in which the municipality is located any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds the amount of contributions permitted to be so paid or made under that subsection.

    d. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.

(cf: P.L.1993, c.65, s.19)

 

    3. Section 20 of P.L.1993, c.65 (C.19:44A-11.5) is amended to read as follows:

    20. a. No candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate committee shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to a political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or a continuing political committee, which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election, or in the case of a continuing political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per year, and no candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer or joint candidates committee shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to such a political committee or continuing political committee which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee, [$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a continuing political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, and no candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election from that candidate, or in the case of a continuing political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per year from that candidate. No political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or a continuing political committee, shall knowingly accept from a candidate who has established only a candidate committee, his campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer or candidate committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election, or in the case of a continuing political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per year, and no such political committee or continuing political committee shall knowingly accept from candidates who have established only a joint candidates committee, their campaign treasurer, deputy campaign treasurer, or joint candidates committee, any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election per candidate in the joint candidates committee, or in the case of a continuing political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per year per candidate in the joint candidates committee, and no such political committee or continuing political committee shall knowingly accept from a candidate who has established both a candidate committee and a joint candidates committee any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of such a political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election from that candidate, or in the case of a continuing political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per year from that candidate. For the purpose of determining the amount of a contribution to be attributed as given by each candidate in a joint candidates committee, the amount of the contribution by such a committee shall be divided equally among all the candidates in the committee.

    b. No political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, and no continuing political committee shall pay or make any contribution of money or other thing of value to another political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or another continuing political committee which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of a recipient continuing political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per year, or in the case of a recipient political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election. No political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, and no continuing political committee shall knowingly accept from another political committee, other than a political committee which is organized to, or does, aid or promote the passage or defeat of a public question in any election, or another continuing political committee any contribution of money or other thing of value which in the aggregate exceeds, in the case of a recipient continuing political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per year, or in the case of a recipient political committee,[$5,000] $1,800 per election.

(cf: P.L.1993, c.65, s.20)

 

    4. This act shall take effect immediately, but, in the case of limitations applicable to contributions that may be made per year, shall be inoperative until January 1, 1995, and, in the case of limitations applicable to contributions that may be made per election, shall be inoperative with respect to any election held prior to January 1, 1995.


STATEMENT

 

    This bill amends the 1993 statute that imposed different limits on political and campaign contributions. The bill replaces these different limits with a uniform limit of $1,800 per election in the case of contributions to political organizations that operate on an election-cycle basis (candidates, their committees, and independent political committees) or $1,800 per year in the case of contributions to political organizations that operate on an ongoing year-round basis (PACs, party committees, and legislative leadership committees). In addition, the bill (1) reduces from $25,000 to $10,000 the amount a candidate for the Legislature may accept from the county committee in a county in the candidate's legislative district which contains at least 20% but less then 40% of the population of the district, and (2) provides that the cumulative amounts of contributions which a candidate may receive from legislative leadership committees and the State and all county and municipal party committees of a political party shall not exceed in the aggregate $25,000 per election.

 

 

 

Replaces various limits on amounts of certain political and campaign contributions with uniform limit of $1,800; limits candidate's receipts from State, county and municipal party and legislative leadership committees to $25,000 per election.